Four Arkansas school districts set to receive $11 million-plus from EPA for clean-running school buses

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A federal program will provide millions of dollars across four Arkansas school districts to provide clean-running school buses.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that $11,030,000 is provided in Arkansas through its 2023 Clean School Bus Program. According to EPA officials, the funding will purchase 36 new and clean school buses to replace older, diesel-fueled school buses that they said were linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and communities.

The EPA selected the Quitman School District to receive $820,000, the Little Rock School District to receive $8,625,000, the Batesville School District to receive $365,000 and the Farmington School District to receive $1,220,000 to fund electric, propane, and natural gas-powered buses.

The funding is issued to school districts as rebates for bus purchases.

“Today’s announcement is good news for children in Arkansas, especially those in underserved areas who are often exposed to more air pollution and health risks such as asthma,”EPA Region 6 Administrator Earthea Nance said. “Replacing diesel-fueled buses with clean school buses reduces harmful emissions and improves air quality in communities throughout the nation.”

EPA officials said the agency is partnering with other agencies through the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to provide school districts with technical assistance to ensure effective implementation.

EPA officials report that the agency has funded almost $3 billion to purchase 8,500 school buses since the initiation of the Biden administration's Investing in America agenda.

from KARK https://ift.tt/b1IJpoQ