EPA grants awarded in USA for 3,400 clean school buses (92% electric) in 530 districts

3,400 clean school buses (92% of which will be electric) funded in USA. Biden-Harris Administration announced on 29th May the recipients of nearly $900 million for Clean School Buses within EPA’s Clean School Bus Rebate Program funded by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

Fundings will be distributed in approximately 530 districts across the nation, spanning nearly every state, Washington, D.C., and several Tribes and U.S. territories

Under the Program’s multiple grant and rebate funding opportunities to date, the EPA has awarded almost $3 billion to fund approximately 8,500 school bus replacements at over 1,000 schools.

Given the strong push by the current administration to zero emission vehicles, electric school buses are gaining more traction in the North American bus market: according to forecasts dating back to 2022, 27,000 units are to be built in ten years in the US. It is worth mentioning that New York City school bus fleet must be fully electric by 2035.

EPA round of funding for clean school buses in USA

“In September 2023, the EPA announced the availability of at least $500 million for its 2023 Clean School Bus rebates – EPA press release sums up -. 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 buses. 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 $1 billion”. 

This third round of funding will build on the previous investments of almost $2 billion via the Clean School Bus Program’s 2022 Rebates and 2023 Grants 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.

“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,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With today’s latest round of funding, we are transforming the nation’s school bus fleet to better protect our most precious cargo—our kids—saving school districts money, improving air quality, and bolstering American manufacturing all at the same time.”

“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,” said Congressman Bennie G. Thompson. “This initiative ensures that children have a cleaner, safer, and more efficient means of school transportation and contributes to protecting our environment. By making meaningful progress and offering valuable opportunities for our students, we are paving the way toward stronger student success.”