EPA Region 7 Presents Two St. Louis Metro School Districts with Checks Totaling Nearly $16M for Clean School Bus Grants
LENEXA, KAN. (FEB. 27, 2024) – Today, EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister presented a $6,320,000 ceremonial check to the Ferguson-Florissant School District, and a $9,495,000 ceremonial check to the Ritenour School District as Clean School Bus Grant selectees.
These districts are two of Missouri’s selections for 2023 Clean School Bus Grants through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is a once-in-a-generation investment that will further enable EPA to make unprecedented contributions to our country’s health and climate resiliency.
“Today’s celebration is not only about cleaner air for the St. Louis region, but cleaner air for our children,” McCollister said. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, students of the Ferguson-Florissant and Ritenour school districts will be able to ride to and from school on buses that produce zero emissions. This means reduced risks of asthma and other health risks associated with diesel exhaust.”
“Kids and families in our district rely on up-to-date and efficient buses to get to school every day. I’m excited to see the Ferguson-Florissant and Ritenour school districts receive federal grants for 40 electric school buses. Additional funding will also be disbursed to Highland and First Student school transportation service providers in our region,” said U.S. Representative Cori Bush (MO-1). “This is a double win. It ensures that schools in Missouri’s First District have dependable and safe transportation for our community and helps create a cleaner and healthier environment for all of us.”
Ferguson-Florissant School District
McCollister joined Ferguson-Florissant School District Superintendent Dr. Joseph Davis and Assistant Superintendent of Operations, Maintenance, and Transportation Terry O’Neil at the Hazelwood, Missouri, ceremony.
The district will use the funds to purchase 16 clean school buses.
“We are proud to lead the way, embracing the efficient and cost-saving benefits of battery-operated buses,” Davis said. “These new vehicles not only represent a significant step toward more eco-friendly transportation, but also demonstrate our dedication to providing a cleaner, more sustainable future for our students and the community. With this grant, we are able to drive change, both on the road and in the realm of education.”
Ritenour School District
McCollister joined Ritenour School District Superintendent Dr. Chris Kilbride and Director of Transportation Bryan Sanker at the Overland, Missouri, ceremony.
The district will use the funds to purchase 24 clean school buses.
“This truly is a game changer for our students, bus drivers, and our entire community,” Kilbride said. “Not only will our students and drivers have a more comfortable, quieter ride, but since there are zero emissions, our buses will be healthier for our entire community. This cost-effective fleet is one more way we are showing our students and families that we value their health and are good stewards of our environment.”
Background
EPA’s $5 billion Clean School Bus Program, created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, includes both a grant program where selected applicants are awarded funds to purchase buses, and a rebate program that allows selectees to receive awards before purchasing eligible buses that replace existing school buses with clean and zero-emission models. The funding presented today is part of the second round of selections announced for the newly created program. EPA will make more funds available for clean school buses in additional rounds of funding.
The Clean School Bus Program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money for school districts, and produce cleaner air. Air pollution from older diesel engines is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health and cause them to miss school, particularly in communities of color and tribal communities. Efforts to minimize the effects of these older diesel engines will ensure cleaner air for students, bus drivers, and school staff working near the bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day.
The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from these bus replacements will also help to address the outsized role of the transportation sector in fueling the climate crisis. The program will benefit school districts as they upgrade to cost-saving, fuel-efficient school bus fleets by replacing existing buses with brand new zero-emission and clean school buses and freeing up needed resources for schools.
For more information, visit EPA’s Clean School Bus Program website.
View the full list of Clean School Bus Grantees.
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