The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced today
that applications will now be accepted for funding to retrofit
older school buses in order to reduce harmful emissions. A total of
about $8 million is available on a first-come, first-served
basis.
“In some cases, an $800 retrofit can reduce emissions by
70 to 80 percent,” says Commissioner Larry R. Soward.
“It’s quick, easy to do, and some school districts have
already installed pollution-control devices as part of their
general maintenance schedule.”
The Texas Clean School Bus program provides reimbursement for
Texas school districts to install pollution control devices on
diesel school buses. These devices reduce particulate-matter
emissions that can aggravate respiratory problems, asthma and
allergies in children who ride the buses. The program was first
funded by House Bill 3469 in the 79th Legislature and is in its
second grant round. In fiscal year 2008, about $5 million was
awarded to retrofit 2,643 school buses.
All public school districts and charter schools in Texas that
operate one or more diesel-powered school buses, as well as
transportation systems provided by countywide districts, are
eligible to be reimbursed for costs of approved retrofits. The
application deadline is Nov. 14. Go to www.texascleanschoolbus.org
or call 512-239-3100 for application information.
