The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is giving more than $3 million in rebates to replace 210 older dirty diesel school buses with new ones that are more than 90% cleaner, reducing pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that are linked to health problems including asthma and lung damage.
Seventy-six school bus fleets in 30 states will receive taxpayer money through EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funding to replace school buses. Since 2008, the DERA program has funded more than 600 clean diesel projects across the country. These projects have reduced emissions for more than 60,000 dirty diesel engines.
Older dirty 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.
