The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced today that response to the Texas Clean School Bus Program has been a resounding success. In less than three months, all of the grant money, $5,872,266, allocated for this fiscal year has been reserved by 39 Texas school districts. This money will be used by the districts to retrofit approximately 2,000 aging school buses with pollution-reduction devices.

"I'm thrilled with the rapid and positive response from both urban and rural school districts to this program," said TCEQ Commissioner Larry R. Soward. "This effort is a good start in reducing the amount of particulate-matter pollution from the state's older school buses and improving the environment for our children."

"Estimates indicate that more than one-third of the state's 36,000 school buses are more than 10 years old," said TCEQ Chairman Buddy Garcia. "Newer technology allows school districts to retrofit buses, making them significantly cleaner."

Engine retrofits can reduce emissions by as much as 90 percent and costs range from $800 to $7,500 per device. Some 39 school districts from around the state applied for funds in the Texas Clean School Bus Program. An additional $6,013,504 will be available in fiscal year 2009.

For specific information on which districts will receive funds from this disbursement, go to: www.texascleanschoolbus.org.