The Illinois State Board of Education has been awarded nearly $20 million to begin transitioning to zero-emission buses.
ISBE will begin by distributing $19.9 million to nine school districts, replacing 70 combustion-engine buses with zero-emission electric buses and charging stations. The grant will also fund training to support the technology, designed to aid in “reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality.”
The Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program provides the grant, an initiative by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The program aims to improve air quality by cutting harmful emissions from heavy-duty vehicles, focusing on communities disproportionately affected by air pollution.
“With this funding, we’re building on our progress toward a more sustainable future by providing nine school districts with the resources to advance our clean energy goals,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a news release. “Thanks to our federal and local partners, we’re creating healthier and cleaner environments for students and communities across the state.”