BOSTON (Mar. 4, 2024) – Today, federal, state, and local leaders joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to celebrate funding through EPA's first Clean School Bus Program Grants Competition. The award to DATTCO, Inc., which includes 15 new electric buses in Worcester, accelerates the transition to low- and zero-emission vehicles, improves air quality for children and their families and advances environmental justice, all while boosting the economy and creating good-paying jobs.
The Clean School Bus Program is having far-reaching effects across school districts and their surrounding communities. Air pollution from older diesel engines is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students' health and can cause them to miss school.
"By prioritizing electric buses, we're not just reducing emissions, we're tackling environmental injustices, ensuring every child, regardless of zip code, breathes clean air and has a healthier future. In Worcester, the air will be cleaner, and kids will not be breathing in fumes that will give them asthma attacks or increase the chance of future health problems," said EPA Regional Administrator David Cash. " Phasing out older diesel engines, which disproportionately affect communities of color and Tribal communities, ensures cleaner air for students, bus drivers, school staff working near bus loading areas, and the communities the buses drive each day."
"After years of fighting for investments in clean energy, I'm glad that we are able to deliver federal funding for a fleet of new electric school buses in Massachusetts. With this funding, we can reduce health risks from air pollution, boost domestic manufacturing while creating good-paying jobs in the process, and fight the climate crisis for the next generation. This is a big win for our communities, and I will keep fighting for more of these investments," said Senator Warren.
"This new funding for clean school buses from the Biden administration is going to help keep our communities and children safe from pollution, while creating a more livable future for Worcester students and residents all across Massachusetts and our country," said Senator Markey. "We fought hard to include this funding in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I thank the EPA for enabling Massachusetts to continue down the road to cleaner air."
"More parents in Worcester can send their kids to school with confidence knowing they will ride on a pollution-free bus thanks to this EPA Clean School Bus Award," said Congressman James P. McGovern. "School bus exhaust fumes can have a debilitating effect on communities, increasing the risk of kids developing asthma and releasing greenhouse gases that worsen climate change. This funding from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law means more efficient, cost-saving buses can hit the road."
"The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to fostering the transition to electric vehicles across Massachusetts. Particularly important are older diesel school buses, which not only contribute to greenhouse gas emissions but also directly affect some of our most vulnerable residents: children," said Commissioner Bonnie Heiple of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. "We are grateful for the federal investment in electric buses that will help students in Worcester, Fall River, and New Bedford breathe easier with every ride to and from school."
"I am so grateful for the hard work done by our federal delegation, the EPA, and the Worcester Public Schools to ensure that our scholars have access to cleaner, more efficient transportation. This grant will allow us to further our mission with the Green Worcester Plan by reducing carbon emissions on Worcester’s Streets," said Mayor Joseph Petty
"With the help of our federal and state partners, Worcester Public Schools is once again at the forefront of the evolution in school transportation," said Rachel H. Monárrez, PhD, Superintendent of the Worcester Public Schools. "Our district is now in its second year of having school bus operations completely in-house. Because of this, we can work with the EPA to reduce our carbon footprint. We are laying the foundation for a more environmentally friendly fleet that grows our economy and has a positive health impact on our community."
About the Clean School Bus Program
EPA's $5 billion Clean School Bus Program, created by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, includes both a grant program where selected applicants are awarded funds to purchase buses, and a rebate program that allows selectees to receive awards before purchasing eligible buses that replace existing school buses with clean and zero-emission models.
The Clean School Bus Program funds electric buses, producing zero tailpipe emissions, as well as propane and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, resulting in lower tailpipe emissions compared to their older diesel predecessors. The clean school buses that will be funded under these grants will significantly reduce exposure to air emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that cause health impacts to children such as the increased risk of asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
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 benefit school districts as they upgrade to cost saving and fuel-efficient school bus fleets, by replacing existing buses with brand new zero-emission and clean school buses and freeing up needed resources for schools.
Prioritized school districts in low-income, rural, and/or Tribal communities make up approximately 86% of the projects selected for funding. The program 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.
Additional information is available at https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus.
from EPA News Releases https://ift.tt/OvV7TU8