(AGENPARL) – lun 08 gennaio 2024 Issued: Jan 8, 2024 (12:38pm EST)
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $8 Million Across Nevada for
Clean School Buses as Part of the Investing in America Agenda
SAN FRANCISCO – As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting children and
improving air quality, today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
announced Nevada is set to receive funding through EPA’s first Clean School
Bus Program Grants Competition. The award, made possible through President
Biden’s Investing in America agenda, will help purchase clean school buses
in several school districts across Nevada. By accelerating the transition to
low- and zero-emission vehicles, this funding will improve air quality for
children and their families, advance environmental justice, boost the economy,
and create good-paying jobs.
Nevada Clean Energy Fund has been selected to receive $7,704,04 to purchase 25
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.” 
“I’m thrilled to see these federal dollars for clean buses that I fought
for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law coming to Nevada to help our
schools lower their energy costs and keep kids safe and healthy,” said
Senator Cortez Masto. “Nevada’s clean energy boom is creating jobs and
helping students and families across the state, and I’ll continue working
together to ensure Nevadans have the resources they need to succeed.”
“Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which I helped write and pass,
Nevada’s schools will receive nearly $8 million for electric school buses
that will benefit students across our state,” said Senator Rosen. “This
critical funding will help modernize our schools’ transportation system,
leading to lower energy costs and cleaner air for our students and their
families.”
The Clean School Bus Program has far-reaching effects on school districts and
their 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 daily.
After an extensive review process, the EPA Clean School Bus Program has
selected the Notice of Funding Opportunity’s top-tier Nevada 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. The total amounts awarded and the number of buses may be
adjusted as grants are finalized. 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 the school district’s electric
utility provider is aware of the 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
replace 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 who 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 must 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. 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.
To learn more about the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program, applicant
eligibility, selection process, and informational webinar dates for future
funding rounds, 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 adopted under President Biden’s
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides an unprecedented $5 billion of
funding to transform the nation’s fleet of school buses. The Clean School
Bus Program funds electric buses, producing zero tailpipe emissions and
propane and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, resulting in 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 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. Efforts to minimize the effects of these older diesel engines
will ensure cleaner air for students, bus drivers, 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 benefit school districts as they upgrade
to cost-saving and fuel-efficient school bus fleets by replacing existing
buses with new zero-emission and clean school buses and freeing up needed
school resources.
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 high-scoring applications, including
applicants in low-income communities, Tribal nations, and territories, EPA has
nearly doubled this round’s funding 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, to
reduce greenhouse gas pollution fueling the climate crisis, and help
accelerate America’s leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the
future.
Prioritized school districts in low-income, rural, and/or Tribal communities
comprise 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
View the complete list of Clean School Bus grantees here.
Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us
on Facebook and X.
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