HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – Schools across Virginia are set to receive $1.5 million in federal funding to replace old diesel school buses.
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $1,530,000 in federal funding awarded to school districts across Virgina through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The funding is two programs: the 2021 American Rescue Plan Electric School Bus Rebates and the annual 2021 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebates.
With the funding, old school buses will be replaced with new school buses. It will be split across five school districts including Newport News Public Schools.
“We are glad to see so many Virginia school districts receive funding to invest in electric school buses and cleaner vehicles,” the Senators said. “This investment will significantly benefit our communities by reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. We look forward to helping Virginia school districts compete for additional funding through the $5 billion clean and electric school bus grant program in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.”
The funds will go to the following schools:
- $250,000 for 10 buses for Newport News Public Schools as part of the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebates.
- $200,000 for 10 buses for Loudoun County Public Schools as part of the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebates.
- $100,000 for five buses for Carroll County Public Schools as part of the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebates.
- $80,000 for four buses for Culpeper County Public Schools as part of the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebates.
This program funds the replacement of old diesel school buses with new electric, diesel, gasoline, propane, or compressed natural gas school buses that meet current emission standards.
- $900,000 for three school buses for Petersburg City Public Schools as part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Electric School Bus Rebates.
This new program replaces old diesel school buses with new, zero-emission electric school buses. The funds are reserved exclusively for school districts in underserved communities, Tribal schools, and private fleets serving those schools.
Newport News Public Schools released the following statement:
Newport News Public Schools will utilize the federal funding to replace 10 school buses with propane buses. NNPS has a fleet of 340 buses, which includes 125 propane buses. The school division has been replacing its diesel buses with propane buses, which are engineered to deliver fuel and maintenance cost-saving results while reducing harmful emissions.
