(AGENPARL) – mar 09 gennaio 2024 Issued: Jan 9, 2024 (12:45pm EST)
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Biden-Harris Administration announces Montana to receive funding for 41 Clean
School Buses as part of Investing in America Agenda
Helena, Mont. (January 9, 2024) – As part of its ongoing commitment to
protecting children and improving air quality, today, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) announced seven Montana school districts will receive
funding for a total of 41 buses through EPA’s first Clean School Bus Program
Grants Competition.  
The awards, which are made possible through President Biden’s Investing in
America agenda, will help selectees secure clean school buses provided by
Harlow’s Bus Sales. Harlow’s will receive $13,622,375 to purchase 41 clean
school buses for school districts in Montana and one clean school bus for a
school district in North Dakota.  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.   
Montana recipients include:  
St. Regis School District has been selected to receive two clean school
buses. 
Dixon Public School has been selected to receive one clean school buses.  
Plains Public School has been selected to receive six clean school buses.  
Trout Creek Public School has been selected to receive three clean school
buses. 
Thompson Falls Public School has been selected to receive eight clean school
buses. 
Florence-Carlton has been selected to receive 11 clean school buses. 
Hamilton K-12 has been selected to receive ten clean 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.”?  
“EPA and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continue to transform our school
bus fleets and protect the health of children, families and those who serve
our schools,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “These
investments will eliminate harmful diesel pollution and create safer,
healthier environments in communities across Montana.”   
“In rural Montana, school buses are the vital link between families and the
nearest school — and it’s critical that these buses are safe, up-to-date,
and efficient,” said U.S. Senator Jon Tester. “I’m proud to see my
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law deliver these important funds to get kids to
school safely and keep the air in our communities clean.” 
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 Montana 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 award amounts 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
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 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. 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
rounds of funding, visit the Clean School Bus Program website. Questions
Questions about Clean School Bus Program technical assistance may be directed
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, as well
as 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, 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 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 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 this round 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
make up approximately 86% of the projects selected for funding. The program
delivers on disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved and
overburdened by pollution. 
View the full list of Clean School Bus grantees here. 
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