EPA CLEAN SCHOOL BUS REBATE PROGRAM $5 billion to replace existing school buses with cleaner and healthier zero- and low-emissions school buses. School buses travel over four billion miles each year, providing the safest transportation to and from school for more than 25 million children everyday. However, diesel exhaust from these buses can contribute to air quality problems and has a negative impact on human health, especially for children, who have a faster breathing rate than adults and whose lungs are not yet fully developed. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) provides $5 billion over the next five years (FY22-26) to clean a substantial portion of the nation's fleet of nearly 500,000 school buses. These new cleaner school bus replacements will produce either zero or low emissions compared to their older diesel predecessors. School bus upgrades funded under this program will result in cleaner air on the bus, in bus loading areas, and in the communities in which they operate. Under the Clean School Bus Program, half of the available funding is dedicated for zero- emission school buses and half is for clean school buses. ¦ Zero-emission school bus: a school bus that produces zero exhaust emission of any air pollutant and any greenhouse gas. Electric school buses are zero-emission. ¦ Clean school bus: As defined by the BIL, a school bus that reduces emissions and is operated entirely or in part using an alternative fuel or is a zero-emission bus. Learn more about the benefits of clean school buses and how you can participate in this program at epa.aov/cleanschoolbus. 4% Jl United States Environmental Protection ^'^1 Agency September 2023 EPA-420-F-23-024 ------- The 2023 Clean School Bus Rebates Application Is Now Open! Submit your application no later than January 31,2024, at 4 p.m. ET. At least $500 million in federal funding is now available for the replacement of existing diesel school buses with low- and zero-emission buses through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Who can apply for the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebates? Public school districts and other state or local government entities that are responsible for providing school bus service to at least one public school system and/or the purchase, lease, license, or contract for service of school buses. Public charter schools (as defined in section 4310 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7221 i) responsible for the purchase, lease, iicense, or contract for service of school buses for that charter school. Tribes,Tribal Organizations, andTribally-Controlied Schools that provide school bus service to one or more Bureau-funded schools or purchase, lease, license, or contract for service of school buses. Nonprofit school transportation associations Eligible contractors who sell, lease, license, or contract for service of clean school buses, zero-emission buses, charging or fueling infrastructure, maintain clean or zero-emission school buses, or arrange financing for such a sale, lease, license, or contract for service. — What kind of funding is available? To ensure that this funding reaches high-need communities, EPA will prioritize rural,Tribal, and low-income school districts in the selection process. Prioritized districts will receive more funding per bus, but those not identified as prioritized are still eligible for significant funds. Bus and EV charging infrastructure funds are combined to allow recipients additional flexibility to determine the split between funding for the bus itself and the supporting infrastructure* Funding for buses and infrastructure serving school districts that meet one or more prioritization criteria ¦ Electric - Class 7+: Up to $345,000 per bus + infrastructure ¦I Electric - Class 3-6: Up to $265,000 per bus + infrastructure ¦ CNG - Class 7+: Up to $45,000 per bus ¦ CNG - Class 3-6: Up to $30,000 per bus ¦ Propane - Class 7+: Up to $35,000 per bus ¦ Propane - Class 3-6: Up to $30,000 per bus Funding for buses and infrastructure serving non-prioritized school districts ¦ Electric - Class 7+: Up to $200,000 per bus + infrastructure ¦ Electric - Class 3-6: Up to $145,000 per bus + infrastructure ¦ CNG - Class 7+: Up to $30,000 per bus ¦ CNG - Ciass 3-6: Up to $20,000 per bus ¦ Propane - Class 7+: Up to $25,000 per bus ¦ Propane - Class 3-6: Up to $20,000 per bus * Funding levels above do not reflect EPA funding available for ADA-compliant wheelchair lifts, EPA funding for shipping costs to non- contiguous U.S. states and territories, nor IRA funding available through IRS-disbursed tax credits for EV bus and infrastructure purchases. Please refer to the 2023 CSB Rebates Program Guide for more information. How can I apply? 2. 3. Visit eDa.aov/cleanschoolbus to review important dates and eligibility requirements. Review the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebates Program Guidance for full details on the competition. Submit the complete application via the EPA online application portal no later than January 31, 2024, at 4 p.m. ET. SAM.aov entity registration required. Who should I contact for help? ¦ If you have any questions or feedback, please email: Jeanschodt spa.aov. To connect with a Clean School Bus contact in your region, please email: September 2023 EPA-420-F-23-024 ŁEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency ------- |