bus driver appreciation poster

The Yarmouth School Department was chosen to receive a grant of $60,000 from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help replace three older school buses, replacing older equipment with newer buses or engines that emit less diesel exhaust.   

 The Yarmouth School Department bus fleet in Maine, along with one community each in Connecticut and Rhode Island, were among the 157 fleets chosen nationwide to receive rebates through the EPA's Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) School Bus Rebate program, with $11.5 million in funding available to replace 580 older diesel school buses in 43 states and Puerto Rico. New buses will reduce emissions of harmful pollutants like nitrous oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) which are linked to health effects including asthma and lung damage.   

“As we continue to celebrate Earth Day’s 50th anniversary, EPA continues to be committed to providing communities access to rebates to improve and replace aging school buses that will improve air quality across the country and provide children with a safe and healthy way to get to school," said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “While many fleets are currently off the road as we all social distance during COVID-19, these local school districts will start up again, and EPA is proud to have helped equip them with cleaner running buses.”  

“Cleaner school bus engines result in cleaner air and healthier rides for kids,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator Dennis Deziel. “EPA is proud to help ensure cleaner air and lower emissions from school buses in Yarmouth, and we look forward to when kids can return to school and use a school bus for their daily transportation.”