The Biden administration has announced nearly $1 billion in federal grants for school districts to purchase electric and low-emission buses, part of a program to replace existing diesel-powered buses.
The program aims to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.
While the initiative has received praise, a recent audit by the EPA Office of Inspector General raised concerns about the program’s reliance on utility companies to increase power supplies and construct charging stations. (Trending: Fox News Star Accused Of Major Scandal)
Vice President Kamala Harris wrote in a statement, “As part of our work to tackle the climate crisis, the historic funding we are announcing today is an investment in our children, their health, and their education.”
“It also strengthens our economy by investing in American manufacturing and America’s workforce,” she continued.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan said, “Today we’re once again accelerating the transition to electric and low-emission school buses in America, helping to secure a healthier future where all our children can breathe cleaner air.”
“Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments in America, thousands more school buses will hit the road in school districts across the country, saving school districts money and improving air quality at the same time,” claimed the bureaucrat.
Sen. Chuck Schumer wrote, “I led the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law to passage so communities across the country will have the federal funding needed to combat climate change, and now, for the second year in a row, this major investment sets the wheels in motion to put new electric school buses on the road, curbing carbon emissions, decreasing pollution, and improving the air quality for students and communities across America.”
According to the EPA Office of Inspector General, “The Agency may be unable to effectively achieve program goals unless it can ensure that school districts will be able to establish the infrastructure necessary to support clean bus and charging purchases.”
“There could be delays in utilities constructing the needed charging stations to make the buses fully operational in a timely manner.”
“While early coordination with utilities is not a requirement, it could prevent the Agency from achieving its objective to remove older diesel buses and replace them with clean buses,” continued their statement.
“The increased demand on manufacturers and utility companies may impact the timeliness of replacing diesel buses and ultimately may delay program health and environmental benefits,” concluded the agency.
Delays in building the necessary infrastructure could impact the program’s effectiveness in achieving its goals.
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