Rep. Neguse Announces Funding for Clean School Buses Across Colorado’s 2nd District
Lafayette, CO — Today, Congressman Joe Neguse announced school districts across Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District have been awarded funding through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) first Clean School Bus Program Grants Competition, created as part of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to help purchase clean school buses and serve students across the state. The funding supports a total of 16 new electric buses for Boulder Prep Charter High School and the West Grand, Thompson, Summit, Steamboat Springs, and Poudre School Districts. By accelerating the transition to low- and zero-emission vehicles, these awards will improve air quality for children and their families and advance environmental justice, all while boosting the economy and creating good-paying jobs.
The EPA announced a total of 67 applicants were selected to receive nearly $1 billion through the Clean School Bus Program Grants Competition. With this news, the program will have awarded nearly $2 billion for schools and students—funding approximately 5,000 electric and low-emission school buses nationwide.
“I am excited to announce that thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, students and schools across Colorado’s 2nd District will welcome sixteen new clean school buses to their fleets. Not only will these vehicles help to reduce emissions – working to build a more sustainable future for our state – but they will also improve the air we breathe and help save school districts money,” said Congressman Neguse. “More than two years after we fought to enact the Infrastructure Law, this bill continues to deliver for Americans everywhere.”
This announcement includes funding for the following: West Grand School District, 2 electric buses; Thompson School District, 3 electric buses; Summit School District, 4 electric buses; Steamboat Springs School District, 3 electric buses; Poudre School District, 2 electric buses; and Boulder Prep Charter High School, 2 electric buses.
“We are thrilled and deeply grateful for the EPA Clean School Bus grant award,” said Dr. Celine Wicks, Superintendent of the Steamboat Springs School District. “This award will help us to pursue cleaner transportation options while ensuring the safety and well-being of our students. We are also proud to be setting an example for other small, rural school districts in the state on how to incorporate electric buses within existing fleets.”
“We at Summit School District are grateful for the EPA Clean School Bus grant, which marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a cleaner, more resilient future. This grant, enabling the acquisition of four cutting-edge electric school buses and the necessary charging infrastructure, is a testament to what can be achieved through strategic partnerships and a shared vision for environmental stewardship. With this initiative, we're not just enhancing our transportation system; we're investing in the well-being of our students and the planet. This collaboration with the EPA is a powerful affirmation of our commitment to shifting to more sustainable energy use practices while providing top-notch, eco-friendly services to our students,” said Consuelo Redhorse, Summit School District School Board President.
West Grand School District Transportation Director Bethany Aurin said, “We would like to acknowledge the expertise and assistance of Highland Fleets for compiling the data for 11 school districts in our EPA Region 8 application. Their herculean effort resulted in EPA awards to fully support the deployment of 55 buses across the 11 school districts included in our application.”
“Thompson School District is honored to be named as one of the recipients of the Clean School Bus Program Grants," said Thompson School District Superintendent Dr. Marc Schaffer. "As a district centered on innovation, our team is always looking for creative opportunities to enhance the support that we provide to each student and family in TSD. This grant award will allow us to continue to provide exceptional service to our community, while also saving money and helping to nurture the beautiful environment we have here in northern Colorado.”
“Thanks to some incredible staff, PSD has a strong history of work around sustainability, and we are thankful that our district was chosen to receive two electric school buses as part of this national investment,” said Poudre School District Superintendent Brian Kingsley. “Through this opportunity, we can study electric buses — what it takes to maintain them as part of our fleet, their range and associated limitations, the battery-charging process, and more — and make educated decisions about if and how to expand our investment in electric vehicles in the future. Strategic grants, like this one, allow us to research and make fiscally responsible, strategic moves to best serve our students.”
The Clean School Bus Program, created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is having far-reaching effects across school districts and their surrounding communities. Air pollution from older diesel engines is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health and can cause them to miss school. Phasing out these older diesel engines, which disproportionately affect communities of color and Tribal communities, ensures cleaner air for students, bus drivers, school staff working near bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day. The program includes both a grant program where selected applicants are awarded funds to purchase buses, and a rebate program that allows selectees to receive awards before purchasing eligible buses that replace existing school buses with clean and zero-emission models.
Congressman Neguse played a crucial role in the swift passage and enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a transformative piece of legislation that not only rebuilds America’s roads and bridges but works to invest in the economy and ensure communities can compete in the 21st Century.
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