U.S. EPA Paves the Means for Clear Buses at Fairfax County Public Faculties

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Clear Faculty Bus grant brings inexperienced future to high school transportation.

Immediately, the U.S. Environmental Safety Company (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz and U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11) celebrated certainly one of EPA’s first Clear Faculty Bus grants underneath the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation being awarded to Fairfax County Public Faculties throughout a ceremony at Lorton Station Elementary Faculty in Lorton, Virginia.

With county and native leaders, faculty officers, and representatives from nonprofits additionally in attendance, the occasion commemorated the $16.5 million grant, made doable via President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, that can convey 42 electrical buses to the Fairfax County Public Faculty bus fleet for cleaner air and a more healthy high quality of life for kids throughout the county.

“That is an thrilling day to have a good time Fairfax County Public Faculties on its journey to a greener future,” stated EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “Because of the EPA’s Clear Faculty Bus grant, this neighborhood will obtain a lift in its efforts to scale back emissions via sustainable transportation, marking a major funding that can result in cleaner air, more healthy college students and a greener tomorrow.”

In the course of the occasion, elected leaders and different stakeholders highlighted the significance of EPA’s Clear Faculty Bus program in transitioning from older diesel engines linked to bronchial asthma and different circumstances.

“Fairfax County is residence to one of many largest faculty districts within the nation,” stated U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11). “On daily basis, hundreds of scholars, employees, and oldsters are in and round faculty buses, uncovered by no alternative of their very own to diesel exhaust and different toxins. That adjustments immediately. Because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation that I voted for, and President Biden signed into regulation, Fairfax County will quickly be residence to 42 model new electrical faculty buses. That’s excellent news for our planet and it’s excellent news for our college students. Immediately is a good day for Fairfax County, and I’m so proud to be a part of it.”

The EPA introduced Fairfax County Public Faculties’ choice via EPA’s first Clear Faculty Bus Program grants competitors in January 2024.

This grant will present a number of the first EPA-funded electrical clear faculty buses to Fairfax County Public Faculties, which partnered with Dominion Vitality for infrastructure set up. The 42 new electrical buses will be a part of the present Fairfax County Public Faculties bus fleet accountable for transporting greater than 141,000 college students every day.

“We’re honored and excited to be among the many recipients of the Environmental Safety Company’s Clear Faculty Bus Awards,” stated Dr. Michelle Reid, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Faculties. “This recognition not solely underscores our dedication to sustainability and environmental stewardship but in addition displays our ongoing efforts to offer more healthy, cleaner transportation for all Fairfax County Public Faculties college students.”

EPA’s Clear Faculty Bus Program supplies an unprecedented $5 billion of funding via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation to rework the nation’s fleet of faculty buses. It funds clear faculty buses to scale back greenhouse fuel emissions, lower your expenses for college districts, and produce cleaner air.

This system delivers on President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which goals to ship 40% of the general advantages of sure federal investments to deprived communities which can be marginalized, underserved and overburdened by air pollution.

Go to the EPA’s web site for extra info on the Clear Faculty Bus program.

Information launch from EPA.