Reviewing the Clean School Bus Program: EPA Administrator Halts $2.3 Billion Spending Amid Concerns Over New York's Electric Bus Mandate
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Lee Zeldin, has decided to halt the remaining $2.3 billion spending from the Biden administration's electric school bus program due to concerns over New York Governor Kathy Hochul's mandate and issues with the buses breaking down in cold weather and delays in production. Zeldin aims to review the program to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently and prioritize child safety by providing high-quality and reliable buses for schools.
Under the Biden administration, $2.7 billion was reportedly wasted on thousands of electric buses, costing around $318,452.45 per vehicle. In New York City, over $61 million in EPA grant funding was allocated to produce 180 electric buses for five school districts, with costs ranging from $295,000 to nearly $395,000 per bus. However, the actual number of buses in use remains unclear, with only 150 buses currently on the road in New York.
The Clean School Bus program, initiated by Biden's EPA, aimed to replace 8,236 school buses in 1,152 districts with billions of dollars in rebate or grant funding. However, manufacturing issues led to delays in delivering the buses to several districts. The program faced criticism for leaving taxpayer funding vulnerable to potential fraud, waste, and abuse, with $38 million in ineligible rebate requests being identified.
New York State mandated schools to transition to electric buses by 2035, leading to financial, logistical, and operational challenges for districts. The cost of replacing nearly 45,000 diesel buses in the state is estimated at $11.2 billion, excluding additional expenses for charging infrastructure and staff. The Biden administration's approach of providing advanced payments to manufacturers without ensuring bus delivery has been criticized for its recklessness.
In New York, school districts received $213 million in rebates and grants to replace 681 buses, with the city of New York announcing plans to roll out a 180-vehicle fleet. Bird Bus Sales and NYC School Bus Umbrella Services, Inc., received grants to produce electric buses for city districts, with costs per bus ranging from $295,000 to $394,971.66. However, the actual deployment and operability of these buses remain unclear.
The mandate to switch to electric buses has faced opposition from local politicians and voters, citing financial burdens on school districts and concerns about the effectiveness of the green buses. The state education department's report revealed that only a small percentage of districts had approved ballot measures for new electric bus purchases, with some measures failing. School districts can apply for suspensions of the 2027 diesel bus purchase mandate to transition to all-electric fleets by 2035.
The EPA, under Zeldin's leadership, has canceled wasteful grants and contracts, including those related to the Clean School Bus Program. Zeldin aims to revamp and modernize the program to ensure efficient use of funds and provide more information in the future. The mayor's office and the city's Department of Education did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.