New clean-energy school buses reduce schoolchildren’s exposure to air pollutants. | epa.gov
New clean-energy school buses reduce schoolchildren’s exposure to air pollutants. | epa.gov
Schools across the commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be receiving new clean-energy buses as part of the first round of funding through the EPA Clean School Bus Program.
Gov. Tom Wolf (D-PA) announced that $34.6 million was awarded for 89 buses over 11 school districts, according to the governor's website. This is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, where $5 billion was invested for low- and zero-emission school buses over five years.
“Families rely on school buses to safely transport their children to and from school and related activities,” Wolf said, according to his website. “We ensure that these buses are safe, and that should include safe for our children’s lungs and environment. I thank President (Joe) Biden for prioritizing pollution reduction and clean energy as part of his broad and comprehensive infrastructure investments. These new buses will decrease air pollution around schools and for schoolchildren.”
There will be grant funding for clean diesel and electric school buses available for school districts through the programs from the Department of Environmental Protection. This includes the Driving PA Forward program, which has grants for Class 8 clean diesel and electric vehicles, including buses. The Alternative Fuels Inventive Grant program has grants for districts for alternative fuel and electric vehicles, which include the clean buses. It also has grants for alternative fuel stations and electric vehicle charging stations.
“These investments into clean vehicles will pay dividends for these districts, saving them on fuel costs and improving air quality,” Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh told the governor's website.
Pennsylvania Department of Education Acting Secretary Eric Hagarty also praised the move to bring clean buses to the schools, saying that it will not only help the environment, but also the health of the children riding the buses.
“Thousands of school buses transport students to and from school each day in cities and towns across the commonwealth, so these grants will go a long way toward reducing our carbon footprint and ensuring reliable, safe and clean transportation for Pennsylvania’s most precious cargo — our children,” Hagarty said, according to the governor's website.
The grants will be distribute to the following school districts: Troy Area School District, Halifax Area School District, Harrisburg City School District, Steelton-Highspire School District, Scranton School District, Greater Nanticoke Area School District, Mifflin County School District, Northern Potter School District, Southern Tioga School District, Washington School District and Avella Area School District.
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