The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the second round of funding under the Clean School Bus Program. This second round of funding makes approximately $400 million available through a competitive grant process, with an application deadline of August 22, 2023. Notification of selection is expected between November 2023 and January 2024, and awarding of funds is expected between February and March 2024.

The Clean School Bus Program (CSBP), created by the bipartisan infrastructure bill, represents a historic investment of $5 billion over five years to help school districts replace existing school buses with electric or alternative fuel buses, ensuring cleaner air for children and communities across the United States.

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The first round of CSBP funding awarded $965 million in rebates through a lottery to school districts that applied to participate in the program in states across the nation. In response to huge demand from local school districts, about 95 percent of the funding went to electric school buses.

The grants will allow a minimum of 15 and up to 50 buses per applicant school district, and a minimum of 50 and up to 100 school buses for third-party applicants serving at least four school districts. EPA plans to make 25 to 50 awards.

«The EPA’s Clean School Bus Program is providing a crucial boost to the nationwide movement to provide our children with a clean, healthy ride to school – especially in underserved communities that need it most», said Sue Gander, director, Electric School Bus Initiative, World Resources Institute. «The overwhelming preference for electric school buses seen in the first round of applications serves as further evidence that the electric school bus moment is here. We’re looking forward to seeing the second round of Clean School Bus Program funding complement last year’s rebate program, investing to electrify school bus fleets that will continue to pay off for districts, through lower maintenance and fuel costs over time, and protect the health of children, drivers, communities and the planet», added.

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