USD440 was one of six districts in Kansas chosen for a low or zero emission school bus grant. On October 26, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the names of the school districts receiving funds. USD440 will receive $1,185,000 to purchase three electric busses and charging stations. The program prioritized rural and high need districts across our country while also focusing on replacing aging diesel school busses with low and zero emission replacements.
This news also means that the district will be able to phase out three high mileage or near maximum age school busses. This opportunity also allows the district to save over $500,000 in capital expenditures over the next couple of years which will allow those funds to be utilized on other needs throughout the district.
You can find more information in the statement below shared by the EPA and a link that references the program. We will provide students, families, staff, and community members more information in the months to come including an opportunity to see our new busses up close and in person prior to putting them into our fleet next school year.
On Wednesday, October 26, the EPA announced the names of the awardees who will receive nearly $1 billion from the Clean School Bus program – a rebate competition for school districts that will improve air quality in and around schools and communities, reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and better protect children’s health. These awards will fund new electric and low-emission buses for school districts in all 50 states, Washington D.C., several U.S. territories, and federally recognized Tribes. EPA prioritized high-needs school districts, including school districts with more than 20% of students in poverty, rural school districts, Tribal school districts and districts in underserved and overburdened communities. These awards are the first $1 billion of a five-year, $5 billion program under the bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In the coming months, EPA will announce the next round of funding and expects to make another $1 billion available for clean school buses in Fiscal Year 2023. You can learn more about the grant competition at epa.gov/cleanschoolbus.