Several Minnesota school districts are receiving federal funding for green school buses

MINNEAPOLIS – More than a dozen school districts in Minnesota will receive money for clean buses.

The funding is part of the Biden administration’s efforts to help schools reduce their carbon footprint and save money.

The money is enough for 15 Minnesota school districts to replace nearly 100 buses with clean-energy buses. Sixty-seven will be electric.

In the Twin Cities, St. Paul will benefit most from the funding to replace 25 buses. Capitol City is followed by Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan, which is getting money for eight new buses.

Seven buses will be replaced in St. Louis Park, four in Bloomington and two in Edina.

In greater Minnesota, Rochester will receive funding for 25 new buses and Sauk Rapids could replace 12 buses.

This is part of the EPA’s Clean Bus Program rebate contest, where officials said they received an overwhelming response from school districts across the country.

Experts say older diesel school buses have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and surrounding communities.

“This announcement is not just about clean school buses,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. “It’s about the bigger picture. We’re improving air quality for our children, reducing greenhouse gas pollution and expanding our nation’s leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the future.”

This is the third round of funding in a five-year program.

In total, the EPA has selected approximately 530 school districts across the country this year to receive nearly $900 million in funds to replace more than 3,400 school buses.