Northhampton News

Gov. Tom Wolf announced that $34.6 million in federal funds through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be used to send 89 clean buses to 11 school districts in Pennsylvania.

According to a release by Wolf’s office, the funds are part of the first round of funding through the EPA Clean School Bus Program. This was created through President Joe Biden’s Infrastructure Law with $5 billion invested in low and zero-emission school buses over a five-year time period. Wolf applauded Biden’s efforts, saying it will help ensure the health of students riding the bus.

“Families rely on school buses to safely transport their children to and from school and related activities. We ensure that these buses are safe and that should include safe for our children’s lungs and environment,” Wolf said. “I thank President Biden for prioritizing pollution reduction and clean energy as part of his broad and comprehensive infrastructure investments. These new buses will decrease air pollution around schools and for schoolchildren.”   

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf | governor.pa.gov/

The Driving PA Forward program includes grants for Class 8 clean diesel and electric vehicles. This includes the clean buses that went to the 11 districts. The Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program is for school districts to use alternative fuels and electric vehicles, as well as providing grant money for alternative fuel refueling and EV charging stations.

“Thousands of school buses transport students to and from school each day in cities and towns across the commonwealth, so these grants will go a long way toward reducing our carbon footprint and ensuring reliable, safe, and clean transportation for Pennsylvania’s most precious cargo — our children,” Pennsylvania Department of Education Acting Secretary Eric Hagarty said. 

Department of Environmental Protection Acting Secretary Ramez Ziadeh added, “These investments into clean vehicles will pay dividends for these districts, saving them on fuel costs and improving air quality.”

The funds distributed, along with the number of buses that are going to each school district include: 

• Bradford County: Troy Area School District, Rohrer Enterprises Inc., $2.76 million for seven buses 
• Dauphin County: Halifax Area School District, Rohrer Enterprises Inc., $1.97 million for five buses
• Dauphin County: Harrisburg City School District, Wolfington Body Company Inc.$3.95 million for 10 buses 
• Dauphin County: Steelton-Highspire School District, $2.58 million for seven buses
• Lackawanna County: Scranton School District, Rohrer Enterprises Inc., $9.87 million for 25 buses
• Luzerne County: Greater Nanticoke Area School District, Rohrer Enterprises Inc., $5.9 million for 15 buses
• Mifflin County: Mifflin County School District, Wolfington Body Company Inc., $790,000 for two buses
• Potter County: Northern Potter School District, Rohrer Enterprises Inc., $790,000 for two buses
• Tioga/Lycoming Counties: Southern Tioga School District, Brightbill, M A Body Works Inc., $30,000 for one bus
• Washington County: Washington School District, Navistar Inc., $3.16 million for eight buses
• Washington County: Avella Area School District, Navistar Inc., $2.76 million for seven buses