Recipients of nearly $900 Million for Clean School Buses Under President’s Investing in America Agenda

EPA's Clean School Bus Rebate Program to fund over 3,400 new clean school buses in approximately 530 districts across the nation

View as a webpage / Share Recipients of nearly $900 Million for Clean School Buses Under President's Investing in America Agenda EPA's Clean School Bus Rebate Program to fund over 3,400 new clean school buses in approximately 530 districts across the nation The Biden-Harris Administration announced the recipients of EPA's 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, funded by President Biden's Investing in America agenda. EPA selected approximately 530 school districts spanning nearly every state, Washington, D.C., and several Tribes and U.S. territories to receive nearly $900 million in funds to replace older, diesel fueled school buses that have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and surrounding communities. These rebates will help school districts purchase over 3,400 clean school buses—92% of which will be electric— to accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles and produce cleaner air in and around schools and communities. Under the Program's multiple grant and rebate funding opportunities to date, the EPA has awarded almost $3 billion to fund approximately 8,500 school bus replacements at over 1,000 schools. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson and U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson will join schoolchildren, district leaders and community members in Jackson, Mississippi, later today to make the announcement and highlight how the program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save schools money, and better protect children's health, especially in communities already overburdened by pollution. The investment will also drive demand for American-made batteries and vehicles, boost domestic manufacturing, and create good-paying jobs for Americans. "President Biden believes every child deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy life and breathe clean air, and his Investing in America agenda is designed to deliver just that," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "With today's latest round of funding, we are transforming the nation's school bus fleet to better protect our most precious cargo—our kids—saving school districts money, improving air quality, and bolstering American manufacturing all at the same time." "I am grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for expanding opportunities to provide clean school buses to schools and students in Mississippi's Second Congressional District," said Congressman Bennie G. Thompson. "This initiative ensures that children have a cleaner, safer, and more efficient means of school transportation and contributes to protecting our environment. By making meaningful progress and offering valuable opportunities for our students, we are paving the way toward stronger student success." In September 2023, the EPA announced the availability of at least $500 million for its 2023 Clean School Bus rebates. The rebate application period closed in February 2024 with an overwhelming response from school districts across the country seeking to purchase electric and clean school buses. Given the level of demand, including from low-income communities, Tribal nations and U.S. territories, the EPA doubled the initial amount of available funding in this round to a total of nearly $1 billion.  This third round of funding will build on the previous investments of almost $2 billion via the Clean School Bus Program's 2022 Rebates and 2023 Grants to further improve air quality in and around schools, reduce greenhouse gas pollution fueling the climate crisis, and help accelerate America's leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the future. The selections announced today will provide funds to school districts in 47 states and Washington D.C., along with several federally recognized Tribes and U.S. territories. Prioritized school districts in low-income, rural and Tribal communities make up approximately 45 percent of the selected projects and will receive approximately 67 percent of the total funding. The program advances President Biden's Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution. The EPA is also partnering with other federal agencies through the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to provide school districts with robust technical assistance to ensure effective implementation. The EPA is continuing to review selected applications and may make additional awards from this announcement. The EPA is working with those applicants and will notify them of an award if their application meets all program requirements. As additional selections are finalized, the EPA will update the CSB Awards webpage. The EPA will also make selections through additional rounds of funding, as well as through other funding programs. For example, the EPA is currently accepting applications for the 2024 Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program until 11:59 PM ET on July 25, 2024 – with the EPA offering up to $932 million in available grant funding and anticipates approximately 70% of the available funding to help pay for new, zero-emission Class 6 or 7 school buses. The EPA encourages school districts not selected for the 2023 CSB Rebate Program – and those that did not apply – to participate in currently open funding programs, and future CSB funding rounds. About the Clean School Bus Program The EPA Clean School Bus Program was created by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides an unprecedented $5 billion of funding to transform the nation's fleet of school buses. The Clean School Bus Program funds electric buses, which produce zero tailpipe emissions, as well as propane and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, which produce lower tailpipe emissions compared to their older diesel predecessors. The Clean School Bus Program will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money for school districts and produce cleaner air. Diesel air pollution is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students' health and cause them to miss school, particularly in communities of color and Tribal communities. Phasing out these older diesel engines will ensure cleaner air for students, bus drivers, and school staff working near the bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day. The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from these bus replacements will also help to address the outsized role of the transportation sector in fueling the climate crisis. The Clean School Bus Program will save school districts money as they upgrade school bus fleets, replacing existing buses with brand new zero-emission and clean school buses, while freeing up needed resources for schools. View the full list of Clean School Bus Program awards. Learn more about Children's Health and Healthy School Environments.

