EPA Funds Six New Clean Emission School Buses For Chappaqua

CHAPPAQUA, NY — Students and neighbors in Chappaqua will be breathing a little easier soon thanks to a substantial grant from the the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to replace aging diesel school buses with newer low emission vehicles.

On Tuesday, the agency awarded approximately $10.5 million to replace 473 older diesel school buses across the country. Slightly more than $108,000 of that money went to a Chappaqua bus operator - enough to buy six new high-efficiency, low emission buses.

"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," EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement announcing the grants. “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.”

This is the first year the EPA will provide extra funds to replace diesel buses with alternative fuel or electric vehicles. School bus operators replacing diesel bus engine models 2006 or older will receive rebates of up to $65,000 per bus, depending on the fuel efficiency and emissions standards of the replacement bus purchased.

The funds will be split among 137 school bus operators in 40 states.The grants are provided in the form of rebates from the EPA Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) fund. The federal agency says the new buses will immediately reduce pollutants linked to asthma and lung disease.

• All American School Bus Corp. in Astoria, Queens will receive $200,000 to replace 10 buses
• Chappaqua Transportation Inc. will receive $108,002 to replace six buses
• MAT Bus Corp serving multiple school districts will receive $200,000 to replace 10 buses
• Suffolk Transportation Systems Inc. in Bay Shore will receive $400,000 to replace 20 buses