House passes Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
The five-year reauthorization of the program, which provides funds to reduce emissions from school buses and other diesel vehicles, now goes to President Obama, who is expected to sign it.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) moves to President Obama’s desk after it gained approval by the U.S. House of Representatives this morning.
Obama is expected to sign the five-year reauthorization of the program, which provides funds to reduce emissions from school buses and other diesel vehicles.
The reauthorization “will play a major role in our nation’s effort to expand our clean air initiatives,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum.
The Senate unanimously approved the bipartisan legislation on Dec. 16. It was introduced on Nov. 18 by Senators George Voinovich (R-Ohio) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) and cosponsored by several of their colleagues.
"DERA leverages federal dollars so efficiently that for every $1 invested, we get over $13 in health and economic benefits in return,” Carper said. “This program is a huge success, which is why a diverse coalition of over 530 state and local governments, industry groups, labor and environmental organizations from Delaware and all over the country have voiced their support for reauthorization of DERA."
More Alternative Fuels
Alt-Fuel Moves: Electric Bus Deployments, New Funding & V2G Expansion
School districts and transportation partners are adding electric school buses, securing new funding, and expanding charging infrastructure as alternative-fuel investments continue across the country.
Read More →
What's Underneath the Jouley Electric School Bus? Take a Look at This Chassis!
Get an inside, up-close look at Thomas Built Buses’ C2 electric bus chassis in this walkaround video on location at Freightliner Custom Chassis.
Read More →
Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Extend Clean School Bus Program Through 2031
The proposed legislation would renew federal support for cleaner school buses as districts navigate funding uncertainty, rising fuel and infrastructure costs, and fleet replacement needs.
Read More →
Alt-Fuel Moves: Electric Bus Rollouts, Bidirectional Charging & Propane Growth
See which fleets are adding electric and propane school buses as districts and operators invest in charging infrastructure, bidirectional technology, and alternative-fuel expansion.
Read More →
Nobody Told Diesel Prices They Were Supposed to Come Down
With diesel prices surging, school bus fleets have new reason to stress-test fuel costs, consider diversification, and calculate what each route really costs to operate.
Read More →
Why Gasoline School Buses Are Making a Comeback
Gasoline is gaining ground in full-size school buses. See how today’s options stack up against diesel on cost, maintenance, emissions, performance, and more.
Read More →
EPA Opens $180M DERA Funding Round for Diesel Upgrades
The 2026 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program seeks applications from eligible organizations to accelerate the retirement of legacy diesel vehicles.
Read More →
The Secret Life of an Electric School Bus Battery
Batteries change throughout years of daily routes, but degradation doesn’t necessarily mean the end. Here’s what operators should know about performance, safety, and second life.
Read More →
CALSTART and Forth Combine to Form Catalyst Mobility
The new name represents a renewed vision for the nonprofit focused on advancing clean, equitable, and affordable transportation solutions that move people and goods.
Read More →
Alt-Fuel Moves: New Buses, Charging Hubs & Real-World EV Testing
Propane and electric school bus deployments continue to grow as districts add new vehicles, expand charging infrastructure, and gather more real-world operating data.
Read More →