WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — U.S. Senator from Washington Maria Cantwell announced three grants totaling more than $8 million for zero-emission school buses in Washington state.
The funding for these grants was provided by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant program, which was established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The grant program aims to replace existing internal combustion engine heavy-duty vehicles with zero-emission vehicles, while also supporting the construction of clean vehicle infrastructure.
Of the $8 million, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation will receive $260,000 to replace a Class 6 diesel refuse hauler with a zero-emission school bus. Located within a Justice 40 neighborhood, the new bus will help lower emissions and improve environmental quality across the reservation.
According to the EPA, exhaust from diesel-powered buses not only contributes to air quality problems but also has negative health impacts, particularly for children, whose lungs are not yet fully developed and who have a faster breathing rate than adults.
Switching to electric buses from diesel buses not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but results in cleaner air on the bus for kids and drivers, in bus loading areas and in communities where buses are driven while also lowering maintenance costs for school districts.
Senator Cantwell played a pivotal role in shaping legislation within the IRA, introducing a 30% tax incentive for new electric buses and trucks. The FAST Electricity Act is projected by the Joint Committee on Taxation to invest $5.2 billion over the next decade, fostering the growth of the electric vehicle market and encouraging the adoption of electric-powered transportation.