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Issued: May 22, 2024 (1:54pm EDT)

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces $225 million to Improve Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure for Tribes and Alaska Native Villages

WASHINGTON – Today, May 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, announced over $225 million in funding to improve access to safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater services for American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages. Through President Biden's Investing in America Agenda, EPA is able to provide one of the largest annual investments in water infrastructure funding to Tribes to help them advance public health and environmental protections, such as identifying and replacing lead service lines, or addressing harmful emerging contaminants in drinking water and wastewater, like PFAS.

"The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that Tribes across the country have access to clean and safe water, and thanks to the Investing in America Agenda, we are making more progress than ever before," said Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Bruno Pigott. "With this announcement, Tribes will be able to access funding for critical public health improvements ranging from lead service line replacement to get the lead out of drinking water to installation of wastewater infrastructure to protect public health and improve water quality in lakes, rivers, streams and oceans."

 The FY 2024 funding will be administered through the following programs:

• $69.4 million in Clean Water Indian Set-Aside through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual appropriation funds.
• $133.8 million in Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants Tribal Set-Aside through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual appropriation funds.
• $19.3 million in Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Tribal Grant Program through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds.
• $2.85 million in Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities Tribal Grant Program through annual appropriation funds.

In the past, EPA's funding to Tribes and Alaska Native Villages have been used for everything from establishing clean, safe wastewater treatment to pesticide reduction to waterways where fish consumption is critical to establishing backup power sources for wastewater systems after extreme weather like the wildfires. And with today's announcement, Tribes across the country will be able to apply for funding to do more critical water infrastructure work.

Some examples of Tribal Investments made possible by President Biden's Investing in America Agenda include:

• $1,586,000 was awarded the Tohono O'odham Nation to install a new arsenic treatment facility for groundwater wells on the Sells public water system. The system was experiencing rising arsenic levels that are close to the maximum containment level (MCL) of 10 parts per billion. The project will serve 1,014 homes in the Sells and Big Fields communities.
• The San Carlos Apache Tribe received $985,778 to construct two new groundwater wells to supply the Bylas community public water system, whose current water source is impacted by E. coli contamination. Construction of the new wells was completed in early 2024.
• The $1,787,500 forgivable loan that the Fallon-Paiute-Shoshone Tribe in Nevada received to continue a project to enhance an existing wastewater treatment lagoon and install a lift station resulting in improved sanitation and environmental health.
• The $2 million for the Clearwater River, Nez Perce Reservation in Idaho to help ensure salmon is healthy for consumption. Thanks to the BIL funding through the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program, the Nez Perce Tribe will use permanent and semi-permanent practices to reduce pesticides that infiltrate waterways in the Clearwater River watershed. Reducing pesticides in waterways benefits all living things that rely on the waters of the Columbia River Basin.
• The $600,000 investment to help eight tribes in California fund the sighting and installation of back-up power generators for their wastewater treatment systems. After some of the California wildfires these wastewater systems lost power and this investment will help ensure critical infrastructure is available during extreme weather.
• The $989,000 to help the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma address the Reservation's overloaded wastewater treatment lagoon system. Upgrades will help properly treat wastewater for over 200 homes and help resolve problems with discharges of raw sewage. 

Learn more about EPA's Tribal Water program,  EPA's Tribal Drinking Water Funding Programs, and EPA's Clean Water Indian Set-Aside Program.

Background
The Clean Water Indian Set-Aside program was established under the 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act and provides funding for wastewater infrastructure to American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages. Funds may be used for planning, design, and construction of wastewater collection and treatment systems.

The Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants Tribal Set Aside is a longstanding program funded from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund that provides direct EPA support for Tribal water infrastructure improvements. The Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities Tribal Grant program was created under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act and provides support for Tribal drinking water. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law builds on successful programs like the WIIN Act's Grant Programs and the Drinking Water Infrastructure Grants Tribal Set Aside to bring additional public health protections and drinking water improvements to more Tribal communities across the country.

EPA has released guidance on the implementation of Clean Water and Drinking Water Indian Set-Aside funding provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to prioritize public health projects including addressing emerging contaminants and lead service line replacement projects.

The Alaska Rural and Native Villages (ANV) Grant Program also provides funding for the construction of high priority drinking water and wastewater facilities in rural Alaska as well as training, technical assistance and educational programs in support of sustainable water systems. The FY 2024 allocation for ANV is $39 million.

Infrastructure projects for these programs are primarily implemented in partnership with the Indian Health Service, who are partners with EPA in the Tribal Infrastructure Task Force (ITF).

