More than 530 rebate applicants have been selected by the Environmental Protection Agency in the latest round of funding under President Joe Biden’s “Investing in America” agenda.

The EPA plans to officially notify selectees by email during the next 7 to 10 business days.

“President Biden believes every child deserves the opportunity to lead a healthy life and breathe clean air, and his Investing in America agenda is designed to deliver just that,” said Michael S. Regan, EPA administrator. “With today’s latest round of funding, we are transforming the nation’s school bus fleet to better protect our most precious cargo – our kids – saving school districts money, improving air quality, and bolstering American manufacturing all at the same time.”

Sue Gander, director of the World Resources Institute's Electric School Bus Initiative, praised the Clean School Bus Program as "nothing short of transformative," noting that thousands of children can enjoy a cleaner ride to school.

“Thanks in large part to this program and its focus on low-income, rural and tribal communities, the majority of these newly-awarded electric school buses are headed to districts in historically underserved areas," Gander said. "We’re seeing an increase in electric school buses in low-income communities and areas with the highest levels of air pollution."

School transportation provider First Student was among the most awarded applicants, securing about $200 million in funds to deploy 670 electric school buses in 45 school districts across the United States.

“First Student is proud to call the EPA a partner in our school bus electrification efforts,” said Kevin Matthews, First Student head of electrification. “First Student electric school buses funded by this program are already creating safer and cleaner rides to and from school and these investments means expanding that benefit to even more districts. Our expertise and resources ensure that school districts can put these awards to use right away, turning these rebates into much-needed fleet upgrades.”