Every day, thousands of Montana children ride school buses that run on dirty diesel engines. Pollution from diesel buses makes climate change worse. It can also cause asthma attacks and cancer. Diesel-powered school buses don’t just pollute the outdoors—diesel pollution can get trapped inside the school bus, meaning children may be breathing in harmful fumes each time they ride the bus to and from school.
In October 2023, EPA opened applications for its 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program. These rebates will help school districts across the country replace older diesel school buses with zero-emissions electric buses. This EPA program is a historic opportunity to invest in cleaner, healthier transportation for our children, and we can’t let this moment pass us by.
Take 2 minutes to call your Montana school district to urge them to apply for Clean School Bus Program funding.
Step 1: Find the phone number for your school district superintendent HERE.
Step 2: Make a quick call to the superintendent, using the following call script:
“Hello. My name is XX, and I live in XX school district. I’m reaching out today to ask our district to apply for the 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program.
The program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is offering selected applicants funding for up to 25 zero-emission electric school buses. These buses offer not only substantial cost benefits, but also significant health benefits to our students, drivers, neighborhoods, and environment.
As a parent in this school district who cares about the health of all our children, I urge you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to create a cleaner, healthier environment for our students and community.”
Step 3: Email Michelle Uberuaga to let us know you made the call.
That’s all there is to it! Thank you for taking action in Montana!
Learn more about EPA’s Clean School Bus Program HERE.