THE FOLLOWING RELEASE IS PROVIDED BY CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY’S OFFICE
CHICAGO (May 29, 2024) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced 28 school districts across Illinois will benefit from the 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, funded by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The program will help Illinois accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles and to replace existing school buses, which have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and surrounding communities.
- Washington SD 52 has been selected to receive $400,000 in rebate funding to purchase 2 clean school buses.
- A-C Central CUSD 262 has been selected to receive $420,000 in rebate funding to purchase 2 clean school buses.
- Illini Bluffs CUSD 327 has been selected to receive $600,000 in rebate funding to purchase 3 clean school buses.
- McLean County USD 5 has been selected to receive $1,060,000 in rebate funding to purchase 5 clean school buses.
- Tremont CUSD 702 has been selected to receive $565,000 in rebate funding to purchase 3 clean school buses.
- Aurora West USD 129 has been selected to receive $5,000,000 in rebate funding to purchase 25 clean school buses.
- Naperville CUSD 203 has been selected to receive $1,000,000 in rebate funding to purchase 5 clean school buses.
- Springfield SD 186 has been selected to receive $7,935,000 in rebate funding to purchase 23 clean school buses.
- Hoover-Schrum Memorial SD 157 has been selected to receive $1,725,000 in rebate funding to purchase 5 clean school buses.
- Harlem UD 122 has been selected to receive $800,000 in rebate funding to purchase 4 clean school buses.
- Hoopeston Area CUSD 11 has been selected to receive $690,000 in rebate funding to purchase 2 clean school buses.
- Bureau Valley CUSD 340 has been selected to receive $1,725,000 in rebate funding to purchase 5 clean school buses.
- Township HSD 113 has been selected to receive $565,000 in rebate funding to purchase 3 clean school buses.
- Wethersfield CUSD 230 has been selected to receive $620,000 in rebate funding to purchase 3 clean school buses.
- Zion-Benton Township HSD 126 has been selected to receive $400,000 in rebate funding to purchase 2 clean school buses.
- Lansing SD 158 has been selected to receive $2,760,000 in rebate funding to purchase 8 clean school buses.
- Grayville CUSD 1 has been selected to receive $690,000 in rebate funding to purchase 2 clean school buses.
- Vienna HSD 133 has been selected to receive $400,000 in rebate funding to purchase 2 clean school buses.
- Urbana SD 116 has been selected to receive $3,060,000 in rebate funding to purchase 15 clean school buses.
- Manteno CUSD 5 has been selected to receive $200,000 in rebate funding to purchase 1 clean school bus.
- River Trails SD 26 has been selected to receive $2,020,200 in rebate funding to purchase 10 clean school buses.
- United Township HSD 30 has been selected to receive $840,000 in rebate funding to purchase 4 clean school buses.
- Palatine CCSD 15 has been selected to receive $5,000,000 in rebate funding to purchase 25 clean school buses.
- Peoria SD 150 has been selected to receive $4,830,000 in rebate funding to purchase 14 clean school buses.
- Edwardsville CUSD 7 has been selected to receive $400,000 in rebate funding to purchase 2 clean school buses.
- Eldorado CUSD 4 has been selected to receive $1,035,000 in rebate funding to purchase 3 clean school buses.
- Du Quoin CUSD 300 has been selected to receive $2,620,000 in rebate funding to purchase 8 clean school buses.
- Forest Park SD 91 has been selected to receive $1,040,000 in rebate funding to purchase 5 clean school buses.
“President Biden believes every child deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy life and breathe clean air, and his Investing in America agenda is designed to deliver just that,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With today’s latest round of funding, we are transforming the nation’s school bus fleet to better protect our most precious cargo—our kids—saving school districts money, improving air quality, and bolstering American manufacturing all at the same time.”
“Today’s Clean School Bus announcement underscores EPA’s commitment to protecting both human health and the environment, especially for the most vulnerable among us,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. “Thanks to the unprecedented funding made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, more students throughout the Great Lakes region will have access to cleaner, safer school transportation.”
“No child should have to breathe diesel fumes on their way to school. These School Bus Grants represent a commitment to a healthier, greener future for our children,” said Sen. Dick Durbin. “By transitioning to electric school buses, we are reducing harmful diesel pollution and investing in the sustainability of our communities. I am glad to see that more Illinois School Districts will receive this funding and encourage every Illinois School District to apply for the next round. This marks a significant step forward in our collective responsibility to provide a healthier and more environmentally conscious education system for generations to come.”
“Thanks to President Joe Biden’s historic Infrastructure Law, millions of dollars will soon be distributed through the Clean School Bus Program to replace dirty diesel school buses with clean and zero-emission buses. Every child deserves a healthy future,” said Rep. Jan Schakowsky. “This investment is a critical step in the fight against climate change and will improve air quality not only in Illinois, but across the nation. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to support common sense measures that protect the right of all, especially our children, to a safe and habitable climate.”
