Thursday, October 27, 2022 – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the award of funding for two Utah school districts, Tintic and Uinta, to purchase 12 electric school buses. Utah’s awardees were selected out of around 2,000 applications requesting nearly $4 billion for over 12,000 buses. Click here for a map of all funding awarded.
More than 90 percent of buses requested were for zero-emission electric buses.
From cars to buses, the electrification of transport is one of the largest opportunities to clean our air and protect our climate while reducing fuel costs, and providing greater energy independence.
Local and regional clean air and climate experts are celebrating the school district’s award and pursuit of electric buses:
“Unhealthy air quality is one of the most critical challenges facing Utah, and a significant contributor to bad air comes from our cars and trucks,” states Kevin Emerson, Director of Building Efficiency and Decarbonization for Utah Clean Energy. “With zero tailpipe emissions, these electric buses can play an important part of improving Utah’s air quality, safeguarding our kids’ health, and reducing pollution for our communities. Our congratulations and gratitude go out to these two school districts for the smart addition of these clean electric school buses.”
“We are so excited to see this first round of Clean School Bus rebates awarded to two school districts in Utah,” said Aaron Kressig, transportation electrification manager with Western Resource Advocates. “Electric school buses will provide enormous benefits to communities that are already feeling the impacts of climate change and disproportionately bear the burdens of air pollution, while also providing cost savings to school districts and health benefits for children. This EPA funding provides a great first step on the path to electrifying school transportation and reducing emissions that are driving climate change across the state.”
“Electric school buses save Utah school districts money,” said Nissa Erickson, Federal Funding Implementation Coordinator, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project. “Transitioning to electric buses lowers long-term maintenance costs, eliminates unpredictable fossil fuel costs, and reduces pollution. The EPA funding jumpstarts a sustainable and stable future for our students and communities. Every school district should pursue future rounds of this funding.”
BACKGROUND
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $5 billion to help school districts buy electric school buses. The law charged the EPA with distributing the funds over 5 years. School districts submitted the first round of funding applications this August. EPA received so much interest in the rebate program that the agency doubled the amount of funding to be distributed this year, to nearly $1 billion nationwide.
The initial round of funding prioritized low-income, rural and tribal school districts. However, all school districts are eligible for funding. EPA will be awarding more money in future years, including $1 billion anticipated for fiscal year 2023. All school districts, whether selected this round or not, should apply for future rounds of funding.
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Media Contacts
- Kevin Emerson | Utah Clean Energy | 801-608-0850
- Nissa Erickson | Southwest Energy Efficiency Project | 970-485-2338
- Jennifer Inaba | Western Resource Advocates | 570-441-4270
The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) is a public interest organization promoting greater energy efficiency and clean transportation in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Swenergy.org
Utah Clean Energy is Utah’s leading, expert, public interest organization committed to creating a future that ensures healthy, thriving communities for all, empowered and sustained by clean energies such as solar, wind and energy efficiency. For more information visitwww.utahcleanenergy.org.
Western Resource Advocates provides on-the-ground solutions to climate change. WRA has a 33-year history of working with policymakers and other advocates to advance clean energy; protect air, land, water, and wildlife; and sustain the lives and livelihoods of the West. For more information, visit westernresourceadvocates.org and follow us on Twitter @wradv.
For Immediate Release: Thursday, October 27, 2022
Media Contacts
- Kevin Emerson | Utah Clean Energy | 801-608-0850
- Nissa Erickson | Southwest Energy Efficiency Project | 970-485-2338
- Jennifer Inaba | Western Resource Advocates | 570-441-4270
Utah School Districts Win Grants for Clean, Electric School Buses
Utah – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the award of funding for two Utah school districts, Tintic and Uinta, to purchase 12 electric school buses. Utah’s awardees were selected out of around 2,000 applications requesting nearly $4 billion for over 12,000 buses. Click here for a map of all funding awarded.
More than 90 percent of buses requested were for zero-emission electric buses.
From cars to buses, the electrification of transport is one of the largest opportunities to clean our air and protect our climate while reducing fuel costs, and providing greater energy independence.
Local and regional clean air and climate experts are celebrating the school district’s award and pursuit of electric buses:
“Unhealthy air quality is one of the most critical challenges facing Utah, and a significant contributor to bad air comes from our cars and trucks,” states Kevin Emerson, Director of Building Efficiency and Decarbonization for Utah Clean Energy. “With zero tailpipe emissions, these electric buses can play an important part of improving Utah’s air quality, safeguarding our kids’ health, and reducing pollution for our communities. Our congratulations and gratitude go out to these two school districts for the smart addition of these clean electric school buses.”
“We are so excited to see this first round of Clean School Bus rebates awarded to two school districts in Utah,” said Aaron Kressig, transportation electrification manager with Western Resource Advocates. “Electric school buses will provide enormous benefits to communities that are already feeling the impacts of climate change and disproportionately bear the burdens of air pollution, while also providing cost savings to school districts and health benefits for children. This EPA funding provides a great first step on the path to electrifying school transportation and reducing emissions that are driving climate change across the state.”
“Electric school buses save Utah school districts money,” said Nissa Erickson, Federal Funding Implementation Coordinator, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project. “Transitioning to electric buses lowers long-term maintenance costs, eliminates unpredictable fossil fuel costs, and reduces pollution. The EPA funding jumpstarts a sustainable and stable future for our students and communities. Every school district should pursue future rounds of this funding.”
BACKGROUND
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $5 billion to help school districts buy electric school buses. The law charged the EPA with distributing the funds over 5 years. School districts submitted the first round of funding applications this August. EPA received so much interest in the rebate program that the agency doubled the amount of funding to be distributed this year, to nearly $1 billion nationwide.
The initial round of funding prioritized low-income, rural and tribal school districts. However, all school districts are eligible for funding. EPA will be awarding more money in future years, including $1 billion anticipated for fiscal year 2023. All school districts, whether selected this round or not, should apply for future rounds of funding.
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The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) is a public interest organization promoting greater energy efficiency and clean transportation in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Swenergy.org
Utah Clean Energy is Utah’s leading, expert, public interest organization committed to creating a future that ensures healthy, thriving communities for all, empowered and sustained by clean energies such as solar, wind and energy efficiency. For more information visitwww.utahcleanenergy.org.
Western Resource Advocates provides on-the-ground solutions to climate change. WRA has a 33-year history of working with policymakers and other advocates to advance clean energy; protect air, land, water, and wildlife; and sustain the lives and livelihoods of the West. For more information, visit westernresourceadvocates.org and follow us on Twitter @wradv.