The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded $175,000 to replace nine older diesel school buses in Indiana. P-H-M was the only school district in our area, and only one of three in Indiana, selected to receive DERA rebates in Indiana!
The other Indiana districts were North Daviess Community Schools (in SW Indiana) and School City of East Chicago.
The funds are going to school bus fleets, each of which will receive rebates through EPA's Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funding. The new buses will reduce pollutants that are linked to health problems such as asthma and lung damage.
Applicants replacing buses with engine model years of 2006 and older will receive rebates between $15,000 and $20,000 per bus, depending on the size of the bus. Regional, state or tribal agencies including school districts and municipalities, or private entities that operate school buses under contract with state, tribal or local agencies were eligible to apply.
Nationwide, EPA recently awarded more than $9.3 million to replace 473 older diesel school buses. The funds are going to 145 school bus fleets in 43 states or territories. Bus replacements funded through the rebate program reduce emissions and exposure to particulate matter and nitrogen oxides for children at schools, bus stops, and on the buses themselves.