“Clean School Bus rebates are essential to eventually ending harmful pollution brought on by our nation’s school buses. Our students and communities deserve to breathe clean, fresh air and these grants will begin to make that a reality. Beyond that, these grants will kickstart the transition away from fossil fuels and drive the nation to invest in clean, reliable energy that will also keep our children safe,” said Rep. Mike Quigley.
“I’m thrilled that so many communities across Illinois are receiving clean and zero-emission school buses thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Rep. Bill Foster. “Investing in zero-emission vehicles will improve the quality of the air that our children breathe and help combat the climate crisis, all while creating good-paying manufacturing jobs.”
“I am pleased that the funding I worked to pass in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping communities across Illinois upgrade to clean and zero-emission school buses,” said Rep. Robin Kelly. ”The Clean School Bus Program is equipping our school districts with the vital resources they need to replace aging vehicle inventory, lower emissions, and promote student safety.”
“I’m thrilled that Illinois will receive federal funding for new zero-emission school buses, helping us in our fight against the climate crisis. By transitioning away from diesel-fueled vehicles, we are prioritizing the health of our students, communities, and planet,” said Rep. Sean Casten.
“I am proud to have worked with my Illinois delegation colleagues to advocate for another round of investments from the Clean School Bus Program, on top of the $42 million that our state received earlier this year. I will continue to fight for the equitable implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and more projects like this that will help provide a cleaner, healthier future for young people,” said Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García.
“Replacing diesel fueled buses with new, clean energy alternatives will reduce exposure to air pollution for more than 25 million children and drivers across the country who are breathing dirty air on their daily rides to and from school,” said Rep. Lauren Underwood. “Clean energy investments like these are creating a brighter future for our kids, and a cleaner, healthier environment for our families. I’m so proud to bring this investment home to northern Illinois.”
“Ensuring that our students get to and from school in a safe and healthy way should be one of our top priorities,” said Rep. Nikki Budzinski. “I’m excited to join the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in announcing additional resources for Illinois as a part of the Clean School Bus Program. These resources will help our communities buy new, clean school buses that not only help the environment, but protect students’ health from tailpipe emissions.”
“The Clean School Bus Program Rebates is a step toward meeting our local and state goal of zero carbon emissions. The program supports incorporating sustainability efforts into our students and families’ daily lives while strengthening our clean energy infrastructure. I am honored that our local school districts have been selected to participate in this innovative program and look forward to working with the Environmental Protection Agency to build a healthier, climate-resilient future,” said Rep. Delia Ramirez.
“U.S. EPA’s Clean School Bus Program is making a positive impact in Illinois by providing cleaner transportation for our state’s most vulnerable residents, our students,” said Illinois EPA Director John J. Kim.“We continue to be encouraged by the interest of so many school districts ready to transition to electric school buses, which not only benefits the districts, but also the environment for everyone in their region.”
In September 2023, the EPA announced the availability of at least $500 million for its 2023 Clean School Bus rebates. The rebate application period closed in February 2024 with an outstanding response from school districts across the country seeking to purchase electric and clean school buses. Given the overwhelming demand, including in low-income communities, Tribal nations and U.S. territories, EPA doubled the amount of available funding to nearly $1 billion.
This third round of funding will build on the previous almost $2 billion investment via the 2022 Rebates and 2023 Grants to further improve air quality in and around schools, reduce greenhouse gas pollution fueling the climate crisis, and help accelerate America’s leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the future.
The selections announced today will provide funds to school districts in 47 states and Washington D.C., along with several federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories. Prioritized school districts in low-income, rural, and Tribal communities make up approximately 45 percent of the selected projects and will receive approximately 67 percent of the total funding. The program delivers on President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution.
The EPA is also partnering with the Joint Office of Energy and Department of Transportation to provide school districts with robust technical assistance to ensure effective implementation.
EPA is continuing to review selected applications and may make additional awards from this announcement. The Agency is working with those applicants and will notify them of an award if their application meets all program requirements. As additional selections are finalized, the EPA will update the CSB Awards webpage.
EPA is currently accepting applications for the 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program until 11:59 PM ET on July 25, 2024 – with EPA offering up $932 million in available grant funding and anticipates approximately 70% of the available funding to help pay for new, zero-emission Class 6 or 7 school buses. EPA encourages school districts not selected for the 2023 CSB Rebate Program – and those that did not apply – to participate in currently open funding programs, and future CSB funding rounds.
About the Clean School Bus Program
The EPA Clean School Bus Program was created by 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, which produce zero tailpipe emissions, as well as propane and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, which produce 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. Diesel air pollution 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. Phasing out these older diesel engines will ensure cleaner air for students, bus drivers, and 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 save school districts money as they upgrade school bus fleets, replacing existing buses with brand new zero-emission and clean school buses, while freeing up needed resources for schools.
