The 2023 Clean School Bus Program Grant Application is Open. Apply now!

by Francisco Sayu | Apr 27, 2023 | Electric Vehicles, Electrification, Inflation Reduction Act

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just announced a new round of competitive funding through the Clean School Bus (CSB) Grants Program. This is the second funding opportunity for clean school buses from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Unlike the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates, this new funding opportunity is competitive – instead of a lottery. We encourage school districts to partner with other communities, transportation providers, and electric utilities for their application. Any eligible school district or third-party applicant must be set up on grants.gov and SAM.gov. Interested parties should confirm they are registered and current on both websites as soon as possible.

Why Electric School Buses? 

Cost savings: electric buses get the equivalent of 17 miles per gallon (MPG) compared to 6 MPG for diesel buses; these savings can amount to more than $170,000 across the bus lifecycle.

Health benefits: electric school buses cut diesel emissions, benefiting communities burdened by air pollution and high childhood asthma rates. 

Energy security and independence: electric buses can run on locally sourced renewable energy from a nearby solar or wind farm, which helps the local economy. 

Electric buses have operated safely and reliably in many parts of the United States, including Michigan, Minnesota, and Alaska. Although electric buses are cheaper to own and operate than traditional diesel buses, the initial cost of new buses has been a barrier to adoption, and only a few schools have been able to afford them. The Clean School Bus (CSB) Grants Program is solving this problem by covering up to 100% of the cost of new buses so that schools can save money without a significant out-of-pocket expense. Sounds too good to be true? Check out this blog post to find the list of school districts that already received awards for new electric buses in Wisconsin.  

2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Grants Program Overview
The EPA is awarding approximately $400 million in competitive grants under the Clean School Bus (CSB) Grants Program. The grant application will allow for a minimum of 15 buses and up to 50 buses for school district applicants and for a minimum of 50 and up to 100 buses for third-party applicants serving at least four school districts. Awardees will receive up to $395,000 per bus without cost-sharing or matching requirements. Applications must be submitted electronically to EPA through grants.gov by Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. (ET).

Eligible applicants include the following entities:

• Local or State governmental entities providing school bus service to one or more public school systems
• Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and tribally controlled schools providing school bus service to one or more Bureau-funded schools
• Nonprofit school transportation associations
• Public charter school districts responsible for the purchase, lease, license, or contract for the service of school buses for that charter school 
• Eligible contractors

Please refer to the grant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for specific information about this
competition.

Important Dates

Schools can submit questions to cleanschoolbus@epa.gov. Please type “Clean School Bus NOFO Question” in the subject line of your email. The deadline for submitting questions via email is Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. (ET). Schools may also contact Francisco Sayu, Emerging Technologies Director RENEW Wisconsin, at francisco@renewwisconsin.org, for general help with this grant application.

Empowering Wisconsin Communities with Federal Clean Energy Investments

by Francisco Sayu | Apr 26, 2023 | Electric Vehicles, Electrification, Inflation Reduction Act

The clean energy revolution is taking place across America, and Wisconsin communities can benefit in several ways. For example, by transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the state can reduce its dependence on expensive fuel imports, which currently amount to $14 billion annually. Clean energy can also support new jobs, attract private investment, reduce carbon emissions, improve public health, and create a more sustainable environment for future generations.

The federal government has ambitious clean energy goals, and communities across Wisconsin are taking advantage of federal programs like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to replace aging diesel school buses, rebuild bridges and ports, and improve air quality and resiliency. This blog post highlights clean energy investments made in Wisconsin communities through the IIJA and the IRA (see table below). Projects were identified using “The Climate Wins Here map” developed by  ActOnClimate. Feel free to use this interactive tool to learn about ongoing clean energy investments in Wisconsin and beyond.

Despite these wins, we must do more to support clean energy deployments in the state. A recent Wisconsin Public Radio report highlights that rural communities are disadvantaged when competing for federal funding. Paradoxically, these rural communities have the greatest needs and opportunities to benefit from federal funding. Whether it is a solar project that reduces coal imports, a new electric school bus that cuts fuel costs, or a microgrid that increases reliability, these projects improve the quality of life for host communities. 

In her book “Rural Renaissance, Revitalizing America’s Hometowns through Clean Power” Michelle Moore presents a practical and inspiring guide to creating economic opportunity through clean energy. Moore uses examples from communities across the U.S. leveraging natural resources, cooperative work, and innovation to bring electricity and prosperity to rural America. Today, the clean energy transition provides another opportunity to leverage our abundant resources (sunlight, wind, and land) and federal clean energy investments to create a more prosperous life for all Wisconsinites. It is up to us, and we must seize this opportunity.

In short, federal clean energy legislation has opened up new opportunities for communities in Wisconsin to improve their quality of life. The Climate Wins Here map is a helpful tool for identifying ongoing clean energy investments in the state. We encourage communities to use data, technology, and partnerships to build a cleaner, more sustainable future through clean energy. Feel free to contact RENEW for more information about federal funding for clean energy projects in your community.

Federal Clean Energy Investments in Wisconsin, April 2023