SCHUMER APPLAUDS $7+ MILLION FOR HUDSON VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR NEW, CLEAN ELECTRIC BUSES THROUGH THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE & JOBS LAW; BOOSTING SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WANT TO GO GREEN WITH FED $$ TO HELP CURB POLLUTION AND GIVE HUDSON VALLEY KIDS THE CLEANER AIR THEY DESERVE

Fed $$ Will Make It Cheaper For Hudson Valley School Districts To Purchase Dozens Of New Electric Low And Zero-Emission Buses – Helping Make Transition Easier For Schools That Want To Go Green, Boosting Local Taxpayers & Protecting Hudson Valley’s Children Health

Diesel Exhaust From School Buses Not Only Pollutes The Environment, But Has Been Linked To Asthma In Children; Now Thousands Of Children Will Have Cleaner Air When Riding To School

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced that ten school districts across the Hudson Valley will receive nearly $7,365,000 in federal rebate funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new Clean School Bus Program. Schumer helped create this program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act to help school districts looking to make the transition to low or no emission buses, helping take the burden off the local taxpayer and making it easier for underserved school districts that otherwise would struggle to afford new buses to upgrade their bus fleet and give kids the clean commute they deserve.

“From Hyde Park to North Rockland, this $7+ million in federal boost will help power schools in the Hudson Valley looking to upgrade their fleet with clean low and zero emission school buses, giving our children the clean ride to school they deserve, not to mention cleaner air for the whole community. Dirty diesel exhaust from buses is linked to asthma and many other negative health conditions that impact our children, and this funding will help ensure we are protecting the health of both our children and the environment in the Hudson Valley,” said Senator Schumer. “Thanks to our Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law, as the wheels of the school bus go round and round, carbon emissions and pollution are going to keep going down and down. Together we are helping put the Hudson Valley on the road to a better and healthier future for our kids and families.”

Schumer explained that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included $5 billion over five years (FY22-26) for the replacement of existing school buses with low and zero-emission school buses and that this is the second round of rebates from that program. Nationwide this third round of funding will support approximately 530 school districts spanning nearly every state to receive more than $900 million in funds to replace older, diesel fueled school buses that have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and surrounding communities. According to the EPA, selected school districts in the Hudson Valley include:

• Hyde Park Central School District will receive $3,400,000 for an estimated 17 new electric school buses.
• Haverstraw-Stony Point CSD (North Rockland) will receive $2,000,000 for an estimated 10 new electric school buses.
• Union Free School District of the Tarrytowns will receive $1,020,000.
• Scarsdale Union Free School District will receive $800,000.
• Arlington Central School District will receive $145,000.

In the funding announced today, Schumer said New York State is expected to get nearly $96 million in federal rebate funding to fund electric buses across the State. Nationwide, these rebates will help school districts purchase over 3,400 clean school buses—92% of which will be electric— to accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles and produce cleaner air in and around schools and communities. Approximately 45% of funding will go to low-income, Tribal, and rural communities and 67% of funds will benefit environmental justice communities. Under the program's multiple grant and rebate funding opportunities to date, the EPA has awarded almost $3 billion to fund approximately 8,500 school bus replacements at over 1,000 schools.

“Our school community thanks Senator Schumer for helping to secure $2 million in federal rebate funding to support our transportation providers’ purchase of ten zero emission electric buses. North Rockland has already embraced the installation of solar technology capable of harnessing the vast (and free) energy of the sun. The purchase of “clean” school buses will help to continue our efforts to create a healthier environment for our children. We are grateful to Senator Schumer and the EPA for recognizing the needs of school districts like ours that continuously strive to produce long-term savings for taxpayers while providing a cleaner, safer environment,” said North Rockland Central School District Superintendent of Schools Kris Felicello, Ed. D

"The Public Schools of the Tarrytowns is thrilled to have received this award, which will significantly support our efforts in transitioning to a more sustainable mode of transportation. The purchase of electronic buses not only aligns with our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint but also enhances the overall health and safety of our students and community. This funding marks a crucial step forward in our journey towards creating a greener and more environmentally conscious school district," said Dr. Ray Sanchez, Tarrytown Union Free School District Superintendent

"On behalf of the Scarsdale Schools community, I want to express our gratitude to the EPA for this significant grant, which will enable us to take an important step toward electrifying our bus fleet. While we are firmly committed to the transition to electric school vehicles, practically speaking, we would not have been able to make an acquisition like this without the financial support given the high cost of electric buses at present. Our students and families will not only experience positive health and environmental benefits, but will also share the positive effects of participating directly in the green energy transition," said Dr. Drew Patrick, Scarsdale Public Schools Superintendent

Schumer said that diesel exhaust from old fossil fuel is a major contributor to air quality problems in many communities and has been linked to poor health and asthma, especially for children, whose lungs are not yet fully developed. Now, communities that have been historically underserved in both urban and rural areas, that otherwise likely could not afford new buses will benefit by using the newest and cleanest technologies available.

Schumer has a long history of delivering the fed support needed to curb pollution and fight climate change. In October 2022, Schumer announced over $50 million in federal funding through the first round of the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program for Upstate NY.

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