EPA’s 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program is Now Open
by Leah Brams, Market Development Associate
On Thursday, September 28th, the EPA officially announced the $5 billion 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program.
How Has the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program Evolved?
The EPA continues to evolve its funding mechanisms for the Clean School Bus program. In Round 1, funding was awarded through a rebate lottery. Round 2 involved a highly competitive grant application process. In Round 3, funding will again be awarded through a rebate lottery with some notable differences from Round 1:
- The maximum incentive levels per bus are lower (up to $345k for priority districts and $200k for non-priority districts)
- Eligible third-party contractors, including Highland, can apply on behalf of districts
- Roughly 60% of funds are being set aside for priority districts, with the remaining 40% for non-priority districts
- The application requires more documentation about the proposed project
If I Applied for Previous EPA Funds, Should I Still Apply?
Yes! If you applied for a previous round of EPA funding, EPA has explicitly stated that you can apply for Round 3 and you should. This is a significant funding opportunity, and applying signals to the EPA that you are committed to improving your fleet.
What Do I Need in Order to Apply?
Allow adequate time. This application will require details about your current school bus fleet, supporting documents and details about your proposed plan. It will be challenging to gather this information at the last minute so we suggest starting early.
For a Successful Round 3 Application, You Will Need the Following:
I. SAM.gov working login
Check that your SAM.gov login credentials are active and ready for use. To do so, please refer to page 13 of this guide.
II. Fleet Information
You will need to provide VINs, vehicle descriptions, and other details for each bus you plan to replace.
III. Supporting Documents
All applicants are required to submit one or more of the following supporting documents. This documentation is intended to ensure successful deployment. Required documents include:
- A School Board Awareness Certification to verify the school board’s awareness of the district’s rebate application
- A signed School District Approval Certification from third-party applicants, like Highland, to verify the district’s approval of the third party’s rebate application
- A Utility Partnership Agreement to verify that the district’s electric utility provider is aware of the school district’s rebate application.
Each of these forms must be signed by an authorized representative as they serve as verification of communication between applicants and the necessary parties for the successful deployment of new zero emission clean school buses.
What if I Need Help With Vehicle Scrapping?
If you apply for ESBs and don’t have a 2010 or older model to scrap, Highland can help you. Districts have up to two years to demonstrate that one 2010-or-older diesel bus has been scrapped. Scrapped diesel buses have to meet certain operating criteria but they do not have to come from your district as long as your plan is to replace them with an electric school bus.
Project Track Record
All of the school districts Highland is working with who were awarded EPA Round 1 funds have projects successfully in development. With that success, and our extensive experience deploying electric fleets around the country, Highland is well positioned and excited to partner with school districts and the EPA to bring cleaner, healthier transportation to communities.
Our team at Highland is fully prepared to answer any questions and support your Round 3 application.
Please email us at epa@highlandfleets.com to learn more and check out our EPA Round 3 Overview.
