Allendale County Schools Awarded EPA Rebates to Replace Aging School Buses

ATLANTA, SC – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Allendale County Schools via the South Carolina Department of Education has been awarded a portion of more than $3 million in rebates to replace older diesel school buses with new buses that are more than 90 percent cleaner, reducing pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that are linked to health problems including asthma and lung damage. Nationwide, seventy-six school bus fleets in 30 states will receive rebates through EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funding to replace school buses.

“Americans put their children on school buses for a safe ride to school. They shouldn’t have to worry about harmful pollutants emitted from these buses,” said Janet McCabe, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.  “This funding will help keep our children safe and improve the health of those in communities across the country.”

Since 2008, the DERA program has funded over 600 clean diesel projects across the country. These projects have reduced emissions for more than 60,000 engines.

EPA has implemented standards to make diesel engines more than 90 percent cleaner, but many older diesel school buses remain in operation and predate these standards. Older diesel engines emit large amounts of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. These pollutants are linked to health problems, including aggravated asthma, lung damage, and other serious health problems.

Applicants were randomly selected and placed in order on a list until a total of $3 million was allocated. This was EPA’s second round of the rebate program aimed at replacing older diesel school buses.  Public and private school bus fleets were eligible to apply for rebates for the replacement of school buses with engine model years of 2006 or older.

In conjunction with “Love the Bus” month, which is dedicated to showing appreciation for school buses and their drivers, EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality Director Christopher Grundler joined the American School Bus Council (ASBC) at Tuckahoe Elementary School District in Arlington, Va., today to discuss the environmental benefits provided by new, clean diesel school buses. Tuckahoe Elementary School is part of Arlington Public Schools, a recipient of a 2014 School Bus Replacement Funding Opportunity Rebate. The ASBC estimates that each school bus takes approximately 36 cars off the road each day, which reduces emissions and saves fuel costs for passenger cars.

For more information about this rebate program, visit: http://epa.gov/cleandiesel/dera-rebate-schoolbus.htm#2014