Lakeside Union School District Awarded Clean School Bus Program Funds

The Lakeside Union School District (LUSD) has been awarded $4.99 million from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean School Bus Program. With the funds, LUSD will be able to install charging infrastructure and purchase new clean, zero-emission electric school buses.

With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over the next five years (2022-26) to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models. EPA solicited applications for $500 million through the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates for zero-emission and low-emission school bus rebates as the first funding opportunity. LUSD is one of 20 recipients in California and only 391 in the country.

Criteria for bus replacement included age of bus, odometer miles and fuel type. With this criteria, LUSD was applied and was awarded funds to replace 14 buses and install new charging infrastructure. LUSD is excited to now begin the process of procuring the electric buses, installing the infrastructure, hiring drivers, and developing bus routes to efficiently transport students. This process is anticipated to take approximately 18 to 24 months.