The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the latest funding from the Clean School Bus Rebate Program, making up to $965 million available to school districts. This initiative is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, which aims to transition nearly 500,000 school buses in the U.S. to cleaner technologies. The program seeks to protect over 25 million children who ride school buses daily from harmful air pollution.
This round of funding builds on almost $3 billion already invested in clean school buses nationwide. It aims to improve air quality around schools, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support the development of clean vehicles.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan stated, “Over the past three years, we’ve seen tremendous interest from schools across the country to upgrade to clean and zero-emission buses. Thousands of new buses on the road mean our children are breathing cleaner air on their way to and from school, their communities are seeing cleaner air and less climate pollution, and schools are supporting good paying American jobs.”
Applications for this year's Clean School Bus Rebate Program are due by January 9, 2025. Applicants can request up to $325,000 per bus for up to 50 buses per application. Funds can be used for bus and infrastructure costs and training costs for those working with the new buses or infrastructure.
Selectees may also be eligible for tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. For example, clean vehicle tax credits for qualifying school buses can be worth up to $40,000.
The EPA prioritizes applications that replace buses serving low-income, rural, and Tribal students as part of President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative. Large school districts with communities of concentrated poverty may also submit documentation for prioritization if their application focuses on clean school buses serving those communities.
The administration emphasizes investing federal dollars in ways that drive high-quality job creation and inclusive economic growth in the clean energy economy. Workforce training is an eligible use of program funds.
The EPA collaborates closely with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (JOET) from the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Transportation to support school districts planning electric bus fleets. Applicants can receive free technical assistance through resources such as one-on-one meetings and public webinars.
The Clean School Bus Program was established by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with a $5 billion fund aimed at transforming the nation’s fleet of school buses into zero and low-emission vehicles.
Diesel air pollution is linked to asthma and other health problems causing missed days of school, particularly affecting overburdened communities. New zero-emission buses aim not only to reduce pollution but also provide cleaner air for students and staff while reducing maintenance costs over time.
The EPA's program is responsible for over two-thirds of committed electric school buses across the country, providing immediate public health benefits as soon as these new buses hit the road.
School districts will deploy their new buses based on individual timelines considering factors like utility upgrades needed and familiarity with new technologies.
For more information about EPA’s Clean School Bus Program or questions regarding applications, visit their webpage or contact CleanSchoolBus@epa.gov.