As part of a grant funding round through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced nearly $19 million to help secure clean school buses for five New Jersey school districts.

Those towns include Union City, Elizabeth, Newark, Bloomfield Township and Lakewood Township. The funding is being allocated to transportation company Van-Con Inc. to purchase 42 clean school buses and 28 bus chargers.

In a Feb. 22 press release announcing the funding, Gov. Phil Murphy thanked President Joe Biden, along with the EPA and the state’s congressional delegation, for their steadfast support of efforts to protect school children here from harmful pollutants.

“Together, we are building momentum in the transition to zero-emission vehicles that will help us deliver on our promise to mitigate the disproportionate health impacts of medium and heavy-duty vehicles, especially in New Jersey’s most overburdened communities,” said Murphy.

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette noted that this funding – combined with the state’s recent Electric School Bus Grant Program – provides the opportunity for more electric school buses and infrastructure in the Garden State.

“With programs like these, we are embarking on an exciting and important journey that will better protect the health of our schoolchildren and communities, especially our overburdened communities,” he said.

“Electric school buses are a win-win for our children, bus drivers, and our communities – providing a cleaner, healthier environment and producing long-term savings,” said Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. “Today’s grant announcement is the product of a months-long process during which my office worked closely with the awardees, and I’m confident this is one of many more awards to come.”

“This is a transformational opportunity for our community,” said Charles Webster, director of grants and innovative programming at Union City Public Schools.

See also:

• Poll: 50% of New Jerseyans oppose 2035 EV mandate