EPA Awards Rebates to 30 States to Replace School Buses

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded more than $3 million in rebates to replace 210 older diesel school buses with new diesel buses that are more than 90% cleaner, reducing pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Seventy-six school bus fleets in 30 states received rebates through EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funding to replace buses.

Since 2008, the DERA program has funded more than 600 clean diesel projects across the country. The projects have reduced emissions for more than 60,000 engines. “Americans put their children on school buses for a safe ride to school,” said Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “They shouldn’t have to worry about harmful pollutants emitted from these buses. This funding will help keep children safe and improve the health of communities across the coun­try.”

Applicants for rebates were randomly selected and placed on a list until a total of $3 million was allocated. Public and private school buses were eligible to apply for rebates for the replacement of school buses with engine model years of 2006 or older. The recent awards marked the second round of rebates under the program.
In conjunction with Love the Bus month, which is dedicated to showing appreciation for school buses and their drivers, Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality, joined the American School Bus Council at Tuckahoe Elementary School in Arlington, Va. Feb. 10 to discuss the environ­mental benefits provided by new, clean diesel school buses. Tuckahoe Elementary School is part of Arlington Public Schools, a recipient of a 2014 School Bus Replacement Funding Opportunity rebate. The American School Bus Council estimates that each school bus takes about 36 cars off the road each day, which reduces emissions and saves fuel costs for passenger cars.

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