Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced almost $900 million in its third round of funding of its Clean School Bus Program. The funding, coming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), will benefit 531 school districts across the country and fund approximately 3,400 clean school buses. Combined with the other rounds of funding, the EPA has awarded almost $3 billion for 8,500 buses, approximately 90 percent being electric. After the announcement, Earthjustice Legislative Representative Athena Motavvef issued the following statement:

“EPA’s Clean School Bus Program is continuing to transform school transportation options across the country. Now in its third round, the funding is more popular than ever. School districts recognize their health benefits and see the economic value of zero-emissions transportation as we transition to clean energy. We’re pleased to see the Biden Administration living up to its commitments to environmental justice communities, with 45 percent of the funding going to communities with the greatest need that have long experienced the disproportionate impacts of air pollution. As the program continues to grow in popularity, we urge the EPA to keep up the momentum and quickly disperse the remaining funding to deploy clean school buses to even more school districts.”

School districts that were not selected or did not apply still have opportunities to apply for funding. The EPA Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Program is accepting grant proposals through July 25, and the EPA will open another Clean School Bus Program rebate round later this year.