The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the LOS angeles unified school district to replace in-use, non-zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles with new zero-emission…

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $20,374,355 Project Grant under the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program (CFDA 66.049) to the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The funding will enable LAUSD to replace numerous existing non-zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, primarily school buses, with new zero-emission vehicles. This project will reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in EPA Region 9. The grant will also cover the purchase and installation of charging infrastructure, as well as workforce development and training to support the maintenance, charging, and operation of the new zero-emission vehicles. Additionally, LAUSD will establish two sub-award programs: one focused on training LAUSD mechanics to maintain and repair the electric school buses, and another to oversee the procurement, installation, and commissioning of the charging infrastructure. The project period is from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2027.

The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to the LOS angeles unified school district to replace in-use, non-zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles with new zero-emission vehicles to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in EPA region 9. The recipient will replace numerous eligible vehicles with comparable, eligible zero-emission vehicles under the school bus sub-program, resulting in cleaner air and improved health for communities in LOS angeles, california. This assistance agreement provides full federal funding in amount of $20,374,355. Refer to terms and conditions. Activities:the activities include replacing eligible internal combustion engine class 7 vehicles with eligible zero-emission vehicles; purchasing, installing, operating, and maintaining charging equipment to maintain the new zero-emission vehicles; and providing workforce development and training to support the maintenance, charging, and operation of the new zero-emission vehicles. Subrecipient:this project will include two subawards: 1) LOS angeles unified school district's (lausd) division of adult and career education (dace) will initiate a transformative project to support environmental sustainability and address the need for skilled mechanics capable of maintaining and repairing electric school buses. Dace will spearhead the development and implementation of a comprehensive training program for lausd mechanics, creating a robust career pathway and ensuring the instructors are well-prepared to deliver this specialized training. 2) lausd's ECO-sustainability office (ESO) will oversee the infrastructure portion of the project including the procurement, installation, and commissioning of the chargers, the electric vehicle supply equipment (evse) infrastructure installation to stub-out (trenching, RE-paving, conduit, engineering review and drawings, permitting, etc.). ESO will oversee all aspects of the infrastructure construction. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include the purchase of numerous zero emission buses and the purchase and installation of AC level 2 and DC fast charging infrastructure. The LOS angeles unified school district serves over 430,000 students. A number of training sessions will be conducted, including training sessions for staff, bus drivers, and mechanics. The expected outcomes include the reduction of NOX, PM and CO2 emissions, and improved ambient air quality in the communities in which the buses operate, improved workforce training programs for zero emission vehicles and changes in driver behavior, such as reducing idling operations of clean school buses and optimizing efficiency of EV operations, and increased public awareness and community engagement. The intended beneficiaries include the grant recipient, the LOS angeles unified school district. Additional beneficiaries include the school children and staff at the schools that will utilize the zero emission buses and the communities surrounding the school.