| The Clever R-V School District is one of 10 Missouri school districts that will be able to add a new cleaner bus to its fleet. A total of $515,000 in rebates were issued by the Environmental Protection Agency through EPA's Diesel Emissions Reduction Act replacement funding. Clever will receive $20,000 to be used with matching funds for the purchase of one new bus.
According to the EPA, the new buses are more than 90 percent cleaner, reducing pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter that are linked to health problems like asthma and lung damage.
Nationally, 76 school bus fleets in 30 states will receive rebates through EPAs DERA funding. Since 2008, the DERA program has funded over 600 clean diesel projects across the country. These projects have reduced emissions for more than 60,000 engines. EPA has implemented standards to make diesel engines more than 90 percent cleaner, but many older diesel school buses remain in operation and predate these standards.
Selectees must maintain ownership of replacement buses for three years from the date of purchase, and the buses must be used for the purpose of transporting 10 or more pre-primary, primary or secondary students to schools or homes during that three-year period.
Applicants were randomly selected and placed in order on a list until a total of $3 million was allocated. This was EPAs second round of the rebate program aimed at replacing older diesel school buses. Public and private school bus fleets were eligible to apply for rebates for the replacement of school buses with engine model years of 2006 or older.
The other Missouri districts receiving the rebates are: Cozad Transportation LLC of Brighton ($20K, 1 bus), Van Buren R-I ($60K, 3 buses), Liberty Public Schools Dist. #53 ($100K, 5 buses), Orchard Farm R-V ($80K, 4 buses), Windsor C-1 ($20K, 1 bus), North St. Francois County R-1 ($80K, 4 buses), Sullivan School District ($40K, two buses), Winston R-VI ($35K, two buses) and Salisbury R-IV ($60K, 3 buses). Go Back |
