Heinrich Announces $4.56 Million from EPA’s Clean School Bus Program for N.M. School Districts
Dulce, Pecos, Las Cruces, Dora, and Lake Arthur School Districts awarded funds to purchase clean school buses that will accelerate the transition to zero emissions vehicles and produce cleaner air in and around schools and communities
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), founder and co-chair of the Bicameral Electrification Caucus, announced the New Mexico recipients of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program rebate competition. A total of $4,560,000 was awarded to Dulce, Pecos, Las Cruces, Dora, and Lake Arthur school districts in New Mexico through the historic Infrastructure Law that New Mexico Congressional Democrats passed this year. The grants will help school districts purchase clean school buses that will accelerate the transition to zero emissions vehicles and produce cleaner air in and around schools and communities.
Senator Heinrich, a leading champion for electrification, highlighted how electrifying school buses will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save schools money, and better protect children’s health. The investment will also drive demand for American-made batteries and vehicles, boost domestic manufacturing, and create good-paying jobs.
"I am thrilled to welcome this first round of funding for the Clean School Bus Program. The clean energy and electrification investments that we secured in the Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act are by far the most significant steps that Congress has taken to spur the widespread deployment of highly-efficient, fully electric and climate pollution-free technologies,” said Heinrich. “Modernizing the vehicles that transport New Mexico's children to school--especially with clean and electric buses--will make our air cleaner and improve public health, and create important energy and fuel savings for public school districts. Electrifying our homes, buildings, and vehicles is one of the surest climate actions that we can take right now that will help secure a more equitable, healthier future for all our communities."
The Biden-Harris Administration announced today that through a lottery system, the EPA has selected 389 applications totaling $913 million to support the purchase of 2,463 buses, 95% of which will be electric. EPA will distribute awards to school districts in all 50 states and Washington D.C., along with several federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories. School districts identified as priority areas serving low-income, rural, and, or Tribal students make up 99% of the projects that were selected. More applications are under review, and the agency plans to select more to reach the full $965 million in the coming weeks.
These awards are the first $1 billion of a five-year, $5 billion program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. EPA is also designing the next rounds of program funding to launch in the coming months, which will include an ambitious grant competition. Through future rounds of funding, EPA will make available another $1 billion for clean school buses in Fiscal Year 2023. EPA encourages school districts not selected in the first round of rebates – and those that did not apply this funding cycle – to participate in future rounds.
2022 EPA Clean School Bus award recipients in New Mexico:
- DORA MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS $610,000.00
- DULCE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS $790,000.00
- LAKE ARTHUR MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS $790,000.00
- LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS $1,975,000.00
- PECOS INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS $395,000.00
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