New Legislation introduced will authorize $2.5B a year for districts, allowing affordable purchase of electric school buses
Fort Valley, GA (April 21, 2021) — Today, legislation for the Clean Commute for Kids Act of 2021 was introduced in the United States House of Representatives and Senate, allowing school districts to more easily replace aging fossil-fueled school buses with clean, zero-emissions electric school buses.
The Clean Commute for Kids Act of 2021 authorizes $2.5 billion a year, allowing school districts and school bus operators to qualify for grants from the program, which are intended to cover the price difference between a fossil-fueled school bus and a 100% electric-powered school bus. These grants also assist in covering the cost of charging infrastructure, training for drivers and mechanics.
“This is the kind of program that is needed to advance the deployment of electric school buses to all 50 states,” said Trevor Rudderham, senior vice president of electrification at Blue Bird Corporation. “The industry transports 24 million children each day- and every time a district chooses a greener alternative, we take a big step in the right direction for a better future for them.”
This program is one of several programs to accelerate the deployment of electric school buses, announced by the current Administration, including the Clean Future Act. The program is expected to be reviewed over the coming months and will be deployed in 2022. We look forward to working with Senators Warnock and Padilla, Representatives Bishop, Hayes and Cardenas, and all other members of Congress to advance legislation to allow for the greater deployment of electric school buses.
To learn more about the Clean Commute for Kids Act of 2021, visit https://cardenas.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cardenas-hayes-padilla-warnock-introduce-clean-commute-for-kids-act
