The Biden Administration has awarded 47 California school districts more than $91 million in rebate funding to help purchase new electric or low-emission school buses.
The rebates will help school districts across the state purchase up to 380 clean air buses, officials from the Environmental Protection Agency said.
The money was made possible through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. EPA officials say the need for new buses is a “key initiative” for the Biden administration.
The EPA says the program is a “crucial step” in California’s journey toward improving children’s health by addressing harmful pollution. The clean air buses — primarily electric but including propane or natural gas — will replace the older, diesel-fueled buses that have been previously linked to community health issues, officials said.
“EPA is proud to take another step in advancing the rollout of electric school buses in California, helping create a future where our children can breathe cleaner air,” said Martha Guzman, EPA Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest Region. “I’ve seen firsthand the advantages of these electric buses, with the absence of noxious diesel emissions benefiting students, school staff, and neighboring communities. Thanks to these investments, more electric school buses will be on the road in school districts across California.”
In September 2023, the EPA announced it had set aside at least $500 million in funding for clean school bus rebates. The federal agency received an “overwhelming number of applicants” from across the country, including school districts in low-income communities, Tribal lands and U.S. territories.
Officials said the EPA doubled the funding for the program due to the significant interest.
In total, 47 school districts in California were chosen to receive rebate funding.
Below is a list of the California school districts that were awarded rebate funding and the amount they were chosen to receive:
- Alameda Unified has been selected to receive $1,135,000 in rebate funding to purchase seven clean school buses.
- Alhambra Unified has been selected to receive $2,090,000 in rebate funding to purchase eleven clean school buses.
- Arcadia Unified has been selected to receive $200,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus.
- Atascadero Unified has been selected to receive $1,400,000 in rebate funding to purchase over seven clean school buses.
- Aveson School of Leaders District has been selected to receive $650,000 in rebate funding to purchase two clean school buses.
- Baldwin Park Unified has been selected to receive $1,035,000 in rebate funding to purchase three clean school buses.
- Cabrillo Unified has been selected to receive $1,400,000 in rebate funding to purchase seven clean school buses.
- Cajon Valley Union has been selected to receive $1,035,000 in rebate funding to purchase three clean school buses.
- Caruthers Unified has been selected to receive $345,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus.
- Centinela Valley Union High has been selected to receive $2,690,000 in rebate funding to purchase ten clean school buses.
- Centralia Elementary has been selected to receive $600,000 in rebate funding to purchase three clean school buses.
- Chaffey Joint Union High has been selected to receive $1,000,000 in rebate funding to purchase five clean school buses.
- Compton Unified has been selected to receive $8,625,000 in rebate funding to purchase twenty-five clean school buses.
- Earlimart Elementary has been selected to receive $1,035,000 in rebate funding to purchase three clean school buses.
- Elk Grove Unified has been selected to receive $5,520,000 in rebate funding to purchase sixteen clean school buses.
- Fresno Unified has been selected to receive $6,625,000 in rebate funding to purchase twenty-five clean school buses.
- Fruitvale Elementary has been selected to receive $400,000 in rebate funding to purchase two clean school buses.
- Galt Joint Union Elementary has been selected to receive $660,000 in rebate funding to purchase three clean school buses.
- Galt Joint Union High has been selected to receive $420,000 in rebate funding to purchase two clean school buses.
- Leggett Valley Unified has been selected to receive $345,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus.
- Liberty Elementary has been selected to receive $265,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus.
- Los Banos Unified has been selected to receive $2,415,000 in rebate funding to purchase seven clean school buses.
- Midway Elementary School District has been selected to receive $690,000 in rebate funding to purchase two clean school buses.
- Montebello Unified has been selected to receive $4,235,000 in rebate funding to purchase twenty-five clean school buses.
- Old Adobe Union has been selected to receive $200,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus.
- Ontario-Montclair has been selected to receive $1,200,000 in rebate funding to purchase six clean school buses.
- Orange Unified has been selected to receive $4,505,000 in rebate funding to purchase twenty-five clean school buses.
- Palisades Charter High District has been selected to receive $3,450,000 in rebate funding to purchase ten clean school buses.
- Paradise Elementary has been selected to receive $2,295,000 in rebate funding to purchase fifteen clean school buses.
- Rim of the World Unified has been selected to receive $400,000 in rebate funding to purchase two clean school buses.
- Roseville City Elementary has been selected to receive $440,000 in rebate funding to purchase two clean school buses.
- Sacramento City Unified has been selected to receive $2,440,000 in rebate funding to purchase eight clean school buses.
- Saddleback Valley Unified has been selected to receive $1,530,000 in rebate funding to purchase ten clean school buses.
- Salinas City Elementary has been selected to receive $1,505,000 in rebate funding to purchase ten clean school buses.
- San Dieguito Union High has been selected to receive $800,000 in rebate funding to purchase four clean school buses.
- San Mateo Union High has been selected to receive $950,000 in rebate funding to purchase five clean school buses.
- Santa Barbara Unified has been selected to receive $5,080,000 in rebate funding to purchase twenty-five clean school buses.
- Selma Unified has been selected to receive $1,380,000 in rebate funding to purchase four clean school buses.
- Sierra Unified has been selected to receive $800,000 in rebate funding to purchase four clean school buses.
- Simi Valley Unified has been selected to receive $1,980,000 in rebate funding to purchase ten clean school buses.
- Stockton Unified has been selected to receive $6,900,000 in rebate funding to purchase twenty clean school buses.
- Valley Center-Pauma Unified has been selected to receive $1,380,000 in rebate funding to purchase four clean school buses.
- Ventura Unified has been selected to receive $2,000,000 in rebate funding to purchase ten clean school buses.
- Walnut Valley Unified has been selected to receive $2,200,000 in rebate funding to purchase eleven clean school buses.
- Wasco Union Elementary has been selected to receive $1,380,000 in rebate funding to purchase four clean school buses.
- Whittier Union High has been selected to receive $3,400,000 in rebate funding to purchase seventeen clean school buses.
- Winters Joint Unified has been selected to receive $200,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus.
The EPA says it is continuing to evaluate applications and more funding could be released in the future.
Sen. Alex Padilla said the clean school bus program is a “crucial down payment” on the transition to zero-emission buses which are especially important in lower-income communities that face some the nation’s worst air quality.
“Setting California’s schoolchildren up for a successful day of learning starts with a cleaner commute,” Padilla said.
For more information on the Clean School Bus Rebates program, click here.