The Biden-Harris Administration has announced $15,560,000 in funding for Louisiana schools to purchase clean school buses as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition. This initiative is funded by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
The EPA selected several Louisiana school districts for substantial funding: KIPP East Community will receive $1,035,000; KIPP Central City will get $1,400,000; Sophie B. Wright Institute of Academic Excellence will obtain $4,140,000; Vernon Parish is allocated $280,000; and St. James Parish will receive the largest amount at $8,705,000. These funds are intended to replace older diesel-fueled school buses with 52 new clean buses across the state.
Nationwide, this round of rebates aims to help districts purchase over 3,400 clean school buses—92% of which will be electric—to facilitate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and improve air quality around schools and communities. To date, the EPA has awarded nearly $3 billion through various grant and rebate opportunities to fund approximately 8,500 school bus replacements at over 1,000 schools.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan emphasized the program's health benefits during an announcement event in Jackson, Mississippi: “President Biden believes every child deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy life and breathe 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...and bolstering American manufacturing all at the same time.”
Region 6 Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance highlighted the significance for underserved areas: “Today’s announcement is good news for children in Louisiana... Replacing diesel-fueled buses with clean school buses reduces harmful emissions and improves air quality in communities throughout the nation.”
Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr., representing LA-02 district said: “I’m excited to announce this funding which will put more electric buses on the road and reduce carbon emissions in Louisiana... Investments like these are why I championed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
In September 2023, EPA announced at least $500 million available for its 2023 Clean School Bus rebates. The application period closed in February 2024 with significant demand from various communities including low-income areas and Tribal nations. Consequently, EPA doubled available funding for this round to nearly $1 billion.
This third round builds on prior investments totaling almost $2 billion through previous Clean School Bus Program rebates and grants aimed at improving air quality around schools while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Selected projects cover 47 states plus Washington D.C., federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories with prioritized allocations going towards low-income rural and Tribal communities comprising about 45% of selected projects receiving roughly 67% of total funding.
The initiative supports President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative targeting that certain federal investments deliver significant benefits to disadvantaged communities facing high pollution burdens.
EPA continues reviewing applications and may issue additional awards based on compliance with program requirements. Future rounds of funding under other programs such as the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program are also ongoing until July 25th offering up to $932 million focused on new zero-emission Class 6 or Class7 school buses among others.
About the Clean School Bus Program:
Created by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law providing an unprecedented $5 billion investment aiming to transform America's fleet of school buses into cleaner alternatives producing lower or zero tailpipe emissions thus saving costs while reducing adverse health impacts linked particularly from diesel pollution exacerbating conditions like asthma among students especially within communities of color or Tribal regions.
For further details visit https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/clean-school-bus-program-awards.
Connect with EPA Region6 via Facebook/X(formerly Twitter)or their homepage.
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