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Representatives from Nevada Clean Energy Advocates Provide Comments on the Significance of the Award
As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting children and improving air quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced yesterday that Nevada is set to receive funding through EPA’s first Clean School Bus Program Grants Competition. The $7.7 million award to the Nevada Clean Energy Fund, made possible through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, will help purchase 25 clean school buses in several school districts across Nevada. By accelerating the transition to low- and zero-emission vehicles, this funding will improve air quality for children and their families, advance environmental justice, boost the economy, and create good-paying jobs.
The following are quotes from local advocates on the impact this investment will have for Nevada:
“Nevada’s rural counties are some of the most impoverished and underserved areas of our state and are often overlooked when it comes to projects like these. The Clean School Bus grant award is an example of the Biden Administration’s commitment to ensure that all communities, particularly isolated and economically disadvantaged ones, benefit from investment in our future and health. The delivery of modern, energy efficient school buses is a great opportunity for our rural schools to replace dirty diesel buses that spew health-harming exhaust into our communities.” Mercedes McKinley, Nevada Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force
“Despite being an essential tool for student transportation, diesel school buses emit pollution into neighborhoods and pose a significant threat to children’s health. This historic funding opportunity from the EPA will bring the benefits of clean transportation to school districts across Nevada, fostering healthier, cleaner air in communities and mitigating dangerous climate pollution. This announcement is a reflection of the positive impact that robust climate policies can achieve and addresses Nevada’s top greenhouse gas emitter — transportation. We look forward to working with the Nevada Clean Energy Fund to ensure that the benefits of clean energy and cost-savings reach schools in areas that need them most.” Christi Cabrera-Georgeson, Deputy Director, Nevada Conservation League
“Our kids are our future, and we should be doing everything in our power to ensure that the air they breathe is clean and healthy. This investment by the Biden administration is a critical step in the right direction to minimize the pollution caused by our nation’s largest mass transit system. Transitioning to electric buses will help school districts save money, create more clean energy jobs, keep America’s kids safer, and help us tackle the climate crisis.” Saumya Narechania, States Managing Director, Climate Power
“This week, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a nearly $8 million award to the Nevada Clean Energy Fund to purchase 25 clean school buses under the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program Grants Competition. These zero-emitting clean school buses allow us to leave dirty diesel pollution in the rear-view mirror and support Nevada’s growing clean energy economy. This means cleaner air and a brighter future for children, teachers, and communities. The clean energy plan is working in Nevada, and I could not be more excited to see these investments in the Silver State.” Ben Bryce, Senior Manager, State Affairs, Southwest Region, Environmental Defense Fund.
“As the mother of an asthmatic child, I know how the black smoke of diesel pollution contaminates the air our children breathe and worsens conditions like asthma. Our children deserve to breathe clean air, and I’m one of many parents who want to see electric school buses at every school in Nevada to reduce hospitalizations due to asthma. We congratulate the Nevada Clean Energy Fund on winning this grant award, and thank the EPA Clean School Bus Program for bringing additional funding to our state. Chispa Nevada will continue to work with school districts to ensure we provide a clean ride for kids, and we look forward to seeing these buses circulating in our communities.” Areli Sanchez, promotora with Chispa Nevada.
“Asthma rates among Nevada’s children have been rising, in part, because of the harmful fumes and air pollution being emitted by outdated, diesel school buses. These electric, zero-emission buses have already been driving clean energy job growth and helping to clear the air in our urban communities. We applaud Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto along with the Biden Administration for recognizing this urgent need in rural Nevada and working to clean up transportation for our kids and their families.” Jarrett Clark, communications director at For Our Future Nevada.
About Nevada Conservation League:
The Nevada Conservation League is the independent voice of Nevada’s conservation community. We work to maintain and enhance the character of Nevada and the quality of life for Nevadans through effective advocacy, the election of pro-conservation candidates and building collaboration. https://www.nevadaconservationleague.org/
About Chispa:
Chispa Nevada is a program of the League of Conservation Voters that builds the power of Latine communities to fight for climate justice and our democracy. https://chispalcv.org/state/nevada
About Environmental Defense Fund:
One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 3 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund
About For Our Future Nevada:
For Our Future Nevada is a progressive, issue-driven organizing hub dedicated to building power for working families and improving their communities. By working to secure workers’ rights, improve public education, protect our environment, and promote affordable health care, For Our Future mobilizes Nevadans to fight for and create lasting change in the Silver State. www.forourfuturenv.org
About Climate Power:
Climate Power is an independent strategic communications and paid media operation focused on building the political will and public support for bold climate action. Climate Power integrates hard-hitting research, polling, state and national earned media, digital and paid media to influence the national conversation, embolden leaders to take immediate, bold climate action, and expose climate deniers and their oil and gas lobby allies.