Strong Demand for Electric Buses Hailed as a Milestone
CONTACT: Tracy Sabetta, 614-581-2907, tsabetta@initiativeohio.com
Columbus, OH—Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the recipients of the first round of funding distributed by the Clean School Bus Program, a $5-billion, 5-year investment in clean school buses for our nation’s children as allocated under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress in 2021.
In response, Moms Clean Air Force State Coordinator, Tracy Sabetta issued the following statement:
“Electric school buses are rolling into Ohio! School districts in every state and the District of Columbia have been awarded federal funding for clean, electric school buses, including six districts in the state of Ohio. Ohio has close to 16,000 diesel buses in operation across the state, and many of these buses are eligible for replacement through the ongoing US EPA’s Clean School Bus Program.
“Moms Clean Air Force in Ohio is thrilled for the kids in our state who will no longer be surrounded by harmful diesel bus emissions. Parents across Ohio urged their school districts to take advantage of this first round of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and those districts listened. Approximately 55 Ohio school districts applied to receive funding to replace their diesel buses.
“EPA had planned to award $500 million in rebates from the Clean School Bus Program this year. Today’s announcement indicates EPA is awarding $965 million to purchase 2,463 buses, 95% of which will be electric (as opposed to propane/gas) in response to overwhelming demand from districts across the country.
“The health of our children should never be jeopardized just to ensure they get a ride to school. There is still much work to do, but today we sit in the driver’s seat when it comes to protecting our children from diesel pollution.”
Ohio districts awarded funds under the Clean School Bus Program include:
- AMANDA CLEARCREEK LOCAL SCHOOL $790,000.00
- BRADFORD EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT $790,000.00
- EASTERN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT $790,000.00
- MADISON-PLAINS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT $1,580,000.00
- TOLEDO PUBLIC SCHOOLS $750,000.00
- ZENITH ACADEMY WEST $1,185,000.00
For additional information about the need for electric school buses in Ohio, visit the Moms Clean Air Force website to read the Ohio-specific factsheet.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Moms Clean Air Force’s National Statement on EPA’s Clean School Bus Awards
- Electric School Buses Fact Sheet
- How Diesel Pollution Affects Your Health
- Why Electric School Buses Are an Environmental Justice Issue
- Business Insider’s True Cost Video About Electric School Buses