Biden-Harris Administration Makes $965M Available to Fund Clean School Buses that Reduce Pollution, Save Money, and Protect Children’s Health
Sept. 26, 2024
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the latest round of funding from the Clean School Bus Rebate Program with up to $965 million available to school districts. The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda continues to accelerate the transition of the nearly 500,000 school buses in America to cleaner technologies, helping to protect the more than 25 million children who ride a school bus every day from harmful air pollution. This fourth round of funding will build on the previous nearly $3 billion in investments being distributed nationwide 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.
Under the Clean School Bus Program's multiple grant and rebate funding opportunities to date, EPA has awarded almost $3 billion to fund approximately 8,700 school bus replacements, approximately 95% of which are zero-emission, battery-electric. Funding has been awarded to nearly 1,300 school districts in nearly all 50 states and Washington D.C., along with several federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories, many of which are identified as priority areas serving low-income, rural, and, or Tribal students.
The 2024 Clean School Bus Rebate Competition
Applications for this year’s Clean School Bus Rebate Program are due on the EPA online portal by 4 p.m. EST on January 9, 2025. Applicants can request up to $325,000 per bus for up to 50 buses per application, an increase in the total buses per project in response to stakeholder feedback for larger projects to help achieve faster fleet turnover. Funds can be used to cover bus and infrastructure costs for awardees requesting electric school buses, as well as eligible training costs for bus drivers, electricians, and others working with the new buses or infrastructure.
Read the full press release from the EPA.
Joint Office Technical Assistance for School Districts
The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation offers free technical assistance and resources for fleet managers transitioning their school bus fleet to alternative fuels, including those applying for or who have received previous rounds of Clean School Bus Rebate Program funding.
The technical assistance team can provide support for the planning and implementation of zero-emissions buses and the infrastructure necessary to operate them.
Reach out to the Joint Office today through our contact form for free help with your school bus transition! Need Quick resources? Check out the newly updated technical assistance for school buses webpage for tools, programs and funding information, educational resources, webinars, and case studies.