Charging Ahead: EPA and New Hampshire school district celebrate Children's Health Month with Clean School Buses bringing healthier air to children and families in Derry

Charging Ahead: EPA and New Hampshire school district celebrate Children's Health Month with Clean School Buses bringing healthier air to children and families in Derry

EPA's Clean School Bus Rebate Program is funding 110 new clean school buses in nine school districts across New Hampshire, including over $8.6 million in rebate funding to purchase 25 zero-emission school buses for Derry School District

October 16, 2024

Derry, N.H. (Oct. 16, 2024) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), alongside U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, U.S. Representative Chris Pappas, and the Derry Cooperative School District, gathered today to celebrate Children's Health Month and $31 million in funding for 110 new clean school buses across nine school districts in New Hampshire. Derry, New Hampshire is receiving over $8.6 million in rebate funding to purchase 25 zero-emission buses through the EPA's Clean School Bus Program.

October, recognized as Children's Health Month, emphasizes the critical link between a healthy environment and children's well-being. The EPA's Clean School Bus Program is a key player in advancing this goal by accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles and replacing older diesel-fueled buses that contribute to asthma and other respiratory conditions, particularly affecting children in overburdened communities. These new electric buses will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also enhance the air quality for students, bus drivers, and nearby communities, leading to healthier outcomes for children.

"When I was a kid, I remember the acrid smell of the stinky diesel school bus that picked me up at my bus stop. No kid, no matter where they live, should have to breathe in the unhealthy exhaust from a diesel bus," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "EPA's Clean School Bus Program is making it easier for kids to breathe better, cleaner air on the way to and from school. With October being Children's Health Month, this is a great opportunity to continue amplifying the relationship between cleaner environments and the well-being of our communities, particularly our children. By transforming our nation's diesel school bus fleet, we're not only protecting our students, but saving school districts money, improving air quality, and uplifting American innovation and manufacturing."

"Replacing older diesel buses makes a big difference for kids' health and air quality in our communities. That's why I'm so glad New Hampshire is receiving more than $33 million for 11 school districts to supply 117 new, zero-emission electric school buses. I couldn't be prouder to help deliver this lasting investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in the future of New Hampshire communities," said Senator Jeanne Shaheen.

Today's event showcased Derry's new clean energy school buses, which will address climate change, improve public health, and lower costs for New Hampshire schools," said Senator Maggie Hassan. "I worked with my colleagues to negotiate and pass the bipartisan infrastructure law to help make smart investments like this possible, and I will continue to work to support New Hampshire's clean energy economy and lower costs."

"Clean school buses safeguard the well-being of New Hampshire children, save taxpayer dollars, help keep our air and environment clean, and make a big difference in the long-term health of our communities," said Congressman Chris Pappas. "The EPA's Clean School Bus Program was created by the bipartisan infrastructure law and is providing New Hampshire school districts with resources to upgrade their bus fleet to cleaner, safer vehicles, including rebate funding for Derry to purchase 25 zero-emission buses. This is an important step in the right direction for our children, taxpayers, and communities."

"We are thrilled to be part of this initiative and grateful for the support of the EPA in helping us transition to clean energy. These new buses represent our commitment to reducing our environmental impact while ensuring safe, reliable transportation for our students. This grant allows us to take a significant step toward a greener future for our community and the next generation," said Derry Cooperative School District Transportation Coordinator, Dr. Clifton Dancy.

"At First Student, our top priority is ensuring each student we transport to and from school arrives ready to learn and returns home safely. Students across the state will soon have cleaner, quieter rides thanks to this funding, which will deliver 25 new electric school buses," said Kevin Matthews, head of electrification for First Student. "As the company with the most electric school buses on the road today, we are pleased to work with the EPA and school officials in Derry to get these electric school buses in service. Reducing exposure to harmful tailpipe pollution will improve student health and better position them to succeed in school."

In addition to Derry, the 2023 Clean School Bus rebates will help selectees purchase clean school buses in eight other school districts across New Hampshire:

• Litchfield SAU Office has been selected to receive $2,760,000 in rebate funding to purchase eight clean school buses and charging infrastructure.
• Hudson School District has been selected to receive $3,200,000 in rebate funding to purchase 16 clean school buses and charging infrastructure.
• Concord SAU Office has been selected to receive $1,035,000 in rebate funding to purchase three clean school buses and charging infrastructure.
• Nashua SAU Office has been selected to receive $6,830,000 in rebate funding to purchase 22 clean school buses and charging infrastructure.
• Lisbon Regional School District has been selected to receive $345,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus and charging infrastructure.
• Moultonborough School District has been selected to receive $2,415,000 in rebate funding to purchase seven clean school buses and charging infrastructure.
• Hanover School District has been selected to receive $600,000 in rebate funding to purchase three clean school buses and charging infrastructure.
• Pembroke School District has been selected to receive $5,000,000 in rebate funding to purchase 25 clean school buses and charging infrastructure.

