Pittsburgh Review

On October 26, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced that the state has been awarded funds through the EPA Clean School Bus Program for 89 new clean school buses.

According to a press release by Wolf’s office, $34.6 million in grant money will go toward the buses in 11 school districts.

“Families rely on school buses to safely transport their children to and from school and related activities. We ensure that these buses are safe and that should include safe for our children’s lungs and environment,” Wolf said. “I thank President Biden for prioritizing pollution reduction and clean energy as part of his broad and comprehensive infrastructure investments. These new buses will decrease air pollution around schools and for schoolchildren.”  

This is part of the first round of funding through the program that was made possible through President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In the law, $5 billion has been invested in low and zero-emission school buses over a five-year period. The grant funding for these clean buses is available for districts through DEP programs. 

“These investments into clean vehicles will pay dividends for these districts, saving them on fuel costs and improving air quality,” said Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh. 

The distribution of funds for the buses are:

• Bradford County: Troy Area School District, Rohrer Enterprises Inc., $2.76 million for seven buses 
• Dauphin County: Halifax Area School District, Rohrer Enterprises Inc., $1.97 million for five buses
• Dauphin County: Harrisburg City School District, Wolfington Body Company Inc.$3.95 million for 10 buses 
• Dauphin County: Steelton-Highspire School District, $2.58 million for seven buses
• Lackawanna County: Scranton School District, Rohrer Enterprises Inc., $9.87 million for 25 buses
• Luzerne County: Greater Nanticoke Area School District, Rohrer Enterprises Inc., $5.9 million for 15 buses
• Mifflin County: Mifflin County School District, Wolfington Body Company Inc., $790,000 for two buses
• Potter County: Northern Potter School District, Rohrer Enterprises Inc., $790,000 for two buses
• Tioga/Lycoming Counties: Southern Tioga School District, Brightbill, M A Body Works Inc., $30,000 for one bus
• Washington County: Washington School District, Navistar Inc., $3.16 million for eight buses
• Washington County: Avella Area School District, Navistar Inc., $2.76 million for seven buses

The Driving PA Forward Program involves grant for Class 8 clean diesel and electric vehicles that include these school buses. The Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program is for alternative fuel and electric vehicles, as well as EV charging stations and alternative fuel refueling stations for school districts.

“Thousands of school buses transport students to and from school each day in cities and towns across the commonwealth, so these grants will go a long way toward reducing our carbon footprint and ensuring reliable, safe, and clean transportation for Pennsylvania’s most precious cargo — our children,” said Pennsylvania Department of Education Acting Secretary Eric Hagarty.