8 Arizona school districts receive federal funds for cleaner buses
Eight Arizona school districts are receiving over $11 million in federal funds to purchase low- and zero-emission school buses, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The funding is through the Clean School Bus Rebate Program, a five-year, $5 billion program created by the bipartisan infrastructure law Congress passed last year. The program allows school districts to replace existing buses with zero-emission buses or buses operated entirely or partly using alternative fuel.
“We’re keeping Arizona children safe through cleaner and more reliable school transportation — giving peace of mind to Arizona parents knowing that their children are safe in these newer, safer buses,” said Sen. Kyrsten Sinema in a statement.
School districts, which submitted applications to receive program funding, were selected by the EPA through a lottery system.
As of Wednesday, the agency has selected nearly 400 applications to receive more than $913 million, according to the EPA. The funding will support the purchase of nearly 2,500 buses. Nearly all will be electric, according to EPA records.
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Arizona recipients
Eight school districts in the state will receive a total of $11,415,000 to procure 52 school buses, according to the EPA. More than half of the buses will be electric.
"When we invest in our sustainable infrastructure, those dollars not only make a difference in the health of our roads and bridges, but they also make a difference in the health of our community," Rep. Greg Stanton said in a statement.
Arizona recipients include:
Cedar Unified District — one electric bus
Isaac Elementary District — six electric buses
Littlefield Unified District — three electric buses
Mesa Unified District — 25 propane buses
Mohave Valley Elementary District — seven electric buses
Paloma School District — one electric bus
Red Mesa Unified District — three electric buses
Somerton Elementary District — six electric buses
Benefits of clean school buses
Zero-emission buses and alternative fuel buses reduce the amount of diesel exhaust and greenhouse gases emitted into the environment, according to the EPA.
Nearly all school buses currently run on diesel, which creates air pollution that is linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses, the EPA said in a statement. Children, whose lungs are still developing, are at risk of health issues from diesel exhaust that can cause them to miss school.
Zero-emission buses also save school districts money.
Diane E. Brown, executive director of the Arizona PIRG Education Fund, said electric school buses have lower fuel, operation and maintenance costs than diesel-fueled buses.
“The school districts that have chosen to replace their buses with electric buses will receive the greatest benefits, both financially and for the health of their students,” she said.
An additional $1 billion will be provided in Fiscal Year 2023 for clean school buses. School districts not selected in the first round of rebates can participate in upcoming funding cycles.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 8 Arizona school districts receive federal funds for cleaner buses
