The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced nearly $18.5 million in rebate awards for three New York City school districts to purchase 51 new clean school buses.
The rebates, funded by last year's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will accelerate the districts' transition to zero-emission vehicles, according to a Nov. 1 news release. The announcement was made by state and local leaders on the steps of city hall in New York City, including EPA Deputy Regional Administrator Walter Mugdan and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
"Protecting our kids and tackling the climate crisis is a win-win. New York City has one of the country's highest asthma rates among children and young adults. Transitioning away from dirty diesel and toward clean electric buses is a climate smart investment in our children's future," Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia said in the release. "Cleaner air and less pollution are a net positive for every community in New York, and thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law this is just the beginning."
This action is "transforming how New York City children get to school, accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles and producing cleaner air for our communities," the release reported.
"We want our children's future to be safe and sound with clean air and a healthy environment, so we are taking big steps to make sure their yellow school buses are green," Adams said in the news release. "This announcement is what happens when government works for all of us. More than $18 million in funding to purchase clean buses that run entirely on renewable energy will improve our kid's lives and accelerate our transition to zero-emission school buses. It is clear that we must make big changes to protect our environment, our children and our future from climate change and New York City is leading the way."