On Sept. 26, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the latest round of funding from the Clean School Bus Rebate Program with up to $965 million available to school districts. The Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda continues to accelerate the transition of the nearly 500,000 school buses in America to cleaner technologies, helping to protect the more than 25 million children who ride a school bus every day from harmful air pollution. This fourth round of funding will build on the previous nearly $3 billion in investments being distributed nationwide to further improve air quality in and around schools, reduce greenhouse gas pollution fueling the climate crisis, and help accelerate America's leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the future.

The 2024 Clean School Bus Rebate Competition

Applications for this year's Clean School Bus Rebate Program are due on the EPA online portal by 4 p.m. EST on January 9, 2025. Applicants can request up to $325,000 per bus for up to 50 buses per application, an increase in the total buses per project in response to stakeholder feedback for larger projects to help achieve faster fleet turnover. Funds can be used to cover bus and infrastructure costs for awardees requesting electric school buses, as well as eligible training costs for bus drivers, electricians, and others working with the new buses or infrastructure.

Selectees may also be eligible for Inflation Reduction Act tax credits applicable to their bus and infrastructure purchases. For example, the clean vehicle tax credits for qualifying school buses are worth up to $40,000. Narrowing the cost difference between clean school buses and diesel school buses remains an integral goal of the EPA Clean School Bus Program. The agency adjusted electric school bus funding levels in this rebate program to help stretch funding further and drive down long-term electric school bus costs.

EPA is committed to ensuring the Clean School Bus Program advances environmental justice and delivers on President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which sets a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. EPA will prioritize applications that replace buses serving low-income, rural, and Tribal students. Large school districts with communities of concentrated poverty may also submit documentation to be prioritized if their application focuses on clean school buses serving those communities.

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to investing federal dollars in a way that drives high-quality job creation and inclusive economic growth in the clean energy economy. It's a priority for EPA that school districts prepare for how to support their workers, including bus drivers, mechanics, and other essential personnel, to safely operate and maintain the new buses and maintain high labor standards. As a result, workforce training is an eligible use of program funds, and EPA strongly encourages school districts to develop comprehensive workforce plans in partnership with their employees to help them prepare for the transition to clean school buses.

EPA is working closely with the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (JOET) of the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Transportation to provide school districts with support as they plan for and implement adding electric school buses to their fleets. Clean School Bus Program applicants and selectees can receive free technical assistance from JOET through resources such as one-on-one meetings and public webinars. The EPA and JOET are also able to connect school districts with local utility providers to assist them in the infrastructure planning necessary for projects including battery-electric school buses.

Proactive and ongoing communication with key stakeholders such as school boards and local utilities is critical to successful bus and infrastructure deployment. This rebate cycle incorporates a number of best practices to ensure that these key stakeholders are engaged and coordinating effectively. More information regarding required application materials are available in the Program Guide on the Clean School Bus Rebate Program webpage.

EPA is accepting rebate applications from Sept. 26 until Jan. 9, 2025.

EPA Clean School Bus Program Overview

EPA's Clean School Bus Program was created by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides an unprecedented $5 billion of funding to transform the nation's fleet of school buses. The Clean School Bus Program funds zero and low-emission buses, including electric, propane, and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses that produce lower tailpipe emissions compared to that of their older diesel predecessors.

Diesel air pollution is linked to asthma and other public health problems that cause serious health concerns and missed days of school, with outsized impacts in overburdened communities. New zero-emission and clean buses will not only reduce air pollution and help address the outsized role of the transportation sector on climate change, but will also produce cleaner air for students, bus drivers, school staff working near bus loading areas, and people living in communities that buses drive through each day. Over the lifespan of the vehicles, clean school buses can also cost less to maintain and fuel than the older buses they are replacing - freeing up needed resources for schools.

EPA's Clean School Bus Program is now responsible for over two-thirds of the committed electric school buses across the country, and each of these clean buses provide immediate public health and educational benefits as soon as the new buses hit the road. This funding, along with help from states and others, is helping transform the school bus market.

School districts will proceed with purchasing and deploying their new buses in a time frame that best suits their unique situation, including factors like the number of new buses they're deploying, need for utility upgrades, and familiarity with new bus technologies. As the project period comes to a close for the first funding opportunity, the 2022 CSB Rebates, EPA anticipates that many of the first wave of these zero-emission and clean school buses will be in service for the 2024-2025 school year, while many buses funded under subsequent funding opportunities, such as the 2023 CSB Rebates, will be in service for the 2025-2026 school year. To learn more about the EPA Clean School Bus Program, visit the Clean School Bus Program webpage.

For materials to engage students and communities about clean school buses, including an electric school bus activity book for elementary school students available in both English and Spanish, as well as educational guides for parents or teachers, visit: https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/resources-engage-your-community.

Follow EPA New England on Instagram and learn more about protecting human health and the environment, funding opportunities in your community, regulatory actions, opportunities to #BeEPA and more on EPA New England's Instagram account: @epa_newengland.

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