Some good news to share today: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the latest round of funding from the Clean School Bus Rebate Program with up to $965 million available to school districts.
This fourth round of funding will build on the previous nearly $3 billion in investments being distributed nationwide to further improve air quality in and around schools, reduce greenhouse gas pollution fueling the climate crisis, and help accelerate America's leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the future.
Under the Clean School Bus Program's multiple grant and rebate funding opportunities to date, EPA has awarded almost $3 billion to fund approximately 8,700 school bus replacements, about 95% of which are zero-emission, battery-electric.
About the 2024 Clean School Bus Rebate Competition
Here are some need-to-know details for those who want to apply:
Applications for this year's Clean School Bus Rebate Program are due on the EPA online portal by 4 p.m. Jan 9.
Applicants can request up to $325,000 per bus for up to 50 buses per application, an increase in the total buses per project in response to stakeholder feedback for larger projects to help achieve faster fleet turnover.
Funds can be used to cover bus and infrastructure costs for awardees requesting electric school buses, as well as eligible training costs for bus drivers, electricians, and others working with the new buses or infrastructure.
But that's not all: Selectees may also be eligible for Inflation Reduction Act tax credits applicable to their bus and infrastructure purchases.
For example, the clean vehicle tax credits for qualifying school buses are worth up to $40,000. Narrowing the cost difference between clean school buses and diesel school buses remains an integral goal of the EPA Clean School Bus Program. The agency adjusted electric school bus funding levels in this rebate program to help stretch funding further and drive down long-term electric school bus costs.
EPA is committed to ensuring the Clean School Bus Program advances environmental justice and delivers on President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which sets a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
EPA will prioritize applications that replace buses serving low-income, rural, and Tribal students. Large school districts with communities of concentrated poverty may also submit documentation to be prioritized if their application focuses on clean school buses serving those communities.
GASP has stood with advocates and public officials to celebrate and push for these types of historic investments, and we laud the EPA for its commitment to cleaner, greener school buses
"Diesel pollution is linked to asthma and myriad other public health problems and reductions in those emissions can make a real difference to the kids who have to breathe them - less emergency inhaler use; less missed school days because of asthma and other respiratory issues," GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. "This is an amazing opportunity that we hope local districts will seize - especially schools in environmental justice communities like the Mon Valley, where significant air quality challenges already exist."
To learn more about the EPA Clean School Bus Program, visit the Clean School Bus Program webpage. Questions and feedback may be directed to CleanSchoolBus@epa.gov.