OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality announced two programs totaling $1.8 million are available to reduce school bus emissions.
The Alternative Fuel School Bus program funded by the Volkswagen State Environmental Trust is offering approximately $1 million toward the following project types:
• Replacement of engine model year 2009 or older Class 4-8 diesel school buses with new alternative fuel buses. For purposes of this program, alternative fuels include all-electric, propane (LPG), and natural gas (LNG or CNG).
• Electric charging infrastructure, if applying for an electric bus replacement.
The Volkswagen program could reimburse up to 75% of the cost of a bus purchase.
The Clean Diesel / DERA (federal Diesel Emissions Reduction Act) program is offering approximately $800,000 toward replacement of diesel school buses with engine model years 2009 or older. Selected applicants could replace an old diesel school bus with a newer diesel or gasoline school bus with an engine model year of 2019 or newer and get up to 25% of the cost reimbursed.
Applications from school districts will be accepted until 13 January 2023.
For more information about these funding opportunities, visit https://www.deq.ok.gov/air-quality-division/air-grants-funding-programs/.