This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) to highland fleets

This agreement is to replace 51 existing school buses in 10 districts in colorado and utah with clean and zero emission (ZE) school buses. This project seeks to leverage EPA clean school bus (CSB) grant program funding, coupled with funding from the colorado department of public health and the environment's (cdphe) electric school bus program and drive clean colorado (DCC) to build a comprehensive electrification program within the rocky mountain region. Activities:the activities include replacing 51 diesel school buses with zero emission school buses and level 3 and level 2 charging infrastructure. The new school buses will serve boulder prep charter HS, community leadership academy, denver public schools, poudre school district r-1, steamboat springs school district RE2, summit school district RE1, thompson school district r-2J, west grand school district no. 1 in colorado and guadalupe schools and morgan district in utah. Subrecipient:the subawards will fund 23 electric school buses (type c, 2025 model year or similar) and four electric school buses (type d, 2025 model year or similar). These electric buses will replace older diesel buses. By doing so, the new buses will reduce emissions, save fuel, improve air quality, and reduce student absenteeism. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include: 1. 51 buses will be replaced with zero emission school buses (zebs) across 10 districts. Each district will replace at least two diesel buses with electric buses. 2. Highland and grid alternatives (grid) will provide drivers, mechanics, and public safety officials with ongoing training and supplemental materials on how to properly operate and maintain the zebs and chargers. 3. Highland will work with local partners to engage with and educate the community on the benefits of zebs. 4. Highland will incorporate lesson plans into grade-level appropriate programs at each school served by the project. The expected outcomes include: 1. Reduce emissions, save fuel, improve air quality, reduce absenteeism. 2. Training existing staff: ensure employees retain positions, gain new skills, and join the clean energy economy. 3. Extend lifespan: periodic maintenance identifies and repairs damage to extend lifespan of zebs, reducing their lifecycle cost and emissions impact. 4. Improved safety: proper maintenance and operation of buses ensures they are in good working order and drivers are trained, preventing accidents and injuries. 5. Increased public awareness results from educating the community about zebs and can help foster advocacy. 6. Increased demand for zebs as an outcome of educating the community about zebs and their benefits. 7. With school lesson plans in their educational curriculum, students can learn about the ZEB project at their school. Through a broader understanding of the project, students can advocate for clean transportation initiatives in their families, schools, and over social media. The intended beneficiaries include: 1. Highland fleets 2. Schools: boulder prep charter HS, community leadership academy, denver public schools, guadalupe schools, morgan district, poudre school district r-1, steamboat springs school district RE2, summit school district RE1, thompson school district r-2J, west grand school district no. 1. 3. Residents in colorado: boulder, commerce city, denver, fort collins, steamboat springs, frisco, loveland, kremmling 4. Residents in utah: salt lake city, morgan