In late May 2024, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the recipients of its 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition.

Backed by the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America Agenda, the EPA’s Clean School Bus Rebate Program is awarding $900 million in funding for more than 3,400 new, clean school buses in school districts nationwide. Approximately 530 districts in nearly every state, Washington, D.C., and several U.S. territories and Native American tribes will receive funding earmarked to replace older, diesel-fueled school buses whose exhaust has been shown to be harmful to the health of student riders and their surrounding communities.  More than 90% of the new buses will be electric, furthering a commitment to zero-emission vehicles.

This investment in school transportation is driven by three primary reasons: saving schools money, better protecting children’s health by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and boosting domestic manufacturing jobs and production in American-made batteries and vehicles.

“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.”

This is the third round of funding in the popular EPA program, furthering the previous investment of almost $2 billion through which roughly 8,500 replacement vehicles have already been provided for over 1,000 schools. The funding also frees up resources for the schools to use in other areas.

Reduction in transportation emissions is seen as a vital element in addressing the ongoing climate crisis. Phasing out diesel fuel engines and transitioning to electric is one tool in meeting this challenge.