Biden-Harris Administration announces over $42 million in rebates for Clean School Buses across Massachusetts as part of Investing in America agenda | US EPA (2024)

EPA's Clean School Bus Rebate Program to fund over 165 new clean school buses in 17 school districts across Massachusetts

May 29, 2024

BOSTON (May 29, 2024) – Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the recipients of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, funded by President Biden's Investing in America agenda. The rebates will help selectees purchase over 165 clean school buses in 17 school districts across Massachusetts. The Clean School Bus Program will help Massachusetts accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and replace older, diesel-fueled school buses, which have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and surrounding communities.

EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, and U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson joined schoolchildren, district leaders, and community members in Jackson, Mississippi, to make the announcement and highlight how the program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save schools money, and better protect children's health, especially in communities already overburdened by pollution. The investment will also drive demand for American-made batteries and vehicles, boost domestic manufacturing, and create good-paying jobs for Americans.

"President Biden believes every child deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy life and breathe clean air, and his Investing in America agenda is designed to deliver just that," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "With today's latest round of funding, we are transforming the nation's school bus fleet to better protect our most precious cargo—our kids—saving school districts money, improving air quality, and bolstering American manufacturing all at the same time."

"Today's announcement helps ensure that 17 school districts in Massachusetts can breathe easier and benefit from the reduced emissions of over 165 clean school buses," said EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "One hundred-and-sixty-five school buses means 165 fewer tailpipes blowing diesel exhaust and particulate matter into our air. It's a win-win-win-win-win-win-win—cleaner air, healthier environment, fighting the climate crisis, parents not worrying that their kids are breathing in fumes as a diesel bus comes by, clean energy jobs, and school districts saving money. Our Clean School Bus program is making a real difference in the lives of children and families across New England."

"These new electric school buses from the Biden administration are bright yellow symbols of how Massachusetts is fighting climate change," said U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. "I wrote a bill to invest in cleaner transit options and fought for federal funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and now these electric school buses will help Massachusetts students breathe cleaner air."

"From the cities of Witches, Fish, and Paper to the shores of Cape Cod, the Southcoast and the Burg, the Biden Administration's new investments in more than 160 clean school buses will deliver a cleaner, greener future for Massachusetts children, on and off the bus," said U.S. Senator Ed Markey. "We fought hard to include this funding in the historic Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I thank the EPA for once again leading the charge towards a future with cleaner air."

"Our schools should be sanctuaries for our kids' health, safety, and wellbeing," said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. "This investment in Arlington is the latest step in the Democrats' fight to build more sustainable communities and guarantee clean air for every child across the Commonwealth. I'm grateful for the partnership of the Biden-Harris Administration and will continue working to deliver green solutions to our schools and streets."

"Democrats ushered in unprecedented levels of investments during the 117th Congress. Historic legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver for the Commonwealth, with $9 billion expected to be delivered by 2026. This announcement is just another example of how our efforts continue to deliver for the American people, including right here in Massachusetts," said Congressman Richard Neal. "With much of the Infrastructure Law drafted in the Ways and Means Committee under my chairmanship, I am particularly pleased that the City of Holyoke received the largest award in the Commonwealth. More than $7 million will help deliver clean school buses to the Paper City, an investment will greatly improve the health and well-being of our students, our communities, and our environment."

"We all deserve to breathe clean air," said Congressman James P. McGovern. "That's why I'm thrilled that the EPA is bringing electric school buses to Amherst so students can get to their classrooms without breathing in diesel exhaust fumes. This is all possible thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The BIL—passed by House Democrats and signed into law by President Biden—is transforming so many different aspects of our lives for the better, and I can't wait to see the impact it will have with bringing electric school buses to Amherst."

"I am very proud that the Town of Hingham has been selected to receive $600,000 in federal rebates to purchase three of the zero emission buses that I fought for as a member of the Transportation Committee in Congress," said Congressman Stephen F. Lynch. "This funding will help the Town of Hingham continue efforts to combat air pollution and subsequently decrease the variety of asthma and health disparities that is frequently caused by poor air quality. These clean buses will have a positive impact on air quality in Hingham and surrounding communities as we work to transition to zero-emission vehicles across the state. I thank EPA Administrator Michael Regan and the Biden Administration for their dedication to investing in programs to improve the health and safety of all Americans."

"Taking on the climate crisis doesn't just happen at the national level — it happens locally as well. I'm thrilled the EPA is investing nearly $20 million up and down the North Shore to modernize district school buses with new electric and zero-carbon buses. This funding is vital to bringing down vehicle emissions and serves as a direct investment in the students who take the bus every day," said Congressman Seth Moulton.

