On Wednesday, October 26, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Biden-Harris administration began announcing the awardees to receive nearly $1 billion from the Clean School Bus (CSB) program – a federal rebate for school districts to purchase zero- and low-emission school buses. A program goal is to “improve air quality in and around schools and communities, reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and better protect children’s health.” Part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), CSB provides a total of $5 billion over five years for clean school bus transportation.
After increased demand from school districts across all 50 states, outlying territories, and federally recognized Tribes, the EPA announced in September that it had nearly doubled the first round of funding awarded from the previously-committed $500 million to $965 million.
If you were one of the lucky recipients, congratulations! Your school district is that much closer to reaching your electrification goals.
You may be asking, “now what?”
Even if you’ve been approved, purchasing an electric bus and receiving your federal rebate may still seem daunting. As the Electric Bus Authority, Thomas Built Buses and its dealers can help guide you through the final stages of the process.
According to the EPA, applicants that are selected for funding should have/will receive an electronic status update that includes:
- Confirmation that you have been selected for funding
- The maximum amount of funds that have been reserved for you
- Instructions on proceeding with the purchase of your new buses and eligible infrastructure
After receiving notice of selection, selectees must provide proof of purchase for new EV buses and eligible infrastructure within six months. Extensions are available upon request if sufficient justification is provided.
Here are the steps to get you to that April 2023 deadline:
- Contact your local dealer. Their team is educated on funding opportunities and how to help customers navigate the electric landscape.
- Fill out the Electric Bus Authority contact form to talk to our EV experts about next steps.
- When it comes to infrastructure, working with a utility provider to bring power to your site and install EV bus equipment can take months. Thomas Built recommends reaching out to utility partners now (through guidance by the EPA) to begin this conversation. And we’re here to help!
There’s no one more equipped to get you to the CSB finish line than Thomas.
Thomas Built is the Electric Bus Authority. With an in-house team of EV specialists and dealers dedicated to sales and implementation, Thomas has acute knowledge of how to successfully complete the CSB program rebate process. From assistance with EV funding opportunities, to infrastructure consideration and implementation, to an elite EV product in the Proterra-powered Saf-T-Liner® C2 Jouley®, Thomas has the knowledge and expertise to help fleets make the inevitable and exciting transition to EV.
Taking your fleet electric can feel overwhelming at times. Reach out to the Electric Bus Authority for help navigating the complex EV ecosystem. Selecting Thomas as your EV partner and electric school bus provider can put you on the path toward electric success.
We will continue to post updates as we receive more information on the Clean School Bus Program, plus other local and national funding opportunities. In the coming months, EPA will announce the next round, with an additional $1 billion in funds available for clean school buses in Fiscal Year 2023. Learn more about the program at epa.gov/cleanschoolbus. For additional school bus news and updates, sign up for our newsletter below.
