Brick Awarded $5M In Federal Funds For Zero-Emissions School Buses

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Township School District has been awarded a federal rebate of more than $5 million to replace a quarter of its school buses with zero emissions buses, federal authorities announced Wednesday.

The rebate is from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the 2023 Clean School Bus Program, and Brick is one of 11 school districts in New Jersey receiving funds.

Brick's award of $5,180,000 will be used to purchase 25 clean school buses, moving to zero-emissions vehicles from older, diesel school buses, which have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and surrounding communities, officials said.

The EPA Clean School Bus Program will save school districts money as they upgrade school bus fleets, replacing existing buses with brand new zero-emission and clean school buses. It funds electric buses, which produce zero tailpipe emissions, as well as propane and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, which produce lower tailpipe emissions compared to their older diesel predecessors.

Diesel air pollution is linked to asthma and other conditions that harm students’ health and cause them to miss school. Phasing out these diesel engines will ensure cleaner air for students, bus drivers, and school staff working near the bus loading areas, and the communities through which the buses drive each day, federal authorities said.

"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," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "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."

"New Jersey is thankful to the Biden Administration for these historic investments that will allow our schools to transition to zero-emissions school buses," Gov. Phil Murphy said. "This exciting opportunity to replace older, polluting buses will create cleaner and healthier environments for our students."

The EPA's 2023 Clean School Bus rebate program was announced in September, and nearly $1 billion was awarded to school districts across 47 states. It awarded $12 million in New Jersey under this round of funding.

The EPA Clean School Bus Program was created by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides an unprecedented $5 billion of funding to transform the nation’s fleet of school buses.