LENEXA, KAN. (SEPT. 14, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 celebrated the delivery of five new electric school buses to Cassville R-IV. The Missouri school district received nearly $2 million in funding to purchase the five electric buses and charging equipment infrastructure through the Agency’s 2022 Clean School Bus Rebate Program.
Cassville R-IV is one of 25 districts in Missouri benefiting from EPA’s first round of Clean School Bus Program funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In total, Missouri districts received approximately $22.5 million in funding to purchase 57 electric buses across the state.
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5 billion for decarbonizing our nation’s school bus fleet,” said EPA Region 7 Air and Radiation Acting Division Director DeAndré Singletary. “EPA Region 7 is proud to see a portion of this historic funding go to the Cassville school district, providing a cleaner mode of transportation for students.”
“This visit marks a significant milestone for our district as we proudly showcase the successful integration of five state-of-the-art electric buses into our fleet," said Cassville R-IV Superintendent Dr. Merlyn Johnson. "We believe that these federally funded buses will enhance the overall safety and comfort of our students. We are thankful to the EPA for recognizing our efforts and for approving our grant application."
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 address the outsized role of the transportation sector in fueling the climate crisis. The program results in school districts saving money on maintenance and fuel 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 prioritized 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.
EPA is also funding clean school buses through a grant competition for which the first application period closed Aug. 22, 2023. EPA expects to announce awards in early 2024. EPA is planning to open a second rebate program application period this fall.
View the full list of Clean School Bus award recipients.
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