TAMPA, FL – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced $6.9 million in federal rebates awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for new clean, electric buses for Hillsborough County Public Schools. EPA selected approximately 530 school districts across the country to receive nearly $900 million in funds to replace older, diesel-fueled buses that have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and surrounding communities.

The rebate announcement builds on the $7.9 million in Clean School Bus Grant funding awarded to Hillsborough County Public Schools in 2023 to purchase 20 new electric buses. 

“Our children, our schools, and our communities can breathe easier as more clean electric school buses are on their way,” said Castor. “Clean school buses will deliver cleaner air, healthier students and save school districts money over time. Across America, local school districts are replacing old, polluting buses to cut pollution and modernize transportation – it’s great news that Hillsborough County Public Schools and students are helping lead the way.

Castor continued, “This is a win-win-win for our communities: We are taking dirty school buses off the street, saving our public schools money and ensuring our children breathe clean air, keeping them healthy, safe and our public health strong.”

As Chair of the former Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, Castor led the Congress in creating a comprehensive legislative action plan to address the climate crisis. This action plan included electrifying school buses and other historic initiatives across the country being implemented through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

SCHOOLS ARE TOO COOL FOR DIRTY FUEL: CASTOR ANNOUNCES $6.9M IN EPA REBATES TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR CLEAN, ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES