14 DAY TRIAL // Earlier this week, the Environmental Protection Agency in the US went public with the news that the country was ready and willing to spend as much as $3 million (€2.3 million) on making school buses driven up and down its roads a wee more environmentally friendly.
In a statement on the matter at hand, the Environmental Protection Agency explains that the $3 million will serve to replace old school buses that are powered by dirty diesel engines and that consequently cause loads of pollution with new, cleaner ones.
The end goal is to reduce pollution resulting from traffic. In doing so, the Agency expects it will not only help the country improve on its ecological footprint, but will also reduce the amount of harmful compounds folks in the US are exposed to on a daily basis.
“School buses are the safest and most environmentally friendly way to transport children to and from school. The rebates to retrofit older bus engines will provide healthier rides for the 25 million children across the country who ride them on a daily basis,” said Janet McCabe with the Office of Air and Radiation.
Who will benefit from this initiative?
Information shared with the public says that the Environmental Protection Agency started receiving applications for this funding program on October 15, and will continue to do so until November 17.
Those wishing to benefit from these funds need to keep in mind that they can only submit applications for up to five schools buses. What's more, the vehicles must have engines that were built at least as far back as 2006.
The problem with school buses in the US
Specialists with the Environmental Protection Agency say that, despite existing standards requiring that diesel engines be 90% cleaner, there are plenty of school buses in the US that are simply too old and too outdated to be used safely.
They further detail that, because of their age and makeup, these old buses release significant amounts of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and all sorts of other air pollutants whenever they take to the streets. Hence, they constitute a major threat to public health.
What's being done to solve the problem?
Back in 2008, looking to reduce diesel emissions linked to school buses, the US Environmental Protection Agency launched the so-called DERA (Diesel Emissions Reduction Act) program. It is understood that as many as 50,000 buses have thus far been made greener under this program.
By the looks of it, the Agency has no intention to pull the plug on such initiatives anytime soon. Given the urgency to curb pollution in order to limit climate change and global warming, this can only come as good news.