JOHNSON, NE — Four Nebraska school districts are upgrading their bus fleets thanks to a federal rebate program.
The Environmental Protection Agency awarded $100,000 to replace five older diesel school buses in Nebraska schools. Chase County, Johnson-Brock, and Lexington school districts are each getting $20,000 while Superior Public Schools is receiving $40,000.
The rebates are through the EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act. The program aims to reduce pollutants from outdated diesel vehicles. The schools must replace the old bus with a new one with and engine model year 2006 or older.
“The rebates provide children with a safe and healthy way to get to school by upgrading older diesel engines in our nation’s school buses,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, EPA is equipping local school districts with cleaner-running buses, helping them along the route to healthier kids and communities.”
Nationally, the EPA is awarding $10.5 million to clean up 473 school buses. The EPA says it has implemented standards to make new Diesel engines more than 90 percent cleaner than older engines.
