More Philly students will be riding to school in clean buses.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced nearly $17 million in federal investments in the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) through the EPA’s Clean School Bus program. This will allow SDP to purchase up to 45 new electric school buses and phase out the older models with diesel engines.

The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides $5 billion nationwide over five years to replace previous diesel fleets with zero-emission and clean school buses.

“The Biden-Harris Administration has made it clear that transitioning to new, cleaner, zero-emission school buses should be the American standard,” said Adam Ortiz, EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator, in a press release.

As of June 2024, there were over 12,174 committed (i.e., awarded, ordered, delivered, or in operation) electric school buses nationwide, which accounts for approximately 3% of the national fleet. Pennsylvania ranks fifth nationwide for the highest number of committed electric school buses.  

Why invest in school buses?

Student transportation has the highest number of travelers in the US, making it the largest mass transit system. Nearly half a million school buses transport over 24 million K-12 students to school, covering more than four billion miles each year, according to Climate Central.

More than 90% of buses currently run on diesel, a carcinogen that produces over 40 toxic air contaminants. These pollutants harm the cardiovascular and respiratory health of children and the community along bus routes and collectively add 8.4 million metric tons of carbon pollution to the atmosphere each year.

Communities of color face higher on-road air pollution and are more likely to ride diesel-fueled buses than their counterparts. 

Additionally, each electric school bus saves an estimated $100,000 in fuel and maintenance costs compared to diesel versions.

Cover photo: Environmental Protection Agency

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Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake. View all posts by Julie Hancher