(AGENPARL) – lun 08 gennaio 2024 Issued: Jan 8, 2024 (2:40pm EST)
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces at least $17.1M in Awards for Clean
School Buses Across Virginia as Part of Investing in America Agenda
PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 8, 2024) – As part of its ongoing commitment to
protecting children and improving air quality, today, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of two applicants in Virginia
to receive more than $17.1 million through EPA’s first Clean School Bus
Program’s Grants Competition.  
The awards, which are made possible through President Biden’s Investing in
America agenda, will help selectees purchase clean school buses in two school
districts across Virginia.  
By accelerating the transition to low- and zero-emission vehicles, these
awards will improve air quality for children and their families and advance
environmental justice, all while boosting the economy and creating good-paying
jobs.  
Fairfax County Public Schools has been selected to receive $16,590,000 to
purchase 42 electric school buses. 
Newport News Public Schools has been selected to receive $525,000 to purchase
15 propane school buses.  
“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,” said EPA Administrator
Michael S. Regan. “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.”?  
“These grants are further proof of EPA’s commitment to protect children,
improve air quality, and contribute directly to communities,” said EPA
Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “These once-in-a-generation
infrastructure investments will have lasting impacts.”  
“Time and time again, we are seeing how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law I
helped pass is making a difference in communities across Virginia,” said
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA). “I’m glad that Fairfax County and Newport News
Public Schools are receiving funding for clean buses, which will help reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and protect our environment.” 
“I am thrilled to see Fairfax and Newport News Public Schools receive
funding to invest in electric and low-emission school buses,” said U.S. Sen.
Mark Warner (D-VA). “This funding will usher in a cleaner, healthier future
for our students and communities as a whole.”   
“Today’s announcement is a gamechanger for Fairfax County, home to one of
the largest school districts in the country,” said U.S. Rep. Gerald E.
Connolly (VA-11). “The environmental benefits of these new buses are vitally
important to our fight against climate change, but the good news doesn’t
stop there. Students, staff, and parents who spend time on and around school
buses will no longer be exposed to diesel exhaust and other toxins from
diesel-powered buses. This is a great day for Northern Virginia, brought to
you proudly by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President
Biden.”  
“I congratulate Newport News Public Schools on being selected for the first
Clean School Bus Grants Competition from the EPA,” said U.S. Rep. Bobby
Scott (VA-3). “Low and zero-emissions school buses ensure that our children
breathe cleaner air both during their commutes and in their neighborhoods.
This will create good green jobs, combat the climate crisis and improve the
health of our students and their communities.”  
“We are honored and excited to be among the recipients of the Environmental
Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Awards,” said Dr. Michelle Reid,
Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools. “This recognition not only
underscores our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship but
also reflects our ongoing efforts to provide healthier, cleaner transportation
for all Fairfax County Public Schools students.” 
“These awards will greatly assist us in our commitment to achieve a fully
zero-emission fleet, aligning with our goal of reducing our carbon footprint
and ensuring the highest standards of safety and efficiency in student
transportation,” said Karl Frisch, Chair of the Fairfax County School Board.
“We thank the EPA for this opportunity and will leverage these resources to
make a positive impact on our community and the environment.” 
“Newport News Public Schools is honored to earn a 2023 EPA Clean School Bus
Program Grant Award to increase the number of propane-fueled school buses in
our fleet,” said Shay Coates, Executive Director of Pupil Transportation for
Newport News Public Schools. “Propane not only reduces emissions, but also
saves our district thousands of dollars in fuel and maintenance costs each
year.” 
The Clean School Bus Program is having far-reaching effects across school
districts and their surrounding communities. Air pollution from older diesel
engines is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health
and can cause them to miss school. Phasing out these older diesel engines,
which disproportionately affect communities of color and Tribal communities,
ensures cleaner air for students, bus drivers, school staff working near bus
loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day. 
