Paul StinsonThe state of Texas will receive $26.2 million from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to replace 75 diesel-burning school buses with zero- or low-emission models across seven school districts. The funding comes from the Clean School Bus Program (CSB), a $5 billion five-year initiative to replace polluting school buses and deliver cleaner air to communities.
School buses powered by diesel engines produce air pollution linked to asthma and other respiratory conditions that affect student attendance, well-being and success. To date, the federal agency has awarded $1.84 billion to replace 5,103 buses nationwide according to the EPA website.
Alief Independent School District is receiving $7.9 million to acquire 20 clean school buses. The independent school districts of Fort Worth and San Antonio will receive a combined $12 million to support separate purchases of 15 clean school buses. The EPA will also direct more than $6.2 million to Austin Independent School District to replace 25 buses.
A trio of private companies who provide bus services will get a combined $77.8 million EPA boost to support the total purchase of 213 clean school vehicles in Texas and neighboring states:
Envirotech Vehicles received more than $8.5 million to purchase 25 clean school buses Texas and Arkansas.
Lion Electric Co USA, Inc gets $38.1 million to acquire 97 clean school buses in Texas and Louisiana.
Highland CSB 1, LLC is receiving more than $31.1 million in support of replacing 91 school buses in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.
The EPA is still accepting applications for the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program until Jan. 31, 2024. The EPA will announce projects selected for rebates in April.
Strategic Partnerships, Inc. can provide information on contract opportunities, plus existing and future government funding. For more information, contact research@spartnerships.com.
Photo courtesy of Maximilian Simson on Unsplash.
