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 $4,345,000 from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to four school districts in Vermont. The grants will help school districts purchase 11 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 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 Vermont school districts for clean electric school buses, with a particular focus on reducing air pollution in 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.”
The announcement includes funding for buses and infrastructure for the following school districts in Vermont:
• White River Valley Supervisory Union/Royalton, three school buses, $1,185,000
• Windsor Central Modified Unified Union School District/Woodstock, three school buses, $1,185,000
• Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union/Taconic and Green Regional School District/Sunderland, four school buses, $1,580,000
• Caledonia Central Supervisory Union/Danville, one school bus, $395,000
“Electrifying our transportation system is critical to our efforts to combat climate change, which is why it has been a priority for my administration,” said Vermont Governor Phil Scott. “We need to continue investing in greener transportation, and we can’t do it alone, which is why I’m grateful to the EPA and our federal partners for their collaboration and commitment to these efforts.”
“After fighting hard to make sure Vermont got its fair share in the infrastructure bill, I am glad to see this important federal investment go to work today to protect the health of our students, our communities, and our environment. Making the switch from dirty diesel-powered buses to clean, zero-emission school buses is not only good for the environment and our air quality, but will in fact help schools and taxpayers save money in the long term. The work does not end here and as a member of the Environment and Public Works committee, I will continue to find ways to safeguard our young people, strengthen our schools, protect our environment, and combat the existential threat of climate change. Congratulations to White River Valley Supervisory Union, Windsor Central Supervisory Union, Taconic and Green Regional School District, and Caledonia Central Supervisory Union on today’s awards,” said U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.
“The grant funding from the Clean School Bus Rebate program will allow Vermont schools to transition to zero-emission busses, protecting our environment and reducing health risks for our kids,” said U.S. Representative Peter Welch. “I’m thrilled to have worked with Senators Leahy and Sanders to deliver this critical funding to Vermont.”
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.
