LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Millions of dollars are headed to the Clark County School District as part of President Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
A majority of the $9.8 million funds CCSD receives will be dedicated to CCSD Transportation and the purchase of new electric buses.
The money comes from a federal grant as part of the Environmental Protection Agency's new Clean School Bus Program.
With the money, CCSD expects to fund at least 25 electric school buses.
"Funding from the EPA's new Clean School Bus Program will enable CCSD to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models," Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara stated in a news release.
Jara thanked Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and the Nevada federal delegation's "leadership on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides the funding for these buses to transport our students and reduce environmental impacts."
According to White House youth development studies, diesel exhaust from buses produces particulate matter and other pollutants that can cause lung damage and aggravate asthma and other health problems in children.
In a news release, the Biden administration linked diesel exhaust exposure to increased school absences, as well as poor air quality inside classrooms.
According to Biden's national climate adviser, CCSD is among the program's top funding recipients.
"What this program allows us to do is especially focus on kids in lower income communities," said Ali Zaidi, assistant to the president and national climate adviser. "In transitioning those buses to electric and zero emissions, that's not only good for the kids, it's good for the school districts who will save money on fuel costs."
The remaining funds will be used to make local public schools more energy efficient, to improve indoor air quality, and to make transportation to and from school more safe, as well as adding more resources for schools in rural areas across the country.