After an extensive review process, the EPA Clean School Bus Program has
selected the Notice of Funding Opportunity’s top tier Virginia applicants to
receive this historic investment in their community.  
Proactive and ongoing communication with key stakeholders, like school boards
and local utilities, is critical to successful bus and infrastructure
deployment. To ensure the successful implementation of the selected projects
funding electric buses and charging infrastructure, EPA has created a Utility
Partnership Template which encourages early and robust engagement between the
applicant and their utility company. Additional details can be found in the
Notice of Funding Opportunity on the Clean School Bus Program Website. 
Grantees will work with their EPA Regional Project Officers to finalize
project plans and purchase their awarded new buses and eligible
infrastructure. As grants are finalized, total amounts awarded and number of
buses may be adjusted. EPA is also partnering with the Joint Office of Energy
and Transportation to provide grantees with robust technical assistance to
ensure effective implementation. All selectees must submit a Utility
Partnership Agreement to verify that the school district’s electric utility
provider is aware of the school district’s rebate application.  
EPA’s $5 billion Clean School Bus program created by President Biden’s
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes both a grant program where selected
applicants are awarded funds to purchase buses and a rebate program that
allows selectees to receive awards before purchasing eligible buses that
replaces existing school buses with clean and zero-emission models. Today’s
Clean School Bus grants are the second round of selections announced for the
newly created program. EPA will make more funds available for clean school
buses in additional rounds of funding.  
EPA is currently accepting applications for the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate
Program until January 31, 2024.
EPA encourages applicants not selected for the 2023 Clean School Bus Grant
Program – and those that did not apply – to participate in current and
future funding rounds. Once the application period for the 2023 rebate program
closes and the school districts selected are notified, school districts can
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. After the selectees submit
the proper forms, they will be eligible to receive rebate funds. 
To learn more about the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program, applicant
eligibility, selection process, and informational webinar dates for future
rounds of funding, visit the Clean School Bus Program website. Questions about
about Clean School Bus Program technical assistance may be directed to
About the Clean School Bus Program 
EPA’s Clean School Bus Program was created under President Biden’s
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and provides an unprecedented $5 billion of
funding to transform the nation’s fleet of school buses. The Clean School
Bus Program funds clean school buses, including electric buses, compressed
natural gas (CNG) and propane buses that   produce lower tailpipe emissions
compared to their older diesel predecessors. 
The Clean School Bus Program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money
for school districts, and produce cleaner air. Air pollution from older diesel
engines, which disproportionately impact communities of color and Tribal
communities, is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’
health and can cause them to miss school. Replacing these older diesel engines
with zero- or low-emission buses will ensure cleaner air for students, bus
drivers, school staff working near 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 benefit school districts as they upgrade
to cost saving and fuel-efficient school bus fleets, by replacing existing
buses with brand new zero-emission and clean school buses and freeing up
needed resources for schools. 
In April 2023, EPA announced the availability of at least $400 million for its
2023 Clean School Bus Grants through a Notice of Funding Opportunity. The
grant application period closed in August 2023 with an outstanding response
from applicants seeking to purchase electric and low-emission school buses.
Given the overwhelming demand and large number of high-scoring applications,
including applicants in low-income communities, Tribal nations, and
territories, EPA has nearly doubled the amount of funding that will be awarded
nationally today to approximately $965 million. These awards follow over $875
million obligated to new buses from the Clean School Bus Program’s 2022
Rebates, which funded the replacement of 2,366 buses at 372 school districts
to further improve air quality in and around schools, advance environmental
justice, reduce greenhouse gas pollution fueling the climate crisis, and
accelerate America’s leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the
future. 
Prioritized school districts in low-income, rural, and/or Tribal communities
make up approximately 86% of the projects selected for funding. The program
delivers on President Biden’s?Justice40?Initiative, which aims to
deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to
disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved
and?overburdened by pollution. 
View the full list of Clean School Bus grantees here. 
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