Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced $31,510,000 in funding for Texas schools to purchase clean school buses as part of the Investing in America agenda. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition selected various school districts across Texas to receive these funds.
The allocated amounts include $690,000 for Oakland ISD, $1,950,000 for Salado ISD, and $3,450,000 for Longview ISD among others. This funding will be used to purchase a total of 123 new clean school buses to replace older diesel-fueled models linked to health issues such as asthma.
Nationwide, the rebates will help school districts acquire over 3,400 clean school buses—92% of which will be electric—aiming to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and improve air quality around schools and communities. To date, the EPA has awarded nearly $3 billion under this program to fund approximately 8,500 school bus replacements at over 1,000 schools.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan stated that President Biden's Investing in America agenda aims to ensure every child can lead a healthy life with access to clean air. “With today’s latest round of funding, we are transforming the nation’s school bus fleet to better protect our most precious cargo—our kids—saving school districts money, improving air quality, and bolstering American manufacturing all at the same time,” Regan said.
Region 6 Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance highlighted the benefits for underserved areas: “Replacing diesel-fueled buses with clean school buses reduces harmful emissions and improves air quality in communities throughout the nation.”
Rep. Greg Casar (TX) noted that the new San Marcos CISD buses would ensure children travel safely while breathing cleaner air than previous generations. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (TX) emphasized President Biden's commitment to North Texas students' health and environmental protection.
In September 2023, the EPA announced at least $500 million available for its 2023 Clean School Bus rebates. Due to high demand from various communities including low-income areas and Tribal nations, the EPA doubled this amount to nearly $1 billion.
This third round of funding builds on previous investments of almost $2 billion through earlier rounds of rebates and grants under the Clean School Bus Program. The selections cover school districts in 47 states and Washington D.C., including several federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories.
Approximately 45 percent of selected projects come from prioritized low-income, rural, and Tribal communities which will receive about 67 percent of total funding. This aligns with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative aiming to deliver significant federal investment benefits to disadvantaged communities.
The EPA is partnering with other federal agencies through the Joint Office of Energy and TransportationExit EPA’s website providing technical assistance for effective implementation of these programs.
Further selections may be made as additional applications are reviewed by the EPA. Current open programs include the 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program offering up to $932 million in grant funding until July 25, 2024.
The Clean School Bus Program was established by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law providing an unprecedented $5 billion for transforming the nation's fleet of school buses into electric or lower-emission alternatives like propane and compressed natural gas (CNG).
The program aims not only at reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also at saving money for school districts while ensuring cleaner air around schools by phasing out older diesel engines known for contributing significantly to student health issues.
For more information on awards under this program visit: https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/clean-school-bus-program-awards
