(AGENPARL) – mar 09 gennaio 2024 Issued: Jan 9, 2024 (2:11pm EST)
If you wish to unsubscribe please do so
here: http://url6130.epa.mediaroom.com/ls/click?upn=-2BroytcZInNRyuFbAvAoN5aMEQDHIx2RtQl0jT-2FwLgZHafJKm-2F7NYrsKNAZH88rhd98aG2o5sSGIX8iVgGgXwOczi8WNFU0a7GLvUAvQ8R0RGX5bAZ9mjh1NYnKAGekGpwwfn_mLoYh0p4AWg4foFr5HgrZ1QioQ33bLwdnQ-2BsYGKFX9mApcfdQmv0-2Bvkdf9kq-2BlYjQkIgn-2FlUQan6JV7Uy3FHwsEYk07tm7Nlm-2FEDzG6zuL-2BHEvGQwfF4yUmqLkpkHU0abi98dGhsLtnbXvkh1eAAzAb5uhAjQutEMZTnlL11B1QjAo6aDP2npQESbQbFuMBqrdCj90yRtYNITb2ne0ftOPeVfYk1PQ6duCwQIW9gU2gUCGFq1gXkUvvI4-2BGq-2BqMfAnywRzNO00j8o2xB2vyUGg-3D-3D
Biden-Harris Administration Announces at Least $4.7 million in Awards for
Clean School Buses In Maryland as Part of Investing in America Agenda
PHILADELPHIA  – 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 Montgomery Public Schools to receive nearly
$4.7 million to purchase 50 school buses through EPA’s first Clean School
Bus Program’s Grants Competition. 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.  
“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.” 
“Transitioning from diesel to electric school buses makes good public health
and economic sense, offering real benefits like improved air quality in our
communities and significant savings for local taxpayers. That’s why our
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes historic investments to
modernize public?transportation?across the country – and these funds
will bolster Montgomery County’s ongoing efforts to provide students with a
cleaner, greener, and safer trip to and from school. Projects like these are
how we beat back the climate crisis and build a more sustainable future for
the generations to come,” said U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen. 
“Taking the bus to school should not be a health hazard for our children.
Our students deserve clean, quiet transportation without having to suffer the
consequences of dirty, school bus exhaust.,” said U.S. Senator Ben
Cardin. “Congress approved the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to deliver
critical funding to transition our nation’s school bus fleet away from
gas-guzzling, air-polluting vehicles. This is a promising step forward and
I’m excited to see these new busses in Montgomery County and across the
region. I know our students will be, too.” 
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 Maryland 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.  
### 
To unsubscribe or change your settings click here:
http://url6130.epa.mediaroom.com/ls/click?upn=-2BroytcZInNRyuFbAvAoN5aMEQDHIx2RtQl0jT-2FwLgZFdW2WYdzQmaasDKJ3YChU3GSGxQw8xo5jO-2FkDtHpiyPiqmguQJXbrWbzM-2B5gPc2ik-2FDC2zBndHRkZdWy50JxVSMc40AUVwBIrrmLHu3fbdLw-3D-3D6dii_mLoYh0p4AWg4foFr5HgrZ1QioQ33bLwdnQ-2BsYGKFX9mApcfdQmv0-2Bvkdf9kq-2BlYjQkIgn-2FlUQan6JV7Uy3FHwsEYk07tm7Nlm-2FEDzG6zuL-2FG07VNBAJryvvYu0Un6g1S-2BsSAX2TWnzsItTliS45rYFTfVw1t-2BIqRTaoqXfEgmpnWEn7r4tKgXm-2FIkfJB7Ka9vGjN709Ty1ucIi0MnHMumqGidsB2dkmpAWKzbYt-2Fcbj7dUgtIE2VkZLnbwGjZGeAt6K6ikOxycAsUr4gFzquOg-3D-3D