Press Mention Albany Herald January 8, 2024
SACE Quoted
Southeastern schools land $172 million in clean energy bus funding
In this mention
The EPA announced winners of the $965 million Clean School Bus Program 2023 Grants, with 35 Southeastern school districts receiving over $172 million to replace diesel buses with electric alternatives. Dory Larsen, senior electric transportation program manager with Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, praised the awards, highlighting that 95% of the 2,700 buses nationally will be electric and that 86% of selected projects prioritize low-income, rural, and Tribal communities.
We are excited to congratulate the 35 Southeastern school districts on receiving EPA Clean School Bus Program grants, totaling more than $172 million for the region. Special congratulations to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the only Tribal nation awarded, who have been leading and guiding others on electric school bus adoption in the region and now will receive 15 electric buses. Also of note, Clayton County and Dekalb County Districts in Georgia and Miami-Dade County School District in Florida received funding for 50 electric buses each.
Dory Larsen
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Full transcript
Southeastern schools land $172 million in clean energy bus funding
By Carlton Fletcher
News
January 9, 2024
From staff reports
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced this week the winners of the $965 million Clean School Bus Program 2023 Grants. Thirty-five school districts in the Southeast region were among the 280 nationally that received grant funding to replace aging diesel buses with cleaner alternatives.
Nationally, funds will support the purchase of more than 2,700 buses, 95% of which will be electric. EPA will distribute awards to selectees in 37 states.
Prioritized school districts in low-income, rural, Tribal, and/or Justice40 communities make up approximately 86% of the projects selected for funding.
Dory Larsen, senior electric transportation program manager with Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, issued the following statement in response to the EPA's announcement:
"We are excited to congratulate the 35 Southeastern school districts on receiving EPA Clean School Bus Program grants, totaling more than $172 million for the region. Special congratulations to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the only Tribal nation awarded, who have been leading and guiding others on electric school bus adoption in the region and now will receive 15 electric buses. Also of note, Clayton County and Dekalb County Districts in Georgia and Miami-Dade County School District in Florida received funding for 50 electric buses each.
"School districts across the Southeast are committed to electric, zero-emission solutions that save thousands of dollars in fueling and maintenance costs, provide the best performance, and improve air quality for students and communities. Additionally, more that 85% of the funding is being awarded to school districts in rural and low-income communities nationwide."
Created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021, the Clean School Bus Program is investing $5 billion through 2026 to replace diesel school buses with cleaner alternatives. EPA initially offered $400 million in April 2023 but awarded $965 million after receiving nearly $2 billion in applications with its first competitive grant round. This proceeds the nearly $900 million in lottery-based rebates during the program's inaugural year in 2022.
EPA currently has a rebate round of CSBP funding open; unlike competitive grants, rebates are lottery-based and are easier to apply for. School districts and other eligible parties have until Jan. 31 to submit an application for $500 million in rebate funding.