This project aims to improve air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reduce asthma-related illnesses in the SAN antonio school district and bexar county by replacing fifteen…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Clean School Bus Program (CFDA 66.045), awarded a $5,925,000 Project Grant to the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) to replace fifteen diesel-powered school buses with fifteen zero-emission electric school buses and install nine DC fast vehicle charging stations. The project aims to improve air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and asthma-related illnesses in the SAISD and Bexar County, Texas, communities. The new electric school buses will serve approximately 46,000 students in the district and the surrounding Bexar County area. The project activities include the procurement of the new electric buses by March 2026 and the proper scrapping of the replaced diesel buses in accordance with EPA guidelines. The intent of the project is to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, educate students on green energy, partner with the local community, and encourage labor engagement.

This project aims to improve air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reduce asthma-related illnesses in the SAN antonio school district and bexar county by replacing fifteen diesel-powered school buses with fifteen electric vehicle (zero emissions) buses. While new buses meet usepa's tougher emission standards, many older buses continue to emit pollutants that can be harmful to health like nitrogen oxides or particulate matter. The SAN antonio independent school district students are particularly vulnerable to air pollution inside and near older diesel school buses. The district is located within the 60-100TH percentile nationally for diesel particulate matter on the environmental justice screening tool. According to usepa's environmental justice mapping tool, the district's county location (bexar county) is in the 75TH percentile for particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and the 80-90TH percentile for air toxics cancer risk. These pollutants increase students' risk of asthma and other respiratory illnesses, which is also linked to missing school. The purchase of these new cleaner school buses will produce zero emissions compared to their older diesel predecessors, and cleaner air in bus loading areas and in the district communities in which they operate. The intent of this purchase is four-fold: to help decrease greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide, hydrofluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxide, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride), educate students on the benefits of green energy, partner with the SAN antonio community, and encourage labor engagement in the community. The use of union-built electric school buses will reduce exposure to diesel fumes for the students who ride these vehicles and these measures of poor air quality. Improved air quality has been shown to not only reduce respiratory challenges but have also been shown to improve learning outcomes. Activities:the activities include replacing fifteen diesel-powered school buses with fifteen class 7 zero-emission electric vehicle school buses and installing nine DC fast vehicle charging stations to support the charging infrastructure within the SAN antonio independent school district community (bexar county). Usepa funds only will be used for purchase of he school buses. Procurement of the new school buses will be followed in accordance with usepa procurement guidelines and expected to be completed by march 2026. The new school buses will serve the SAN antonio independent school district, with a student population of approximately 46,000, as well as the surrounding community in bexar county. The old diesel-powered school buses selected for replacement will have vehicle model years of 2010 or older, have a gross vehicle rating of 10,001 pounds or more, will have been fully operational at the time of application submission, and have had provided bus service to the public school district for at least 3 days/ week on average during the 2022/2023 school year at the time of applying for this grant. By the end of the project period, these buses will be scrapped by the district in accordance with usepa's preferred scrappage method for this grant. These procedures will involve cutting a three-inch-by-three inch hole in the engine block (the part of the engine containing the cylinders) and cutting or crushing one chassis rail between the axles. For evidence regarding proper scrappage and disposal of the buses, extensive photos will be taken by the district during the scrappage process and a signed scrappage statement will be submitted to the agency with the recipient's final report. The purchased vehicles will have a battery electric drivetrain, be a new EPA or california air resources board certified vehicle model year 2021 or newer, have a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more, serve the school district for at least 5 years from the date of delivery, meet federal safety standards, be maintained, operated, i