Thanks to a rebate from the Biden administration, California has accumulated $91 million extra for its school districts.
The funds went to 47 California school districts to assist them in purchasing up to 380 clean-air buses. The new electric buses, also known as low-emission school buses, are more sustainable in the long run. The buses emit less carbon dioxide, contributing significantly to the fight against climate change.
According to various reports, diesel buses have been the primary source of air pollution, which negatively impacts the environment and children’s health. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, is proud to support the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) in announcing that several schools in Los Angeles will be receiving funding from the Clean School Bus Rebate Program to transition to cleaner, electric buses.
The Clean Bus Program not only assists in the fight against climate change but also provides healthier and safer rides for schoolchildren. The school buses could also significantly improve children’s health as the children face less pollution and poor air quality in the state, and the schools also stand a chance of receiving more significant economic benefits.
The primary objective of the buses is to improve students’ health, but according to Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee, there could also be a financial benefit to the schools. Maintenance and operation of these buses could be more cost-effective for the bottom line, as some school districts must budget carefully while delivering services to their students.
The new clean-air buses will permit school districts to avoid using their older diesel-powered buses, which create significant environmental and health concerns.
According to a statement released by Martha Guzman, the regional administrator of the EPA for the Pacific Southwest Region, the EPA is proud to take a bold step forward in advancing the rollout of electric school buses in California, which will help create a future with clean air for children.
Martha Guzman added that she personally witnessed the benefits of electric buses, which include better health conditions for students, school staff, and the surrounding environment due to the lack of harmful diesel emissions. Thanks to the investments in electric buses, more electric buses will be on the road in the school districts in California.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken many steps in recent years to secure more clean-air buses. According to the agency, it used $500 million to fund rebates nationwide in 2013, and since then, many school districts have applied for the funding.
Because of the tremendous interest, the agency decided to double the funds available. The agency is still reviewing applications, and more funds could be available. The initial application window started in September 2023 and ended in February 2024. The applicants will be updated by the end of May.
Beene added that switching to electric buses could also influence students’ choice of electric cars when they are of driving age. Seeing their schools undergo massive change to assist both the planet and the pocketbooks of an entity will make some impact in the long run.
