UniteGPS – North Callaway R-1 School District is one of 11 communities in Missouri eligible to receive up to $535,000 in rebates to purchase 26 electric school buses through the federal government, according to the Fulton Sun.
With each electric school bus costing up to $20,000, the school district is currently deliberating whether to accept $40,000 to acquire two new vehicles through the 2021 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA).
Transportation Director at North Callaway Doug Kee told the Fulton Sun that the school district has tentatively accepted the offer but is strategizing on how to properly use the funds. For him, it would be an appropriate opportunity to replace older buses.
School board members at North Callaway will reportedly discuss the matter during this month’s meeting, most likely coming to a final decision.
Federal grants for electric school buses
Previously UniteGPS has reported about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administering the Clean School Bus Program as part of President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This government program has offered recipients up to $5 billion over the next five years to replace diesel school buses with cleaner models.
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The EPA will reportedly prioritize funding to high-need local educational programs, low-income and rural areas, tribal schools, as well as applications providing cost-share. When it comes to the selection process, the EPA will evaluate the lowest overall cost of bus replacement. Other considerations include local conditions like the length of bus routes and weather, potential impact on manufacturing jobs, as well as technology.