December 11, 2024
Chicago, IL – The Environmental Law & Policy Center welcomes the US Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement today that 70 applicants have been selected to receive more than $735 million to help purchase over 2,400 zero-emission vehicles through its Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program. Among that total, more than 250 electric school buses will go to schools in the Midwest. Additionally, funding for other types of heavy-duty vehicles in the Midwest will go to the City of Chicago, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Metra (Chicago’s primary commuter rail system), the City of Milwaukee, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community in Minnesota, and several municipalities in Michigan.
“We’d like to congratulate Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota for successfully seeking electric school buses to serve students in their states. We are thrilled to see about 70% of EPA’s total awards announced today were allocated to electric school buses. This demonstrates strong continued interest among schools and their representatives in swapping out dirty diesel buses for clean, quiet, zero-emission buses. More students in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin will soon have a healthier ride to school.
“We’re also pleased that the federal government has begun to assist in transitioning other types of heavy-duty trucks — including refuse trucks and utility vehicles — to cleaner types. Pollution from all sorts of heavy-duty vehicles disproportionately impacts low-income communities as more trucks drive through those neighborhoods than other parts of our cities and towns.”