Yesterday, May 29, the Government announced the recipients of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, funded by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
EPA selected 530 school districts spanning nearly every state, Washington, D.C., and several Tribes and U.S. territories to receive nearly 900 million dollars in funds to replace older, diesel fueled school buses that have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and surrounding communities.
These rebates will help school districts purchase over 3,400 clean school vehicles – 92 percent of which will be electric – to accelerate the transition to zero emission units and produce cleaner air in and around schools and communities.
Under the Program’s multiple grant and rebate funding opportunities to date, the EPA has awarded almost three billion dollars to fund approximately 8,500 school bus replacements at over 1,000 schools.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson and U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson joined schoolchildren, district leaders and community members in Jackson, Mississippi, later today to make the announcement and highlight how the program 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 for Americans.
“President Biden believes every child deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy life and breathe clean air, and his Investing in America agenda is designed to deliver just that,” states Michael S. Regan.
“I am grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for expanding opportunities to provide clean school buses to schools and students in Mississippi’s Second Congressional District,” indicates Congressman Bennie G. Thompson.
In September 2023, the EPA announced the availability of at least 500 million dollars for its 2023 Clean School Bus rebates.
The rebate application period closed in February 2024 with an overwhelming response from school districts across the country seeking to purchase electric and clean school vehicles.
Given the level of demand, including from low-income communities, Tribal nations and U.S. territories, the EPA doubled the initial amount of available funding in this round to a total of nearly one billion dollars.
This third round of funding will build on the previous investments of almost two billion dollars via the Clean School Bus Program’s 2022 Rebates and 2023 Grants.
The selections announced yesterday will provide funds to school districts in 47 states and Washington D.C., along with several federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories.
Prioritized school districts in low-income, rural and Tribal communities make up approximately 45 percent of the selected projects and will receive approximately 67 percent of the total funding.
The program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution.
The EPA is also partnering with other federal agencies through the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to provide school districts with robust technical assistance to ensure effective implementation.
The EPA is continuing to review selected applications and may make additional awards from this announcement.
The EPA encourages school districts not selected for the 2023 CSB Rebate Program – and those that did not apply – to participate in currently open funding programs, and future CSB funding rounds.
About the Clean School Bus Program
The EPA Clean School Bus Program was created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides an unprecedented five billion dollars of funding to transform the nation’s fleet of school vehicles.
The Program funds electric buses, which produce zero tailpipe emissions, as well as propane and compressed natural gas (CNG) units.
The Program will save school districts money as they upgrade school bus fleets, replacing existing units with brand new zero-emission and clean school buses, while freeing up needed resources for schools.
