The Texas
Clean School Bus Program offers funding and resources to Texas
schools for upgrades that reduce the emissions of diesel exhaust
from their school-bus fleets.
Funds for Upgrading School-Bus Fleets
Grants available through this program help schools purchase and
install emissions-reduction technologies. The program will award $8
million to school districts and charter schools as reimbursement
for the cost of eligible projects that reduce diesel-exhaust
emissions.
See a list of school
districts that received reserved funding (PDF), (Help with PDF) in the September
2007 to August 2008 grant period.
Who is Eligible for Funding
Funding for school-bus retrofit projects is open to
all public school districts and charter schools in
Texas that operate one or more diesel-fueled school buses.
Private schools are not eligible for funding.
Public school districts that lease buses are also eligible.
A diesel school bus proposed for retrofit must be used on a
regular, daily route to and from a school and have at least five
years of useful life remaining, unless the applicant agrees to
remove the retrofit device at the end of the life of the bus and
reinstall it on another bus.
Types of Technologies Available
Newer technology offers several options for cleaner-running
school buses, including these items:
Costs range from approximately $800-$8,250 per device.
School-bus emissions decrease by as much as 90 percent when these
engine or exhaust retrofits are made.
To determine which devices are best suited for your school
buses, please check the Environmental Protection Agency's list of
vendors 
who sell retrofit devices.
How to apply for grant funding
Application Period: August 15, 2008, to
November 14, 2008
Project Completion Date: March 31, 2009
Get specific details by reading How
to Apply for a Texas Clean School Bus Grant (PDF), (Help with
PDF.) This document explains
the steps you need to take, the deadlines, and the forms you need
to complete.
See a list of forms to apply for
Clean School Bus grants.
Other Funding Opportunities
Vehicle Retrofits and Replacements: Texas Emissions Reduction
Plan (TERP) Grants
This TCEQ
program makes funding available to schools located in designated
counties through TERP grants, which
could cover part of the cost of purchasing a new school bus with
better emission controls. Money also is available for retrofit
projects. Find out more about
the TERP grants and how your district might qualify.
Vehicle Retrofits: Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs)
This TCEQ
program makes funding available in certain areas of the state where
SEP
third-party project administrators have agreed to participate in
clean school bus retrofit projects. The project administrators
receive the money, which comes from a portion of fines resulting
from enforcement actions for environmental violations.
Links to Other Sources
