Clean School Bus Program electrifies Garretson, South Dakota school district. Other districts can apply

Garretson Public Schools in South Dakota received a boost last year when the district was awarded nearly $1.2 million to add three electric buses to its fleet. 

The grant was provided by the Clean School Bus Program, which is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with funding from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Clean School Bus Program aims to replace existing school buses with clean and zero-emission vehicles.

The Garretson School District serves around 450 students in grades K-12. Superintendent Guy Johnson said the buses work well for the school’s needs. As a rural district, Garretson bus routes range from 37 to 50 miles. The electric buses have a range of 125 miles, offering a comfortable cushion even in imperfect weather or performance conditions.

This is not the first time the district has participated in the Clean School Bus Program. After previously receiving an EPA Clean Diesel grant, the school was intrigued by the possibility of adding electric buses to its roster. The school’s business manager penciled out the cost savings and decided to apply. After one year of having the buses in service, the school has seen $15,000 to $20,000 fuel cost savings.

Guy said the process of applying was relatively easy, and the school has found the grant administration and documentation straightforward. Because the Clean School Bus grant has no cost sharing or match requirement, there was no cost to the school.

A third round of funding for the Clean School Bus Rebate Program has recently been announced. The EPA anticipates awarding up to $965 million in rebates. Interested schools can find more information here.  Applications are due Jan. 9.

Established in 1973, the Center for Rural Affairs is a private, nonprofit organization working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues. Heidi Kolbeck-Urlacher, assistant policy director of the Center for Rural Affairs, is a fifth-generation South Dakotan with deep roots in the McCook/Lake county area. She focuses on clean energy policy.

Photo: Clean School Bus Program bus in South Carolina, public domain, wikimedia commons