Senator Reverend Warnock was joined by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan at Stone Mountain Middle School to announce a $1 billion nationwide federal investment in clean energy school buses
Nearly $60 million of the $1 billion grant will go towards funding these clean buses in DeKalb, Bibb, Richmond, Clayton, and Glynn County Schools, as well as Marietta and Carrollton City Schools
Funding was made possible through provisions of Senator Reverend Warnock’s Clean Commute for Kids Act that were successfully included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Senator Reverend Warnock: “Don’t let anybody tell you we have to choose between good jobs or our environment. What’s good for the ecology is good for the economy, and what’s good for the economy is good for the ecology”
ICYMI from Atlanta News First: DeKalb County to get electric school buses
Left: Senator Warnock and EPA Administrator Michael Regan check out one of Blue Bird’s new all-electric school buses
Right: Senator Warnock helps announce a $1 billion federal investment in clean energy school buses across the country
Stone Mountain, GA – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) announced a near $60 million federal investment in Georgia’s clean energy economy, specifically going towards school districts across the state to invest in all-electric and clean energy school buses. This is part of a larger $1 billion federal investment announced today by Senator Warnock and EPA Administrator Michael Regan to fund clean energy buses in school districts across the country. The funding was made possible by Senator Reverend Warnock’s leadership during negotiations on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has already delivered over $9 billion in federal investments to Georgia.
The Senator and Administrator made the announcement at Stone Mountain Middle School in Stone Mountain, Georgia, which is part of the DeKalb County School System. DeKalb County Schools are slated to receive $20 million to help transition their bus fleet to electric and low-emission vehicles. Also in attendance to help announce this historic investment was Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), DeKalb County Schools Superintendent Dr. Devon Q. Horton, and Blue Bird representatives CEO Phil Horlock and Production Associate Craig Corbin. Prior to the assembly announcing this new landmark funding, the Senator joined students and community leaders for a test ride on one of the new all-electric Blue Bird school buses.
“Those who came before us have left behind the resources of our planet for us to enjoy, and now the onus falls to us to be good stewards of our Earthly home—today and for future generations. That is why I am so very proud to celebrate this landmark $1 billion investment in clean school buses and our clean energy economy, with nearly $60 million coming here to Georgia.” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “This is about converting fleets of diesel-powered school buses into clean energy vehicles for the future. This is a ride to the future, and this investment demonstrates the power of bipartisan cooperation to deliver tangible results for our communities.”
Every day, nearly 25 million children ride over 500,000 predominantly diesel buses to school in the U.S., which contributes to air pollution, and more importantly exposes children to polluted air. Exposure to diesel exhaust from these school buses negatively affects the health and wellbeing of children, especially those with asthma or other pulmonary ailments. In 2021, Senator Warnock introduced the Clean Commute for Kids Act to bolster Georgia’s clean energy and electric vehicle economy and protect the health of our kids and communities. During negotiations for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Senator Warnock fought to include $5 billion for the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean School Bus Program. The program will make critical investments to replace existing school buses with clean and zero-emission models, leading to cleaner air, reduced health risks for children, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. This federal funding will help support and grow jobs at Georgia companies like Fort Valley’s Blue Bird Corporation, which has been an industry leader in green commute technology.
To date, over $9 billion in BIL funding has been announced and is headed to Georgia with over 350 specific projects identified for funding. Since the BIL passed, approximately $6.6 billion has been announced for transportation – to invest in roads, bridges, public transit, ports and airports. Many more projects will be added in the coming months, as funding opportunities become grant awards and as formula funds become specific projects. The BIL invests over $10 billion for clean public transit and school buses. Announced funding to date will double the number of clean transit buses on America’s roads. Last year, schools in Georgia were awarded $50.8 million through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program. Additionally, communities in Georgia were awarded $53.3 million for clean transit buses and improved bus service through DOT’s Low- and No- Emission Bus and Bus and Bus Facilities Program.
See below a full list of clean energy school bus investments coming to Georgia:
| Applicant Organization Name | School District Name | # Electric Buses Funded |
| Bibb County School District | Bibb County School District | 15 |
| Clayton County Public Schools | Clayton County Public Schools | 50 |
| DeKalb County School District | Dekalb County School District | 50 |
| Highland CSB 1, LLC | Glynn County Schools | 6 |
| Highland CSB 1, LLC | Carrollton City School District | 10 |
| Marietta Board of Education | Marietta City Schools | 0 (no electric, 15 propane) |
| Richmond County Schools | Richmond County | 25 |
###