The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency is awarding a total of $120,000 to three school districts in La. to replace older diesel school buses with new buses that emit 90 percent cleaner emissions.
“Reducing emissions from school buses is a proven and effective way to improve air quality,” said EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. “Cleaner air is important for everyone, especially our children.”
Ouachita and Lincoln Parish school districts will receive rebates through EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act to replace ten of their existing diesel school buses. Since 2008, the DERA program has funded over 600 clean diesel projects across the country.
EPA has implemented standards to make diesel engines more than 90 percent cleaner, but many older diesel school buses remain in operation and predate these standards. Nationwide, 76 recipients will receive rebates through EPA’s DERA funding to replace 210 existing diesel school buses.