The Environmental Protection Agency selected applicant awardees for its pilot Clean Diesel School Bus Rebate Program.
Officials said the agency received more than 1,000 school bus fleet applicants asking for more than $70 million for the $2 million allocated for the program. A list of the 30 awardees is here.
The EPA said all applicants were randomly selected after being given a unique identification number, and then they were placed in order on a list. Selected applicants have been contacted. All other applicants have been placed on the wait list in the random order assigned to them.
The 2012 School Bus Replacement Rebate Program offers incentives for eligible applicants to replace older school buses with newer buses powered by certified 2012 or newer engines. The program also made funds available directly to private contractors under contract to local public school districts.
The rebate program is part of the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grant program. In January 2011, DERA was reauthorized through fiscal year 2016, and one major change in the reauthorization gave the EPA the authority to award rebates.
