$7,080,000 from Clean School Bus Program announced as part of $91 million for rebates to California school districts to help purchase zero-emission buses and replace older, diesel-fueled vehicles
[Last week], Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) and the Biden-Harris Administration announced new funding for two Central Coast school districts to support their purchase of 35 clean school buses for local students.
Ventura Unified School District and Santa Barbara Unified School District are receiving a total of $7 million in rebates through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program, which was created and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping cut carbon pollution through support for zero-emission and low-emission alternatives across our society – from transportation to schools. I’m proud to see the landmark law I helped write and pass delivering investments to the Central Coast that will help replace school buses in our districts and ensure we are continuing to take a holistic approach to combating the climate crisis,” said Rep. Carbajal.
“Our commitment to the health and well-being of our students and community is paramount. By transitioning to clean school buses, we are taking a significant step towards reducing emissions, improving air quality and creating a safer, more sustainable environment for everyone. The federal rebate funding for ten clean school buses, will assist us in furthering our environmental stewardship and ensure that our students have a cleaner, healthier ride to and from school each day,” said Arie Wiberg, Director of Transportation for Ventura Unified School District.
The rebates announced today will help California accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and replace older, diesel-fueled school buses, which have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and surrounding communities.
- Santa Barbara Unified School District will receive $5,080,000 to help purchase 25 clean school buses
- Ventura Unified School District will receive $2,000,000 to help purchase 10 clean school buses
To date, the office of Rep. Carbajal has tracked more than $800 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support transit and highway improvements, rail and water infrastructure upgrades, expansion of high-speed internet connectivity, and more.
A map of these and other investments can be found at Invest.gov.
About the Clean School Bus Program
The EPA Clean School Bus Program, created and funded by Rep. Carbajal and his colleagues through their work on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, funds the purchase of electric buses and ensure lower tailpipe emissions than older diesel predecessors.
Phasing out these 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 daily.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from these bus replacements will also help address the transportation sector’s outsized role in fueling the climate crisis and save school districts money as they upgrade school bus fleets and replace existing buses with brand new zero-emission and clean buses while freeing up needed resources for schools.
Rep. Salud Carbajal represents California’s 24th Congressional District, encompassing Santa Barbara County and portions of San Luis Obispo County and Ventura County. He is a member of the Agriculture and Armed Services Committees, as well as the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he serves as the top Democrat on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee.
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