The Colville Tribe, along with five other school districts, will share over $8 million in federal funds for zero-emission school buses.
WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Washington’s U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell announced three grants exceeding $8 million for zero-emission school buses in Washington state.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant program, part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), funds these grants. The goal is to replace internal combustion engine vehicles with zero-emission alternatives and support clean vehicle infrastructure development.
Of the $8 million, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation is set to receive $260,000 to replace a diesel refuse hauler with a zero-emission school bus. As a Justice 40 neighborhood, this change aims to reduce emissions and enhance environmental quality on the reservation.
According to the EPA, diesel-powered bus exhaust contributes to air quality issues and poses health risks, especially for children, due to underdeveloped lungs and faster breathing rates.
Shifting from diesel to electric buses diminishes greenhouse gas emissions, creating cleaner air for children and drivers, reducing pollution in bus loading zones, and lowering maintenance costs for districts.
Senator Cantwell was instrumental in the IRA’s legislative framework, introducing a 30% tax incentive for new electric buses and trucks. The FAST Electricity Act is anticipated by the Joint Committee on Taxation to allocate $5.2 billion over the next decade, promoting the electric vehicle market and encouraging electric-powered transportation adoption.
