School districts across North Carolina awarded electric bus rebates

On Wednesday, May 29th, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded nearly $900 million in electric school bus funding to schools around the nation. Kids in school districts across North Carolina, from Shining Rock Classical Academy in Waynesville to Northeast Carolina Prep School in Halifax, will soon be riding low to no emission school buses. North Carolina schools were awarded funding for over 59 electric school buses. 14 School districts across North Carolina amassed $19,255,000 in collective clean energy school bus rebates in this round of awards. This was the third round of rebates distributed through the Clean School Bus Program, which was initiated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021.

Transportation continues to be the largest contributor of greenhouse gasses in North Carolina, and according to 2020 numbers, on road mobile sources in North Carolina are the largest carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide polluters across the state. Transportation is also the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change across the US. Now, more North Carolina schools will be able to not only help mitigate climate change, but also add to better air quality in their communities.

Most school buses in the U.S. still run on diesel, which contributes to climate change and air pollution that has been linked to serious health risks, including increased rates of respiratory illness and cancer. Children are especially vulnerable to health risks posed by poor air quality from diesel-powered engines and some links have even been found between poor air quality and worsening academic performance in children. 

Our 2022 report, Electric School Buses and the Grid, highlights the benefits of electric school buses for the electric grid if they include technology that allows them to deliver power to buildings and back to the grid.