The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced today
that response to the Texas Clean School Bus Program has been a
resounding success. In less than three months, all of the grant
money, $5,872,266, allocated for this fiscal year has been reserved
by 39 Texas school districts. This money will be used by the
districts to retrofit approximately 2,000 aging school buses with
pollution-reduction devices.
"I'm thrilled with the rapid and positive response from both urban
and rural school districts to this program," said TCEQ Commissioner
Larry R. Soward. "This effort is a good start in reducing the
amount of particulate-matter pollution from the state's older
school buses and improving the environment for our children."
"Estimates indicate that more than one-third of the state's
36,000 school buses are more than 10 years old," said TCEQ Chairman
Buddy Garcia. "Newer technology allows school districts to retrofit
buses, making them significantly cleaner."
Engine retrofits can reduce emissions by as much as 90 percent
and costs range from $800 to $7,500 per device. Some 39 school
districts from around the state applied for funds in the Texas
Clean School Bus Program. An additional $6,013,504 will be
available in fiscal year 2009.
For specific information on which districts will receive funds
from this disbursement, go to: www.texascleanschoolbus.org.
