Clean School Bus Program to ‘benefit kids, communities’

Blue Bird Corp. says the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebate Program announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a critical step to putting student and community health first in student transportation.

The EPA program earmarks $500 million for the replacement of diesel-powered school buses with zero and low emission school buses, including those operating on propane. The funds will also assist school districts and other eligible participants to establish the required clean energy infrastructure.

The program is part of the bipartisan infrastructure law, which provides $5 billion over five years for clean school bus transportation, and is designed to reduce air pollution and protect student and community health. It also aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition, the program provides support to school districts in low income, rural or tribal communities across the U.S., Blue Bird notes. The agency enables school districts to replace their diesel-powered school buses with zero or low emission school buses powered by propane, natural gas or electricity.

“The Clean School Bus Rebate Program will benefit kids and communities across all 50 U.S. states,” says Matthew Stevenson, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corp. “It’s great news especially for underserved communities. Students from low-income areas are disproportionately impacted by diesel pollution from school buses since 60 percent of students from low-income families ride the bus to school. Clean energy transportation means cleaner air to breathe.”

The EPA plans to accept online applications for three months starting in early May and notify applicants by October 2022. Selected school districts and other eligible participants are required to order the buses and supporting infrastructure by April 2023 to qualify for the rebates.

In addition to electric buses, Blue Bird offers a portfolio of low emission propane and natural gas-powered school buses. The company has more than 20,000 propane, natural gas and electric-powered buses in operation today.

Featured homepage photo: Blue Bird Corp.