The U.S. government made a $5 billion allocation to electrifying school buses to protect children’s health.
On May 20, the Biden Administration, through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced the availability of $500 million for school districts and other eligible school bus operators to replace their traditional buses with clean, zero-emission buses.
The funding is the first round in the $5 billion allocated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and EPA Administrator Michael Regan launched the Clean Bus Program.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said, “These funding opportunities to replace older, heavily-polluting buses will result in healthier air for many of the 25 million American children who rely on school buses, many of whom live in overburdened and underserved communities. Today we take a major step toward a future where clean, zero-emissions school buses are the American standard.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 gives EPA the authority to provide rebates to those who will replace diesel school buses with clean, zero-emission ones. The EPA will give up to $500 million this year, and the deadline for the application to the program will be on August 19, 2022.
There will be another funding later this year; after that, one each year will follow over the next five years.
According to the EPA, health problems are a growing concern for children in the U.S. they stated on their site:
“Diesel air pollution is linked to asthma and other health problems that hurt our communities and cause students to miss school, particularly in communities of color and Tribal communities. New, zero-emission and low-emission buses will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but produce cleaner air for students, bus drivers, school staff working near the bus loading areas, and the communities that the buses drive through each day.”
More details about the program and its eligibility here.
