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The funding will go to replacing old school buses with clean, zero-emission buses.

This week, the Biden administration announced $500 million is available for new school buses.

According to a press release, the funds, from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will go to school districts and bus contractors across the United States to replace old school buses with clean, zero-emission ones.

Every year, 25 million children ride the bus to and from school. A report from the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Coalition for Clean Air, and the University of California, Berkley said that pollution inside of the bus can be four times greater than outside of the bus. The study’s authors also said that the pollution can pose a cancer risk for some children.

Replacing school buses with zero-emission buses will protect children’s health. Clean buses will also benefit the community and environment by reducing greenhouse gases and providing cleaner air.

“Clean air for our children is fundamental to their healthy development and success in life. Clean, quiet, and pollution-free electric school buses will improve air quality and the lives of our kids. Electrifying medium- and heavy-duty vehicles also is a key strategy to reduce transportation costs, improve quality of life in communities, protect public health, and tackle the climate crisis,” said House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Chair Kathy Castor in the press release.

 Priority will be given to communities with “high-need local education agencies, Tribal Schools, and rural areas.”

Applications are open until August 19, 2022.

To learn more about the application, visit EPA.gov.