(AGENPARL) – gio 27 ottobre 2022 Biden-Harris Administration Announces $68,295,000 from EPA’s Clean School Bus Program for California School Districts
Historic investment from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law headed to all 50 states in effort to transform America’s school bus fleet
SAN FRANCISCO — Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the Fiscal Year 2022 recipients of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, awarding nearly $68,300,000 from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to 21 school districts in California. The grants will help school districts purchase 177 clean school buses that will accelerate the transition to zero emissions vehicles and produce cleaner air in and around schools and communities.
“President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is accelerating our nation’s transition to electric and low-emission school buses while ensuring a brighter, healthier future for our children,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “As many as 25 million children rely on the bus to get to school each day. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, we are making an unprecedented investment in our children’s health, especially those in communities overburdened by air pollution. This is just the beginning of our work to build a healthier future, reduce climate pollution, and ensure the clean, breathable air that all our children deserve.”
All 21 of the California school districts selected met one or more of EPA’s prioritization criteria for low income, high need, rural, or tribal schools. Additionally, five of the 21 California school districts qualified under the Tribal prioritization. 100% of the funding will be used to purchase zero emission electric buses and charging infrastructure. Today’s announcement includes funding for buses and infrastructure for school districts in cities like Banning, Compton, and Stockton, California.
“I have been proud to help lead the charge to transition our nation’s school bus fleet to zero- and low-emission models,” said Senator Alex Padilla. “Success in the classroom starts before children even get to school. Unfortunately, far too many children in working-class communities—like the one I grew up in—are forced to inhale harmful emissions from outdated diesel buses on the way to school. Today’s announcement is a significant investment in modernizing school buses in some of the communities with the poorest air quality. If we are serious about improving public education and public health, then clean school buses are a must.”
“Today’s announcement demonstrates the tremendous potential for the Infrastructure Law to reduce environmental and public health disparities in communities like Compton,” said U.S. Representative Nanette Barragán. “For years, residents have suffered from high levels of air pollution, causing high rates of asthma and one of the worst life expectancies in Los Angeles County. Democrats in Congress fought to include the Clean School Bus program investments in the Infrastructure Law to reduce these harmful emissions and prevent long-term diseases. Investing in clean transportation options for school children while lowering air pollution will improve the health of our neighbors in Compton and communities beyond.”
“I know what it feels like growing up with childhood asthma, being more worried about my inhaler than my homework. This announcement is a huge step forward toward saving a whole generation of Modesto kids from that same experience,” said U.S. Representative Josh Harder. “By electrifying our buses, we’re ensuring our kids breathe cleaner air each morning, saving hundreds of thousands in taxpayer dollars each year, and doing our part to fight climate change. It’s a win-win-win and I couldn’t be prouder that it’s happening right here in our community.”
“I am thrilled that The Lion Electric Co. won this grant and will be able to serve students more efficiently in our district, said U.S. Representative Ted Lieu. This critical federal funding will build a cleaner, healthier, and more connected district. I was proud to vote in favor of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and am pleased to see its benefits already making an impact in our neighborhoods. This landmark investment in low-emission transportation, accessible public transit, and other green energy solutions will transform cities and states across the country. I look forward to seeing more clean energy transportation options in our district and am pleased that our students and their families will benefit from this award.”
“When we passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021, I was proud that it included significant investments in clean energy, which I have long fought for,” said U.S. Representative Jerry McNerney. “This rebate is a key incentive for school districts to move away from gas guzzling, high emissions transportation and I am pleased that Stockton Unified is helping to lead the way on this endeavor. Our region has one of the highest rates of childhood asthma in the nation due to poor air quality and transitioning to more emissions-free buses will help us to combat this issue. I congratulate Stockton Unified on this well-deserved award.”
“I am thrilled to see that our local communities are receiving critical funding that I advocated for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said U.S. Representative Dr. Raul Ruiz. “With this investment, we will help local students get to school safely with new zero-emission and low-emission buses that will help protect our environment and health. Together, we are building resilient communities, a stronger economy, and a healthier future for our children and generations to come.”
“I’m pleased that El Centro Elementary School District will receive $790,000 from the EPA as part of the Clean School Bus Rebate Program,” said U.S. Representative Juan Vargas. “We’re taking important steps to reduce pollution in my district with these crucial funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. I’m proud to have voted for historic climate investments that made this program possible, and I look forward to continuing working with the EPA to ensure that we do all we can to address the climate crisis in our community and across our nation.”
In May, EPA announced the availability of $500 million for its Clean School Bus Program. Given overwhelming demand from school districts across the country, including in low-income communities, Tribal nations, and territories, EPA nearly doubled the amount of funding that will be awarded to $965 million. The rebate application period closed in August with an outstanding response from school districts seeking to purchase electric and low-emission school buses across the country.
At this time, the agency has selected 389 applications totaling $913 million to support the purchase of 2,463 buses, 95% of which will be electric. EPA will distribute awards to school districts in all 50 states, Washington D.C., along with several federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories. School districts identified as priority areas serving low-income, rural, and, or Tribal students make up 99% of the projects that were selected. More applications are under review, and the agency plans to select more to reach the full $965 million in the coming weeks.
Those school districts who received an award can now proceed with purchasing new buses and eligible infrastructure. Selectees will need to submit Payment Request Forms with purchase orders demonstrating they have ordered new buses and eligible infrastructure. EPA is also partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Transportation to provide school districts with robust technical assistance to ensure effective implementation.
These awards are the first $1 billion of a five-year, $5 billion program created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. EPA is also designing the next rounds of program funding to launch in the coming months, which will include an ambitious grant competition. Through future rounds of funding, EPA will make available another $1 billion for clean school buses in Fiscal Year 2023. EPA encourages school districts not selected in the first round of rebates – and those that did not apply this funding cycle – to participate in future rounds.
About the Clean School Bus Rebate Program
The Clean School Bus Program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money for school districts and produce cleaner air. Diesel air pollution is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health and cause them to miss school, particularly in communities of color and Tribal communities. Phasing out these diesel engines will ensure cleaner air for students, bus drivers, and school staff working near the bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day. The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from these bus replacements will also help to address the outsized role of the transportation sector in fueling the climate crisis. The program will also save school districts money as they upgrade school bus fleets, replacing older, heavily polluting buses with brand new clean school buses, while freeing up needed resources for schools.
Environmental Protection Agency, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 United States