title: Illinois Awarded 99 Million to Electrify School Buses

2024-12-21

: The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has been awarded $19.9 million to purchase and deploy 70 electric school buses and to construct additional electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The funding comes from the IRA’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, allowing the state to deploy electric versions across nine Illinois school districts. In addition to deploying the electric buses, the state plans to use the funding to help build charging stations for the EVs, along with providing workforce training. Three other Illinois school districts were awarded direct funding through the EPA’s Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program.

What Undercode Says:

This is a great initiative by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to invest in electric school buses. Electric school buses have many benefits over traditional diesel buses. They produce zero emissions, which helps to improve air quality and public health. They are also quieter than diesel buses, which can create a more peaceful learning environment for students. Additionally, electric school buses can be cheaper to operate in the long run, as they require less maintenance and fuel.

The investment in electric school buses is also a wise investment in the future. Transportation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, and electric vehicles are a key part of the solution to climate change. By investing in electric school buses, Illinois is helping to reduce its carbon footprint and create a more sustainable future for its children.