For further information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

 

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Issued: May 22, 2024 (1:24pm EDT)

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EPA Names Top Cities for ENERGY STAR Certified Buildings in 2023

Los Angeles, Washington, New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco make top five, cutting energy costs while increasing efficiency, reducing emissions

WASHINGTON – Today, May 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing its annual "Top Cities" list, spotlighting the cities with the greatest number of ENERGY STAR certified commercial and multifamily buildings last year. Los Angeles leads the pack, with 876 ENERGY STAR certified buildings. In second place is Washington, D.C., with 631 buildings, followed by New York in third place (390 buildings). Atlanta and San Francisco round out the top five.

The energy used by commercial buildings is responsible for 16% of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions and costs more than $190 billion per year. ENERGY STAR certified buildings use an average of 35% less energy and are responsible for 35% less carbon dioxide emissions than typical buildings.

"Cities and communities play an essential role in fighting the climate crisis and reducing energy use in commercial and multifamily buildings," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "With help from ENERGY STAR, city leaders and building owners are working together to strengthen their economies and businesses, reduce energy bills, and create a healthier environment."

First released in 2009, the EPA's annual list of cities with the most ENERGY STAR certified buildings shows how buildings across America are embracing energy efficiency as a simple and effective way to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To create the annual list, the EPA tallies the number of ENERGY STAR certified buildings within each metropolitan area, as defined by the U.S. Census, and creates separate rankings for mid-sized and small cities. These areas include the city itself as well as surrounding suburbs. This year's list includes buildings that earned the EPA's ENERGY STAR during the year 2023. This year's Top Cities are:

 

Rank	Metro Area	Building Count	Last Year's Rank
1	Los Angeles, Calif.	876	1
2	Washington, D.C.	631	2
3	New York, N.Y.	390	5
4	Atlanta, Ga.	373	3
5	San Francisco, Calif.	368	4
6	Dallas, Texas	323	8
7	Denver, Colo.	288	6
8	Houston, Texas	253	11
9	Riverside, Calif.	246	6
10	Austin, Texas	240	15
11	Chicago, Ill.	239	8
12	Boston, Mass.	213	10
13	San Diego, Calif.	209	14
14	Seattle, Wash.	187	13
15	Tampa, Fla.	167	12
16	Minneapolis, Minn.	162	16
17	Phoenix, Ariz.	156	17
18	San Jose, Calif.	140	18
19	Sacramento, Calif.	126	21
20	Provo, Utah	125	n/a
20	Charlotte, N.C.	108	19
22	Miami, Fla.	102	20
23	Philadelphia, Pa.	98	22
24	Detroit, Mich.	89	n/a
25	Orlando, Fla.	82	23
25	Raleigh, N.C.	82	25

 

Top 10 Mid-Sized Cities
Rank	Metro Area	Building Count	Last Year's Rank
1	Provo, Utah	125	3
2	Raleigh, N.C.	82	1
3	Louisville, Ky.	55	5
4	Jacksonville, Fla.	53	n/a
5	Tulsa, Okla.	50	n/a
6	Grand Rapids, Mich.	40	4
7	Des Moines, Iowa	38	2
8	Fort Collins, Colo.	36	n/a
9	Albany, N.Y.	34	n/a
10	Salt Lake City, Utah	33	5

 

Top 10 Small Cities
Rank	Metro Area	Building Count	Last Year's Rank
1	Jackson, Mich.	34	1
2	San Angelo, Texas	22	n/a
3	Bloomington, Ill.	15	n/a
4	Sebring, Fla.	13	n/a
4	Manhattan, Kan.	13	n/a
6	Bay City, Mich.	12	n/a
6	Dubuque, Iowa	12	4
6	Wheeling, W.Va.	12	n/a
9	Manitowoc, Wis.	11	n/a
9	Carson City, Nev.	11	5
9	Russellville, Ark.	11	n/a

 

Across the country, more than 8,800 commercial buildings earned the ENERGY STAR last year.

As of the end of 2023, more than 43,000 buildings across America had earned EPA's ENERGY STAR certification. Together, these buildings have saved nearly $6 billion on energy bills and prevented more than 23 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions — equal to the annual emissions of more than 3 million homes. 

To earn the EPA's ENERGY STAR, a commercial building must earn an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher on the EPA's 1 – 100 scale, indicating that it is more energy efficient than 75% of similar buildings nationwide. A building's ENERGY STAR score is calculated based on several factors, including energy use, hours of operation, and a variety of other operating characteristics.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations — including nearly 40% of the Fortune 500® — rely on their partnership with the EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Together, since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped American families and businesses save 5 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity, avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs, and achieve 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions, all through voluntary action. Learn more about ENERGY STAR.

More on ENERGY STAR Top Cities, including this year's rankings of top small and mid-sized cities, as well as last year's rankings.

Search for ENERGY STAR certified buildings.

More about earning the ENERGY STAR certification for commercial buildings.

For further information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

 

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