United States Allocates $900 Million to School Districts for Electric School Buses

The White House announced on Wednesday that it is providing nearly $900 million in grants to 530 school districts to replace aging, gas-fueled school buses with cleaner, predominantly electric models.

This funding represents the third installment of a $5 billion program established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 to support the transition to cleaner school buses over a five-year period.

The EPA rebates will assist in purchasing 3,400 school buses, with 92% of them being electric. Approximately 67% of the funds will go to school districts in low-income, tribal, and rural communities.

This initiative is part of President Joe Biden’s efforts to upgrade public school infrastructure, reduce pollution from old buses, cut greenhouse gas emissions, direct federal climate investments to underserved communities, and stimulate the demand for American-produced electric vehicles.

“This announcement goes beyond clean school buses. It’s about the broader impact. We are enhancing air quality for our children, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing our nation’s leadership in the development of clean vehicles for the future,” stated EPA Administrator Michael Regan during a press call. “As the demand for electric school buses rises, we anticipate the creation of new well-paying manufacturing jobs and investments in local businesses.”