Washington, DC — Today, Representative Lucy McBath announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Fulton County Schools $250,000 in federal funding as a winner of the 2021 Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA). This grant funding will invest in 10 school buses as part of the overall goal of delivering cleaner air, healthier neighborhoods, and better transportation.

“I’m delighted to see more funding coming to our backyard. The 2021 Diesel Emission Reduction Act award will provide Georgians more effective transportation, healthier air, and a better quality of life,” said McBath. “Investments in environmentally-friendly infrastructure updates will benefit our neighbors, Georgians across the state, and Americans everywhere.”

Heavy-duty vehicles, like buses, make up nearly one-quarter of all U.S. transportation greenhouse gas emissions, and are the largest contributor of nitrogen oxides (NOx)–air pollution that is known to cause asthma, heart and lung disease, and other serious respiratory issues. The modernization of public transportation will connect people to their jobs, school, health care and loved ones in a more efficient, environmentally friendly way.

In total, $10 million is being awarded to replace old diesel school buses with new cleaner buses through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebate Program. This funding complements the $5 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for clean school buses, the first tranche of which will become available in the coming months.

To read more about these efforts, click here to view the statement released by the Biden-Harris Administration.