The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that more than 8,000 electric school buses have been funded as part of the Clean School Bus Program (CSBP).
The program was created as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which provides $5 billion over five years to replace diesel-burning buses with zero or lower emission options. The most recent awards, which occurred in May, represent the third annual offering according to the Electric School Bus Initiative, which provided an update on the program.
Through June 2024, the EPA has released $3 billion through 966 awards, equaling 8,500 school buses covering 1,200 districts. The replacement buses are 95 percent electric school buses representing 49 states, four territories, Washington D.C. and Tribal school districts. Of the 8,500 electric buses ordered, a total of 750 have been deployed, servicing about 36,000 riders.
CSBP reports that nearly 500,000 school buses transport about 21 million students each year. Most of those buses operate on diesel fuel. Diesel, according to the EPA, has been linked to cognitive development impacts and can contribute to health issues such as asthma and other respiratory diseases.
Due to program demands, the third round of funding in May increased from $500 million to nearly $1 billion. As applications continue to be reviewed, an additional 30 more districts and $65 million in funding is being considered.
Underserved communities disproportionally impacted by pollution receive specific attention to participate in the program. At least 40 percent of the benefits for climate programs go to such communities. Twenty percent of the funding also goes to school districts with more than half the district population people of color.
Dave Lubach is executive editor for the facility market.
