The federal government is allocating nearly $1 billion for nearly 400 school districts to buy electric-powered buses.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program will help districts purchase over 2,400 clean school buses and accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles, the EPA says in a news release.
In May, EPA announced the that it had about $500 million for its Clean School Bus Program. Now, with popularity for the program, the Biden administration has boosted funding has to nearly $965 million.
The agency will provide $913 million to 389 districts to purchase 2,463 buses, 95% of which will be electric.
The Clean School Bus Program aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money and produce cleaner air. The EPA says 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 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 EPA says.
