San Joaquin Valley Sun: Valley school districts receiving funding for electric school buses
By Daniel Gligich
Two Central Valley School Districts are receiving funding to transition their school buses to zero-emission and low-emission school buses.
Sen. Alex Padilla announced Monday that Kern High School District and Porterville Unified School District are among the recipients of the Clean School Bus Program Awards.
The big picture: Part of the 2021 infrastructure bill, the Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over five years to transition school buses to zero-emission and low-emission buses, effectively replacing diesel powered buses with electric buses.
- California was awarded $88 million to purchase electric buses across the state.
- Kern High School District will have 39 buses transitioned, while Porterville Unified will have 35.
- Los Angeles Unified School District and San Diego Unified School District will also have buses transitioned.
What they’re saying: Padilla said in a statement that a successful school day starts with a diesel-free commute.
- “I’ve seen firsthand the harmful health and respiratory impacts polluted air from outdated buses can cause our children, having grown up riding diesel-powered school buses in Pacoima,” Padilla said. “Modernizing our bus system is a crucial investment in our children, our health, and our environment. That is why I championed the inclusion of the Clean School Bus Program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is now helping California schools make the much-needed transition to electric bus fleets.”
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