EPA Press Office:

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $8 Million Across Nevada for Clean School Buses as Part of the Investing in America Agenda

SAN FRANCISCO – As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting children and improving air quality, today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Nevada is set to receive funding through EPA’s first Clean School Bus Program Grants Competition. The award, made possible through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, will help purchase clean school buses in several school districts across Nevada. By accelerating the transition to low- and zero-emission vehicles, this funding will improve air quality for children and their families, advance environmental justice, boost the economy, and create good-paying jobs.

• Nevada Clean Energy Fund has been selected to receive $7,704,04 to purchase 25 school buses.

“Today we’re once again accelerating the transition to electric and low-emission school buses in America, helping to secure a healthier future where all our children can breathe cleaner air,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I’ve sat next to students on their very first clean school bus ride, and their excitement reflects the power of good policy.  Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, thousands more school buses will hit the road in school districts across the country, saving school districts money and improving air quality at the same time.” 

“I’m thrilled to see these federal dollars for clean buses that I fought for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law coming to Nevada to help our schools lower their energy costs and keep kids safe and healthy,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Nevada’s clean energy boom is creating jobs and helping students and families across the state, and I’ll continue working together to ensure Nevadans have the resources they need to succeed.”

“Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which I helped write and pass, Nevada’s schools will receive nearly $8 million for electric school buses that will benefit students across our state,” said Senator Rosen. “This critical funding will help modernize our schools’ transportation system, leading to lower energy costs and cleaner air for our students and their families.”

The Clean School Bus Program has far-reaching effects on school districts and their communities. Air pollution from older diesel engines is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health and can cause them to miss school. Phasing out these older diesel engines, which disproportionately affect communities of color and Tribal communities, ensures cleaner air for students, bus drivers, school staff working near bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive daily.

After an extensive review process, the EPA Clean School Bus Program has selected the Notice of Funding Opportunity’s top-tier Nevada applicants to receive this historic investment in their community.

Proactive and ongoing communication with key stakeholders, like school boards and local utilities, is critical to successful bus and infrastructure deployment. To ensure the successful implementation of the selected projects funding electric buses and charging infrastructure, EPA has created a Utility Partnership Template, which encourages early and robust engagement between the applicant and their utility company. Additional details can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity on the Clean School Bus Program Website.

Grantees will work with their EPA Regional Project Officers to finalize project plans and purchase their awarded new buses and eligible infrastructure. The total amounts awarded and the number of buses may be adjusted as grants are finalized. EPA is also partnering with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to provide grantees with robust technical assistance to ensure effective implementation. All selectees must submit a Utility Partnership Agreement to verify the school district’s electric utility provider is aware of the district’s rebate application.

EPA’s $5 billion Clean School Bus Program, created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, includes both a grant program where selected applicants are awarded funds to purchase buses and a rebate program that allows selectees to receive awards before purchasing eligible buses that replace existing school buses with clean and zero-emission models. Today’s Clean School Bus grants are the second round of selections announced for the newly created program. EPA will make more funds available for clean school buses in additional rounds of funding.

EPA is currently accepting applications for the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program until January 31, 2024. EPA encourages applicants not selected for the 2023 Clean School Bus Grant Program – and those who did not apply – to participate in current and future funding rounds. Once the application period for the 2023 rebate program closes and the school districts selected are notified, school districts can proceed with purchasing new buses and eligible infrastructure. Selectees must submit Payment Request Forms with purchase orders demonstrating they have ordered new buses and eligible infrastructure. After the selectees submit the proper forms, they will be eligible to receive rebate funds. All selectees must submit a Utility Partnership Agreement to verify that the school district’s electric utility provider is aware of the school district’s rebate application.

To learn more about the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program, applicant eligibility, selection process, and informational webinar dates for future funding rounds, visit the Clean School Bus Program website. Questions about applying for funding may be directed to cleanschoolbus@epa.gov. Questions about Clean School Bus Program technical assistance may be directed to CleanSchoolBusTA@nrel.gov.

 

About the Clean School Bus Program

EPA’s Clean School Bus Program was adopted under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides an unprecedented $5 billion of funding to transform the nation’s fleet of school buses. The Clean School Bus Program funds electric buses, producing zero tailpipe emissions and propane and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, resulting in lower tailpipe emissions compared to their older diesel predecessors.

The Clean School Bus Program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money for school districts, and produce cleaner air. Air pollution from older diesel engines is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health and cause them to miss school, particularly in communities of color and Tribal communities. Efforts to minimize the effects of these older diesel engines will ensure cleaner air for students, bus drivers, school staff working near the bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day.

The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from these bus replacements will also help to address the outsized role of the transportation sector in fueling the climate crisis. The Program will benefit school districts as they upgrade to cost-saving and fuel-efficient school bus fleets by replacing existing buses with new zero-emission and clean school buses and freeing up needed school resources.

In April 2023, EPA announced the availability of at least $400 million for its 2023 Clean School Bus Grants through a Notice of Funding Opportunity. The grant application period closed in August 2023 with an outstanding response from applicants seeking to purchase electric and low-emission school buses. Given the overwhelming demand and high-scoring applications, including applicants in low-income communities, Tribal nations, and territories, EPA has nearly doubled this round's funding to approximately $965 million. These awards follow over $875 million obligated to new buses from the Clean School Bus Program’s 2022 Rebates, which funded the replacement of 2,366 buses at 372 school districts to further improve air quality in and around schools, to reduce greenhouse gas pollution fueling the climate crisis, and help accelerate America’s leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the future.

Prioritized school districts in low-income, rural, and/or Tribal communities comprise approximately 86% of the projects selected for funding. The program delivers on President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. For more information, please email CleanSchoolBus@epa.gov. 

View the complete list of Clean School Bus grantees here.

Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and X.