§16091 Clean School Bus Program

Summary

Requires the EPA Administrator to run a program that gives competitive grants, rebates, and contracts to help replace old school buses with cleaner buses or zero-emission buses. Key terms: Administrator = EPA Administrator. Alternative fuel = liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, hydrogen, propane, or biofuels. Clean school bus = a bus that the EPA says cuts emissions and uses an alternative fuel, or a zero-emission bus. Eligible contractor = a business or nonprofit that can sell, lease, finance, or service buses and charging/fueling equipment. Eligible recipient = local or State school authorities, eligible contractors, nonprofit school transport groups, charter schools buying buses, or Indian Tribes/tribal schools. High-need local educational agency = a school district the Secretary of Education identifies as having many low-income students. Zero-emission school bus = a bus with a drivetrain that makes no exhaust pollution or greenhouse gases. The EPA must split available money so 50% goes to replacing buses with zero-emission buses and 50% goes to replacing buses with clean or zero-emission buses. Awards can cover up to 100% of bus and charging/fueling infrastructure costs. The EPA will pick projects based on cost, local needs (route length, weather), emission reductions, and whether the project helps scale new technology. The agency can give priority to buses serving high-need districts, Bureau-funded schools, Indian land, rural or low-income areas, or projects that add other funding. Buses bought with program money must stay in the buying fleet for at least 5 years, be maintained and charged/fueled per instructions, and not add pollution through things like unvented diesel heaters. The EPA must try to spread awards nationwide, limit any State to no more than 10% of yearly funds, and report to Congress by January 31 each year on applications and awards. Within 120 days after November 15, 2021, the EPA had to start an outreach program with stakeholders to explain the awards, technologies, costs, infrastructure planning, and workforce training. The EPA can use up to 3% of funds each year for administration and may issue rules and guidance. The program is funded at $1,000,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2022 through 2026, with $500,000,000 for clean and zero-emission buses and $500,000,000 specifically for zero-emission buses.