A Clean School Bus, as defined by the BIL, is a bus that reduces emissions and is operated entirely or in part using an alternative fuel or is a zero-emission bus. The BIL provides $5 billion dollars over 5 years (FY22-26) for the replacement of existing school buses with low and zero-emission buses. State or local government entities, eligible contractors, nonprofit school transportation associations, and tribes, tribal organizations, tribally-controlled schools are all eligible for the program funding. A zero-emission bus is defined as a school bus that produces zero exhaust emission of any air pollutant and any greenhouse gas.
Awards will be granted covering up to 100% of the cost of the replacement bus and charging or fueling infrastructure. Priority applications may be recognized to replace buses that serve; high-need local education agencies, tribal schools, rural schools, low-income area schools, or applications that provide cost share through public-private partnerships, grants from other entities, or school bonds.
Usage requirements (All replacement buses must):
Be operated as part of the school feet for which the award was made for not less than 5 years;
Be maintained, operated, and charged or fueled according to manufacturer recommendations or state requirements and;
Not be manufactured or retrofitted with a power unit or any other technology that creates pollution within the school bus, such as an unvented diesel heater.
