The Cassville school district has been selected as one of 404 applicants, out of more than 2,000, to receive grant money through the EPA’s Clean Bus program.
Cassville has qualified to purchase five electric buses at no cost to the district. The grant money also allows the district to purchase infrastructure needed to keep the buses running.
The district anticipates the new buses will be delivered to Wildcat Nation in 12-18 months. The Cassville bus fleet is currently 26-strong, and five buses will be destroyed when the new electric buses arrive.
“Receiving five new buses to our current fleet is a big deal for our district,” said Jake Kloss, Cassville transportation director. “The additional buses will allow us to put new buses on routes that typically use older buses.”
After the arrival of the new buses, the district will train with both the local fire department and EMS to educate safety personnel about the new vehicles. Kloss also reported that additional training will be provided to the district transportation team.
The Clean School Bus program’s goal is to transform school bus fleets across the country and make clean, zero-emissions school buses the American standard. EPA has announced they are awarding nearly $1 billion in rebates for school districts that will improve air quality in and around schools and communities, reduce greenhouse gas pollution and better protect children’s health.
Cassville was one of 27 Missouri districts to receive funds and received the second- highest amount at $1,975,000. It’s application was filed with Midwest Transit Inc.
El Dorado received the largest grant at $5,135,000, outfitting that district with 13 buses. Knox County and Clark County will get three buses, nine other districts will get two, and 12 districts will get one. Another district will receive a propane bus.
In total, the $949,595,000 in funds have supplied 2,573 buses, including 2,448 electric, 109 propane and 16 CNG. Funding for the Clean School Bus program grew nearly double from $500,000 last year.
For more information, people can visit: www.epa.gov/ cleanschoolbus.