"In 2022, I was proud to visit Lawrence to celebrate the arrival of one of the first clean school buses funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in the country," said Congresswoman Lori Trahan. "Two years later, and President Biden's Investing in America Agenda is continuing to deliver federal funding to the Third District to protect the environment while ensuring that students in Fitchburg, Acton, and Boxborough are able to safely get to school. These tangible investments are supporting a greener future with cleaner air for our students, our families, and our community."

"Low-and-no emission buses improve students' respiratory health. I'll continue working for clean air policies and funding," said U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss.

The 2023 Clean School Bus rebates will help selectees purchase 166 clean school buses in 17 school districts across Massachusetts:

• Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical has been selected to receive $3,490,000 in rebate funding to purchase 10 clean school buses.
• Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District has been selected to receive $1,380,000 in rebate funding to purchase four clean school buses.
• Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter (District) has been selected to receive $290,000 in rebate funding to purchase two clean school buses.
• Beverly has been selected to receive $1,455,000 in rebate funding to purchase eight clean school buses.
• Hingham has been selected to receive $600,000 in rebate funding to purchase three clean school buses.
• Marblehead has been selected to receive $200,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus.
• Arlington has been selected to receive $200,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus.
• Holyoke has been selected to receive $7,245,000 in rebate funding to purchase 21 clean school buses.
• Gloucester has been selected to receive $1,200,000 in rebate funding to purchase six clean school buses.
• Salem has been selected to receive $2,600,000 in rebate funding to purchase 13 clean school buses.
• Newburyport has been selected to receive $3,000,000 in rebate funding to purchase 15 clean school buses.
• Ipswich has been selected to receive $5,000,000 in rebate funding to purchase 25 clean school buses.
• Fitchburg has been selected to receive $6,210,000 in rebate funding to purchase 18 clean school buses.
• Amherst has been selected to receive $600,000 in rebate funding to purchase three clean school buses.
• Andover has been selected to receive $5,000,000 in rebate funding to purchase 25 clean school buses.
• Fall River has been selected to receive $3,450,000 in rebate funding to purchase 10 clean school buses.
• Acton-Boxborough has been selected to receive $200,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus.

In September 2023, the EPA announced the availability of at least $500 million for its 2023 Clean School Bus rebates. The rebate application period closed in February 2024 with an overwhelming response from school districts across the country seeking to purchase electric and clean school buses. Given the level of demand, including from low-income communities, Tribal nations and U.S. territories, the EPA doubled the initial amount of available funding in this round to a total of nearly $1 billion.

This third round of funding will build on the previous investments of almost $2 billion via the Clean School Bus Program's 2022 Rebates and 2023 Grants 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 selections announced today will provide funds to school districts in 47 states and Washington D.C., along with several federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories. Prioritized school districts in low-income, rural, and Tribal communities make up approximately 45 percent of the selected projects and will receive approximately 67 percent of the total funding. The program advances President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution.

The EPA is also partnering with other federal agencies through the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to provide school districts with robust technical assistance to ensure effective implementation.

The EPA is continuing to review selected applications and may make additional awards from this announcement. The EPA is working with those applicants and will notify them of an award if their application meets all program requirements. As additional selections are finalized, the EPA will update the CSB Awards webpage.

The EPA will also make selections through additional rounds of funding, as well as through other funding programs. For example, the EPA is currently accepting applications for the 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program until 11:59 PM ET on July 25, 2024—with the EPA offering up to $932 million in available grant funding and anticipates approximately 70 percent of the available funding to help pay for new, zero-emission Class 6 or 7 school buses.The EPA encourages school districts not selected for the 2023 CSB Rebate Program—and those that did not apply—to participate in currently open funding programs, and future CSB funding rounds.

About the Clean School Bus Program

The EPA 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 electric buses, which produce zero tailpipe emissions, as well as propane and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, which produce lower tailpipe emissions compared to their older diesel predecessors.

The Clean School Bus Program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money for school districts and produce cleaner air. Diesel air pollution is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students' health and cause them to miss school, particularly in communities of color and Tribal communities. Phasing out these older diesel engines will ensure cleaner air for students, bus drivers, and school staff working near the bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day.

The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from these bus replacements will also help to address the outsized role of the transportation sector in fueling the climate crisis. The Clean School Bus Program will save school districts money as they upgrade school bus fleets, replacing existing buses with brand new zero-emission and clean school buses, while freeing up needed resources for schools.

View the full list of Clean School Bus Program awards.

For materials to engage community members about clean school buses, as well as resources for students, visit: https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/resources-engage-your-community.