Summary
– Over 21 million children in the U.S. ride diesel-fueled school buses, posing health risks
– Electric school buses have zero tailpipe emissions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
– As of June 2024, there are 12,164 committed electric school buses in the U.S., with funding from the Clean School Bus Program
– Electric school bus adoption is occurring in an equitable manner, prioritizing low-income areas and communities of color
– Government programs, tax credits, and state legislatures are driving the scale-up of electric school bus adoption across the country
Article
Over 21 million children in the U.S. ride diesel-fueled school buses, exposing them to harmful pollutants that can affect their health. However, the adoption of electric school buses is growing, with benefits such as zero tailpipe emissions and reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel buses. As of June 2024, there are 12,164 committed electric school buses in the U.S., serving approximately 200,000 students. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program has played a significant role in funding electric school buses, with multiple rounds of rebate funding contributing to the adoption of over 5,500 electric buses.
Electric school bus adoption is occurring across 49 states in the U.S., as well as in Washington, D.C., American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and several tribal nations. California leads the way with over 2,300 committed electric buses, followed by Illinois, New York, Maryland, and Florida. The southeast region of the country has seen a significant increase in electric school buses due to funding from the Clean School Bus Program. State legislatures are also enacting policies to transition to zero-emission school buses, with targets set in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New York, and Washington.
Efforts to ensure the equitable distribution of electric school buses are being made, with a focus on serving low-income communities and areas with high levels of air pollution. The Clean School Bus Program has prioritized school districts based on their need, resulting in an increase in electric buses in historically underserved areas. Data shows that committed electric school buses are more common in school districts with high levels of PM2.5 and ozone pollution, as well as in communities with high rates of adult asthma. Efforts are ongoing to ensure that electric school buses are deployed in areas that will benefit the most from improved air quality.
Government programs such as the Clean School Bus Program and state initiatives are driving the scaling up of electric school bus adoption in the U.S. Policy measures like tax credits for clean energy and state mandates for zero-emission school buses are supporting the transition. The Internal Revenue Service’s proposed regulations allow entities like school districts to claim tax credits for electric school buses, resulting in significant cost savings. States like New Jersey are offering grant funding to replace diesel buses with electric models. Overall, the momentum for electric school buses nationally is growing, with a focus on ensuring benefits are accessible to all communities.
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