$68.9 Million Grant Fuels Minnesota’s Transition to Clean School Buses

(KNSI) — Two bus companies in Minnesota will get a share of roughly $68.9 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program Grants Competition.

First Student received $39,499,635 for the purchase of 100 buses here and in five other states. Highland CSB 1 will get $29,365,000 for 98 buses here and in four other states.

The awards will help districts transition to low and zero-emission vehicles. According to the EPA, air pollution from older diesel engines is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health and can cause them to miss school.

“We thank the EPA for these awards and for accelerating the equitable deployment of electric school buses across the U.S.,” said First Student CEO and President John Kenning. “First Student looks forward to continuing our partnership with the EPA as we work to fulfill our commitment to convert 30,000 diesel school buses with clean, electric-powered school buses by 2035. As the largest student transportation provider in the country and the leading operator of electric school buses, our team has the resources and expertise to not only bring students to and from school safely, but also work with school districts, utilities, and municipalities to build the necessary charging and maintenance infrastructure for the future. We appreciate the EPA’s recognition of the turn-key nature of our proposals and are excited to continue modernizing fleets and improving the environmental health of the students and communities we serve.”

In February, Vice President Kamala Harris was at New Flyer in St. Cloud to highlight the work being done locally to create innovative solutions for green energy needs and the future of public transportation.

Electric buses aren’t just cleaner; they are also less expensive to operate, according to the Electric School Bus Initiative. According to its analysis, “a school district operating an ESB can expect to see over $100,000 in lifetime fuel and maintenance savings, compared to an equivalent diesel bus, which can help offset the currently higher purchase price of an ESB.”

The EPA is also upping the amount of rebates available for districts that buy electric buses to $5 billion.

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