EPA awards $1B to 280 school districts to purchase clean school buses

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will award $1 billion to 67 different groups through its Clean School Bus Program Grants Competition.

The awards will help those selected to purchase over 2,700 clean school buses in 280 school districts serving over 7 million students across 37 states. Overall, the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program has awarded nearly $2 billion and funded approximately 5,000 electric and low-emission school buses nationwide.

“Every school day, 25 million children ride our nation’s largest form of mass transit: the school bus. The vast majority of those buses run on diesel, exposing students, teachers, and bus drivers to toxic air pollution,” Vice President Kamala Harris said. “Today, we are announcing nearly $1 billion to fund clean school buses across the nation. As part of our work to tackle the climate crisis, the historic funding we are announcing today is an investment in our children, their health, and their education. It also strengthens our economy by investing in American manufacturing and America’s workforce.”

The EPA says that air pollution from older diesel engines is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health. Phasing out these older diesel engines ensures cleaner air for students, bus drivers, school staff working near bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day.

“Today we’re once again accelerating the transition to electric and low-emission school buses in America, helping to secure a healthier future where all our children can breathe cleaner air,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said. “I’ve sat next to students on their very first clean school bus ride and their excitement reflects the power of good policy. Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, thousands more school buses will hit the road in school districts across the country, saving school districts money and improving air quality at the same time.”

The funding is slated to support the purchase of approximately 2,700 buses, 95 percent of which will be electric. EPA will distribute awards to selectees in 37 states with school districts in low-income, rural, and/or tribal communities making up approximately 86 percent of the projects selected for funding.

To ensure the successful implementation of the selected projects funding electric buses and charging infrastructure, EPA has created a Utility Partnership Template which encourages engagement between the applicant and their utility company. Grantees will work with their EPA Regional Project Officers to finalize project plans and purchase their awarded new buses and eligible infrastructure.

This is the second round of grants for the $5 billion Clean School Bus grants. The EPA will make more funds available for clean school buses in additional rounds of funding. The EPA’s Clean School Bus Program was created under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.