The Affton School District was named one of 18 school districts in the state as a recipient of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition.

The Biden-Harris administration announced the recipients in May. The rebates will help selectees purchase a total of 56 clean school buses across the 18 selected school districts in Missouri, moving away from the older, diesel-fuel school buses that have been linked to asthma and other health conditions. A total of $18 million in rebates is going to the state.

The Affton School District received $200,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus.

“As a direct result of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, school districts across Missouri, including right here in Missouri’s Fifth, will receive $18 million to purchase dozens of clean, energy-efficient school buses,” U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Missouri’s 5th District, stated in a press release. “Not only will these clean buses boost the health of our students and staff by curbing harmful pollution that comes from traditional buses, but it will also cut costs for school districts by lowering energy expenditures, ensuring more funding can go to kids and their education. Today’s announcement is another demonstration of what is possible for our communities when lawmakers come together to provide bipartisan solutions, and I’m proud to have helped make it possible by supporting the president’s historic infrastructure initiative.”

The EPA announced the availability of $500 million for its 2023 Clean School Bus rebates in September. The rebate application period closed in February 2024. Due to demand, the EPA doubled the amount of available funding to nearly $1 billion. School districts in low-income, rural and tribal areas were prioritized, and make up approximately 45% of selected projects. They will receive approximately 67% of the total funding.

In total, the Clean School Bus Rebate Program will fund over 3,400 new clean school buses in approximately 530 U.S. school districts. Of the 3,400 new buses, 92% will be electric.

“President Biden believes every child deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy life and breathe clean air, and his Investing in America agenda is designed to deliver just that,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan stated. “With today’s latest round of funding, we are transforming the nation’s school bus fleet to better protect our most precious cargo – our kids – saving school districts money, improving air quality and bolstering American manufacturing all at the same time.”

The other school districts in Missouri to receive funding are:

• Academie Lafayette has been selected to receive $1,380,000 in rebate funding to purchase four clean school buses.
• Campbell R-II School District has been selected to receive $710,000 in rebate funding to purchase two clean school buses.
• Crawford County R-1 School District has been selected to receive $1,380,000 in rebate funding to purchase four clean school buses.
• Kennett School District #39 has been selected to receive $730,000 in rebate funding to purchase two clean school buses.
• Knob Noster R-VIII School District has been selected to receive $1,200,000 in rebate funding to purchase six clean school buses.
• Lamar R-1 School District has been selected to receive $200,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus.
• Lewis County C-1 School District has been selected to receive $690,000 in rebate funding to purchase two clean school buses.
• Madison C-3 School District has been selected to receive $345,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus.
• New Haven School District has been selected to receive $200,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus.
• Newtown-Harris R-III School District has been selected to receive $345,000 in rebate funding to purchase one clean school bus.
• Normandy Schools Collaborative has been selected to receive $1,725,000 in rebate funding to purchase five clean school buses.
• Portageville School District has been selected to receive $690,000 in rebate funding to purchase two clean school buses.
• Potosi R-III School District has been selected to receive $3,450,000 in rebate funding to purchase 10 clean school buses.
• Princeton R-V School District has been selected to receive $1,725,000 in rebate funding to purchase five clean school buses.
• Scotland County R-1 School District has been selected to receive $730,000 in rebate funding to purchase two clean school buses.
• Scott County Central School District has been selected to receive $690,000 in rebate funding to purchase two clean school buses.
• Worth County R-III School District has been selected to receive $1,725,000 in rebate funding to purchase five clean school buses.