by Lynn Hartung
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the launch of the 2024 Clean School Bus Program Rebates, which offer funding for school districts to remove polluting diesel buses and transition to a cleaner school bus fleet. Michigan has already seen a positive impact from this program. Before the federal funding, Michigan had only 17 school buses electrified. Since the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IJA), more than 200 clean-powered school buses are or will soon be operational in Michigan.
EPA will accept applications through January 9, 2025, and expects to award $965 million for new, zero-emission clean school buses. Millions of schoolchildren ride diesel buses daily to get between their homes and schools. Research shows frequent exposure to diesel fumes can cause kids to miss school and impact their learning. Diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen and can cause or worsen respiratory illnesses like asthma. Kids are especially vulnerable to these health impacts due to their developing lungs.
For more information on the EPA Clean School Bus Program Rebates, please click here. Be sure to review the Supporting Documents section, which includes the 2024 Clean School Bus Rebate Program Prioritized School District List. Michigan is listed under Region 5. As an important note, even if your school district is not on this list, you can still encourage the district or eligible entity to submit an application. Too often, young people in underserved communities are disproportionately affected by diesel-spewing buses, leading to a higher incidence of respiratory illnesses. By transitioning to electric school buses, we can make a significant difference in these communities.
Shifting to electric school buses is an opportunity to improve the health of millions of students and all the people living in the communities. In addition, the transition will reduce the school operating budgets and be a step toward fighting climate change by reducing CO2 emissions.
Please contact your local school districts about the 2024 Clean School Bus Program Rebates.