|
|---|
|
Biden-Harris Administration Announces More than $29 Million from EPA's Clean School Bus Program for Five Massachusetts School Districts Publisher: Environmental Protection Agency Byline: David Deegan Dateline: Boston, Massachusetts 
Date: 26 October 2022 Subjects: American Government , Buses, The Environment
|
Historic investment from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law headed to all 50 states in effort to transform America's school bus fleet
Contact Information
David Deegan (deegan.dave@epa.gov)
(617) 918-1017
BOSTON (October 26, 2022) — Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the Fiscal Year 2022 recipients of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, awarding $29,570,000 from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to five school districts in Massachusetts. The grants will help school districts purchase 76 clean school buses that will accelerate the transition to zero emissions vehicles and produce cleaner air in and around schools and communities.
Vice President Kamala Harris and EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan will join schoolchildren, district leaders and community members in Seattle, Washington, later today to make the announcement and highlight how it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save schools money, and better protect children's health. The investment will also drive demand for American-made batteries and vehicles, boost domestic manufacturing, and create good-paying jobs.
"President Biden's historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is accelerating our nation's transition to electric and low-emission school buses while ensuring a brighter, healthier future for our children," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "As many as 25 million children rely on the bus to get to school each day. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, we are making an unprecedented investment in our children's health, especially those in communities overburdened by air pollution. This is just the beginning of our work to build a healthier future, reduce climate pollution, and ensure the clean, breathable air that all our children deserve."
"With the new Clean School Bus program, EPA is delivering significant funding to Massachusetts school districts for clean electric school buses, with a particular focus on reducing air pollution in several areas with a large proportion of historically-disadvantaged communities with priority needs," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "These zero-emission vehicles will help provide cleaner and healthier air for school children, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change."
Today's announcement includes funding for buses and infrastructure for the following school districts in Massachusetts:
City of Fall River, 11 school buses, $3,895,000
Bourne/Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical School District, one school bus, $395,000
New Bedford, 14 school buses, $5,530,000
West Springfield/Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, 25 school buses, $9,875,000
Lawrence, 25 school buses, $9,875,000
"Students shouldn't have to breathe dirty air on their ride to school," said U.S. Senator Edward Markey. "I applaud the EPA's latest efforts to use funding passed by Congress to support the deployment of dozens of clean school buses to districts educating more than 30,000 of our Commonwealth's students. A safe, clean ride to school is critical for students' health. Clean school buses will mean more learning and less fossil fuel burning."
"I am excited that five school districts across Massachusetts will be receiving nearly $30 million to replace existing school buses with clean, low-emissions ones. This funding, provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help protect our children and members of the community from diesel emissions, reduce maintenance costs, and work towards our climate goals," said Senator U.S. Elizabeth Warren.
"Since getting the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law across the finish line almost a year ago, I've been working with local leaders like Mayor DePeña to ensure communities across the district get the funding they need," said Congresswoman Lori Trahan. "I couldn't be more thrilled to see Lawrence taking full advantage of this law to build a greener future with cleaner air for our students, our families, and our community. I look forward to welcoming this new fleet of electric school buses and continuing our work across the federal, state, and local levels to deliver more federal investments like this one."
"Replacing existing school buses with zero-emission and lower-emission models is a big step forward for students' health and Fall River's climate action. I'll continue to support these forward-looking efforts," said Congressman Jake Auchincloss.
In May, EPA announced the availability of $500 million for its Clean School Bus Program. Given overwhelming demand from school districts across the country, including in low-income communities, Tribal nations, and territories, EPA nearly doubled the amount of funding that will be awarded to $965 million. The rebate application period closed in August with an outstanding response from school districts seeking to purchase electric and low-emission school buses across the country.
At this time, the agency has selected 389 applications totaling $913 million to support the purchase of 2,463 buses, 95% of which will be electric. EPA will distribute awards to school districts in all 50 states, Washington D.C., along with several federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories. School districts identified as priority areas serving low-income, rural, and, or Tribal students make up 99% of the projects that were selected. More applications are under review, and the agency plans to select more to reach the full $965 million in the coming weeks.
Those school districts who received an award can now 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. EPA is also partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Transportation to provide school districts with robust technical assistance to ensure effective implementation.
These awards are the first $1 billion of a five-year, $5 billion program created by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. EPA is also designing the next rounds of program funding to launch in the coming months, which will include an ambitious grant competition. Through future rounds of funding, EPA will make available another $1 billion for clean school buses in Fiscal Year 2023. EPA encourages school districts not selected in the first round of rebates – and those that did not apply this funding cycle – to participate in future rounds.
About the Clean School Bus Rebate Program
The Clean School Bus Program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money for school districts and produce cleaner air. Diesel air pollution 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. Phasing out these 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 also save school districts money as they upgrade school bus fleets, replacing older, heavily polluting buses with brand new clean school buses, while freeing up needed resources for schools.
The 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates prioritize low-income, rural, and Tribal communities. The vast majority of applicants met the priority definition under the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates criteria, resulting in access to more funds for buses and electric vehicle infrastructure for schools in areas that need them the most. The program also 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 award recipients here.