The Biden administration is doling out nearly $1 billion in additional federal grants to school districts across the country to decarbonize their bus fleets, even as recent inspector general findings cast doubt on the plan. .
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in a joint announcement with the White House that 67 applicants have been selected to receive approximately $965 million to purchase electric, low-emission school buses. With this funding, the agency has awarded nearly $2 billion for thousands of new buses across hundreds of school districts under the Clean School Bus Program, which was created at the end of 2021.
“As part of our efforts to tackle the climate crisis, the historic funding we're announcing today is an investment in children, their health, and their education,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement. “We will also strengthen our economy by investing in American manufacturing and the American workforce.”
“Today, we are once again accelerating America's transition to electric and low-emission school buses, building a healthier future where all children breathe clean air,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. We will contribute to securing this,” he added. “Thanks to President Biden’s historic investment in America, thousands more school buses will be put into service in school districts across the country, saving districts money while improving air quality.”
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President Biden is promoting the rapid spread of electric cars and buses across the United States. (Getty Images)
The grants announced Monday will help selected applicants purchase more than 2,700 electric or low-emission school buses in 280 school districts serving more than 7 million students in 37 states, according to the EPA. It is said to be useful for These awards come one year after EPA awarded more than $875 million to 2022 applicants under the program, funding the replacement of 2,366 buses in 372 school districts. .
The clean school bus program Infrastructure investment and employment lawThe bill would provide a total of $5 billion in federal funding through 2026 to replace existing diesel-powered school buses nationwide. The agency projects the program will fund thousands of new electric school buses.
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“I led the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act to ensure communities across the country have the federal funding they need to fight climate change, and now, with this major investment, New electricity installations begin for the second year in a row that will help keep school buses running, reduce carbon emissions, reduce pollution, and improve air quality for students and communities across America,” said Senate Majority Chuck Schumer. party leader (New York) said in a statement.
However, in late December, the EPA Office of Inspector General released an audit finding that the clean school bus program was heavily dependent on utilities' ability to increase power supply. Additionally, the inspector general says the plan could face significant delays. Construction of additional charging stations.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan speaks during a news conference in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Groups interviewed by the Office of Inspector General expressed particular concerns. Competence of public operators Electric buses will bring power lines and transformers to the school district. He said that while some utilities have experience with electric bus infrastructure, they have never built such infrastructure on a large scale.
The report says it could take up to two years to install charging stations and connect them to the local power grid. Additionally, bus charging stations expected to support more than 25 buses in large school districts face additional challenges as they require different technology.
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“Unless we ensure that school districts establish the necessary infrastructure to support the purchase of clean buses and chargers, EPA may not be able to effectively achieve its program goals,” the EPA Inspector General said. I concluded. “Power companies may be delayed in building the charging stations needed to keep buses fully operational in a timely manner.”
“While early coordination with utility companies is not required, it could hinder the agency's goal of removing old diesel buses and replacing them with clean ones,” the report continued. “Increased demands on manufacturers and utility companies could impact the timeliness of diesel bus replacement and ultimately delay the health and environmental benefits of the program.”
