Yellow school buses are going green with a $1 billion investment

EPA funding will allow school districts to purchase electric and low-emission buses, but it could be a bumpy transition for some districts

By Maxine Joselow and Anna Phillips
Updated January 8, 2024 at 11:17 a.m. EST | Published January 8, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. EST

For decades, American children have traveled to school in buses that spew pollution — diesel fumes that have been linked to asthma and other ailments. ... If the Biden administration has its way, those humble yellow school buses will soon play a key role in the green-energy transition sweeping the nation.

On Monday, the administration announced nearly $1 billion for school districts to replace diesel buses with cleaner versions, including electric buses. The grants are aimed at protecting kids from harmful air pollution while curbing the greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the planet.

The money comes from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, which authorized a total of $5 billion for cleaner school buses. The Environmental Protection Agency will dole out grants that will allow more than 280 school districts serving more than 7 million students nationwide to purchase more than 2,700 clean buses. Overall, the agency has already allocated nearly $2 billion of the $5 billion.

{snip}

By Anna Phillips
Anna Phillips is a national reporter for the Washington Post, focusing on the Biden administration's efforts to tackle climate change. She previously covered environmental policy for the Los Angeles Times and was a courts and local government reporter for the Tampa Bay Times. Twitter https://twitter.com/annamphillips

News Releases: Headquarters | Air and Radiation (OAR)

Biden-Harris Administration announces nearly $1B in awards for clean school buses across the nation as part of Investing in America Agenda

January 8, 2024

Contact Information
EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting children and improving air quality, today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the selection of 67 applicants to receive nearly $1 billion 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 purchase over 2,700 clean school buses in 280 school districts serving over 7 million students across 37 states. 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.

With today’s announcement, EPA’s Clean School Bus Program has awarded nearly $2 billion and funded approximately 5,000 electric and low-emission school buses nationwide.

“Every school day, 25 million children ride our nation’s largest form of mass transit: the school bus. The vast majority of those buses run on diesel, exposing students, teachers, and bus drivers to toxic air pollution,” said Vice President Kamala Harris. “Today, we are announcing nearly $1 billion to fund clean school buses across the nation. As part of our work to tackle the climate crisis, the historic funding we are announcing today is an investment in our children, their health, and their education. It also strengthens our economy by investing in American manufacturing and America’s workforce.”

“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.”

{snip}