SEATTLE — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Wednesday which school districts nationwide will receive the latest round of funding for the transition to clean school buses.
The EPA's Clean School Bus Program will provide $5 billion over five years to replace diesel-fueled school buses nationwide. The program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
In the latest round, the EPA announced that 530 school districts nationwide will receive nearly $900 million for 3,400 new clean school buses.
This round of funding will impact 47 states and Washington D.C., along with several federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories. According to the EPA, the funding prioritized school districts in low-income communities.
Washington state was awarded $23.4 million for 16 school districts.
Here's a breakdown of which counties will receive funding:
- Spokane School District: $9,125,000
- Seattle School District No. 1: $7,825,000
- Woodland School District: $2,800,000
- Issaquah School District: $1,035,000
- Lake Washington School District: $690,000
- Northshore School District: $600,000
- College Place School District: $400,000
- Republic School District: $345,000
- Northport School District: $345,000
- Snohomish School District: $275,000
- Peninsula School District: $250,000
- Liberty School District: $200,000
- Sultan School District: $200,000
- Mount Vernon School District: $100,000
- Oak Harbor School District: $75,000
- Sedro-Woolley School District: $50,000
Five of the school districts requested 30 propane buses. 11 of the school districts requested 81 electric buses.
“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," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan.
The EPA announced $500 million in rebates available in September 2023 and closed the application period in February. The EPA said it received an overwhelming response from school districts and nearly doubled the initial amount this round to $900 million.