EPA to spend $3M replacing school buses

The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that it will spend $3 million trying to clean up kids’ rides to school.

The agency said the money will be given in the form of rebates to 76 school bus fleets in 30 states to replace 210 older diesel school buses with new school buses that are more than 90 percent cleaner, reducing emissions that cause asthma and lung damage.

“Americans put their children on school buses for a safe ride to school. They shouldn’t have to worry about harmful pollutants emitted from these buses,” EPA’s Assistant Administrator Janet McCabe said in a news release.

“This funding will help keep our children safe and improve the health of those in communities across the country.”

States with districts receiving the rebate include Alabama, California, Michigan, Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Texas Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Ohio, Nebraska, Nevada and Mississippi.

EPA said it randomly selected applicants that applied engine model years of 2006 or older.