Driving Forward on a Clean Ride for Kids

The document argues that electric school buses (ESBs) improve air quality and reduce operating costs compared to diesel buses, which contribute to respiratory illnesses and school absenteeism. It highlights the Clean School Bus Program (CSBP) as the primary driver of deployment, having announced nearly $3 billion for 966 awards as of June 2024. To sustain progress, the author recommends that the EPA disburse all awarded funds, Congress preserve specific tax credits, and state governments provide complementary funding, infrastructure support, and workforce training.

• Diesel fuel, used by the majority of the 480,000 school buses in the US, produces emissions that can cause asthma, cancer, and other respiratory illnesses, with asthma being a primary driver of school absenteeism for the 20 million children who use these buses daily.
• Electric school buses (ESBs) outperform other bus types regarding health, air quality, and operating costs, and are viable across various climates and settings (urban, suburban, and rural).
• The Clean School Bus Program (CSBP), created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with $5 billion allocated for FY 2022–26, has funded roughly two-thirds of ESB deployment. By June 2024, it announced nearly $3 billion across 966 awards, supporting over 8,500 ESBs and charging infrastructure for more than 1,200 school districts (including 65 Tribal districts) serving 16 million students across 49 states, 4 US territories, and Washington, DC.
• To maintain electrification progress, the author recommends the EPA disburse all awarded funds and the remaining $2 billion in CSBP funding, and that Congress preserve the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit (30C) and the Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit (45W).
• State-level recommendations include maintaining and increasing funding, setting transition targets, supporting utility infrastructure "make-ready" programs, providing technical assistance, and developing financing through state infrastructure banks.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Driving Forward on a Clean Ride for Kids. https://www.wri.org/research/driving-forward-clean-ride-kids

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Driving Forward on a Clean Ride for Kids. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/driving-forward-clean-ride-kids.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Driving Forward on a Clean Ride for Kids |url=https://www.wri.org/research/driving-forward-clean-ride-kids |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutenddriving, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Driving Forward on a Clean Ride for Kids}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/driving-forward-clean-ride-kids}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }