The most common hurdle preventing schools from replacing old buses with more environmentally friendly school buses is price. School transportation budgets are tight enough as it is, so many administrators can’t justify the cost of replacing older diesel buses with newer, cleaner options. Thankfully, the EPA is helping schools across the country do just that through the agency’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA).
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced they were awarding more than $3 million in rebates to replace 210 older diesel school buses with new vehicles that are over 90 percent 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 rebates through program.
“Americans put their children on school buses for a safe ride to school. They shouldn’t have to worry about harmful pollutants emitted from these buses,” said Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “This funding will help keep our children safe and improve the health of those in communities across the country.”
Since 2008, the DERA program has funded over 600 clean diesel projects across the country. These projects have reduced emissions for more than 60,000 engines.
Recent EPA standards mandate diesel engines run 90 percent cleaner than older models, but many of those older school buses remain in operation. Older 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.
