FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 26, 2022
Contact: Carolina Chacon | 702-810-7155 | carolina@chaconconsulting.com
Alliance for Electric School Buses Applauds Transformational Rebate Awards for EPA Clean School Bus Program
Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the recipients of the inaugural, $965 million Clean School Bus Program rebates. The Clean School Bus Program, created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, will invest $5 billion over 5 years in clean school buses. The 2022 rebates will fund approximately 2,400 new school buses for nearly 400 school districts across all 50 states, 30 Tribal Nations and multiple U.S. territories, with the overwhelming majority of funds going to electric school buses. Alliance for Electric School Buses Coalition Manager Carolina Chacon issued the following statement in response to the EPA’s announcement:
“The Alliance for Electric School Buses is excited to see this transformational program provide funding for hundreds of school districts across the country to purchase electric school buses. We are especially elated to see that over 90% of the winners will be investing in electric school buses, the cleanest and healthiest option for children.
These new electric buses will eliminate dangerous toxins in the air our children and communities breathe and reduce climate-harming pollution. For students and drivers, this means quieter rides, better health and fewer missed days of school or work due to preventable respiratory illnesses.
As we have noted previously, there is still urgent work to do to ensure this program prioritizes and reaches the communities breathing the dirtiest air and who desperately need relief: low-income communities and Black, Indigenous and communities of color. We also urge EPA to adopt measures for subsequent funding rounds that promote the creation of high-quality, family-sustaining jobs for school bus drivers, mechanics, manufacturing workers and electricians. We will continue pushing to secure funding, equitable financing and inclusive utility investment programs for school districts looking for additional opportunities to deploy electric school buses.
Today’s announcement is the result of years of advocacy by families, students and community members seeking federal funding to facilitate their local school districts investing in a clean ride for kids. Our coalition remains committed to helping school districts get electric school buses on the road. Together, we are driving the charge for pollution-free communities and healthier children.”
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About the Alliance for Electric School Buses: We are a diverse partnership of not-for-profit organizations committed to fully transition the U.S. school bus fleet to electric models that will clean up the air 25 million children breathe. Our coalition represents environmental, equity, community, and labor groups who work at the local, state and federal levels.
Members include: Chispa Arizona, Chispa Florida, Chispa Maryland, Chispa LCV, Chispa Nevada, Clean Energy Works, Dream.org, Earthjustice, EcoMadres, Electric School Bus Newsletter, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Jobs to Move America, League of Conservation Voters, Moms Clean Air Force, Mothers Out Front, New York League of Conservation Voters, Protegete, Save the Sound, Sierra Club, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Union of Concerned Scientists, US PIRG, VEIC, Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action and WE ACT for Environmental Justice.