The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the funding for clean school buses was almost doubled, meaning fewer "older, dirty diesel" student transport vehicles on the road.
The funding doubling follows increased demand and school districts in all 50 states U.S. states applied for the Clean School Bus Rebates, according to a Sept. 29 EPA news release. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan credited President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as legislation passed last year, for the additional funding.
"Thanks to the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration and the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we're working across all 50 states to accelerate the transition to a future where clean, zero-emissions school buses are the American standard," Regan said in the news release. "America's school districts delivered this message loud and clear – we must replace older, dirty diesel school buses."
Replacing the older school buses will be good for the environment, Regan said in the release.
"Together, we can reduce climate pollution, improve air quality and reduce the risk of health impacts like asthma for as many as 25 million children who ride the bus every day," he said, according to the release.
EPA's funding announcement is for the first round of funding from the agency's Clean School Bus Program, created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law when it earmarked $5 billion for low- and zero-emission school buses over the five years, the release reported.
In May, EPA announced $500 million was available, according to the release. That changed when "overwhelming demand from school districts across the country, including in low-income communities, Tribal nations and territories" prompted the agency to almost double the amount awarded to $965 million.
That demand was so great is no surprise, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, said in the news release.
"Today's announcement reflects what we know to be true – school districts across our country are eager to replace their heavy-polluting school buses with cleaner alternatives," Carper said in the release. "I'm especially pleased to see that there is high demand for electric buses among low income, Tribal and other disadvantaged communities."
Those are the communities that have the most to gain from clean school bus spending in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Carper added, according to the release.
"Given the response to the availability of these dollars, it's clear that more funding is needed," he said, the release reported. "I look forward to working with Administrator Regan, the rest of the Biden administration and my colleagues in Congress to build on this progress so that more communities can realize the clean air and energy saving benefits of these cleaner vehicles."
"EPA will move swiftly to review applications submitted and expects to issue a robust slate of awards next month," the news release said. "EPA is also designing the next rounds of program funding to launch in the coming months, which will include an ambitious grant competition. Through future rounds of funding, EPA will make available another $1 billion for clean school buses in fiscal year 2023."
