Contact: Sasha Tenenbaum, stenenbaum@momscleanairforce.org, (917) 887-0146
On Thursday February 8th, Congresswoman Summer Lee (PA-12), Moms Clean Air Force, First Student, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, PennEnvironment, 412 Justice, and Group Against Smog & Pollution held a press conference about the Clean School Bus grant EPA awarded to Pittsburgh Public Schools. First Student provided an electric school bus for speakers, families, and press to tour.
The Biden EPA’s Clean School Bus Program awarded $40 million in federal grants to First Student to buy 100 electric school buses to dramatically improve air quality in and around schools, advance environmental justice, and combat climate change statewide. Of the 100 electric buses, 45 will be given to the Pittsburgh School District. The Clean School Bus Program is currently accepting applications for their rebate program until February 14th, at 4pm.
“Every diesel-powered school bus we replace will make a difference: one electric school bus means removing 23 tons of greenhouse gases every year. That means the 45 school buses we’re bringing to the Pittsburgh School District will take 1,035 tons of greenhouse gases out of our air. That could mean fewer kids with asthma, better air quality for our region, and the safety of knowing that our kids are getting to school safely without breathing toxic fumes” said Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12). “My team is continuing to work with schools across Western Pennsylvania to ensure that we can get more electric buses to our region before the extended deadline on February 14th. We will continue to work until all parents in the region can feel assured knowing their kids are going to school on clean, electric school buses.”
Since 2022, EPA’s Clean School Bus Program has awarded nearly $2 billion and funded nearly 5,000 electric school buses nationwide. With 1.4 million students across Pennsylvania riding school buses each day, electric school buses will provide a zero pollution option for children throughout the Commonwealth.
“With 45 electric school buses awarded to Pittsburgh Public Schools from EPA’s Clean School Bus program, Pittsburgh students can breathe a little easier as they ride to school each day, and families can enjoy cleaner air walking in their neighborhoods and playing at city parks,” said Vanessa Lynch, Pennsylvania Field Organizer-Moms Clean Air Force. “As a parent, I am thankful for the work EPA, and leaders like Congresswoman Summer Lee, have done to bring electric school buses and cleaner air to Pittsburgh Public School students. Future generations of kids will no longer make loud engine noises when playing with toy buses or draw dirty exhaust coming out of tailpipes when coloring, a change I look forward to as it will prove we have done our job to electrify vehicles and create cleaner air.”
The nearly $40 million total dollars awarded to First Student will be used to purchase 100 electric school buses for the Pittsburgh School District, William Penn School District in Delaware County, the Laurel Highlands School District in Fayette County, and the New Castle Area School District in Lawrence County.
Clean School Bus rebates will help districts purchase zero-pollution electric school buses and phase-out traditional diesel-powered buses.Diesel vehicles produce health-harming exhaust that can trigger asthma attacks, interfere with lung development, and even cause cancer. Since the transportation sector is the largest source of climate pollution in the US, transitioning away from a fossil-fueled school bus fleet is also an important step in addressing the climate crisis.
Below are a few statements from PA parents on the transition to electric school buses:
“Our family relied on yellow school buses every day for the nine years that our kids were in elementary school. I used to volunteer at their school a lot. At the end of the day, I remember all of the buses lined up, idling outside the school. The bus exhaust was unbearable. Electric buses will be a dream come true for our kids!” —Kathy M. Newman, Parent and School Volunteer, Pittsburgh, PA
“I am a firm believer that what’s best for the children is what’s best for the whole community. If environmentally friendly vehicles, such as electric school buses, would help in keeping our neighborhood and communities safe, and meet our children’s transportation needs, it’s all going to help the families and in that our community is stronger. Our communities are also stronger because our environment is healthier.” – Sharmaine Gamble, Wilkinsburg parent and School Director
Watch virtually via livestream to the Moms Clean Air Force Facebook page.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Electric School Buses Fact Sheet
- Here’s What You Need to Know About Electric School Buses
- Why Electric School Buses Are an Environmental Justice Issue
NOTE TO EDITORS: Moms Clean Air Force will have professional images and b-roll of press conference participants upon request.