Alabama is poised to add at least 51 new all-electric school buses to the roads, thanks to $16.9 million in federal funding announced this week.

The grants were announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday for 10 school districts across Alabama.

Jeaneanne Gettle, acting administrator for EPA Region 4, said the new clean school buses will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save schools money, and better protect children’s health from air pollution.

“Eliminating these diesel emissions in our communities and around our children absolutely has health benefits,” Gettle told AL.com. “We know that particulate matter creates health concerns and creates air quality concerns in our communities, and so there’s there’s absolutely the benefit of [reducing those emissions].

“We think that zero-emission school buses can, and one day will be, the American standard, and we think that this is a great place for us to invest.”

Gettle also said the buses and batteries purchased with these funds will be made in the United States, boosting domestic EV and battery production.

Alabama school districts receiving the funding are:

• Huntsville City — $ 8,625,000 for 25 electric school buses
  
• Lanett City — $1,725,000 for five buses
  
• Selma City — $1,725,000 for five buses
  
• Fort Payne City — $1,380,000 for four buses
  
• Clay County — $1,035,000 for three buses
  
• Montgomery County — $690,000 for two buses
  
• Jasper City — $690,000 for two buses
  
• Gulf Shores City — $600,000 for three buses
  
• The Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School — $400,000 for two buses

This $16.9 million in funding to Alabama schools this year is in addition to $11.5 million awarded last year to three school districts, bringing Alabama’s Clean School Bus total to more than $28 million over two years.

Last year’s awards went to:

• Albertville City — $7,505,000 for 19 buses
  
• Fairfield City — $3,555,000 for 9 buses
  
• Tuscumbia City — $395,000 for one bus

The awards are part of a $5 billion Clean School Bus initiative by the EPA to advance the transition to electric or low-emissions school buses across the country.

“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,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a news release. “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.”

Funding for the project came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021.

U.S. Rep Terri Sewell, the only member of Alabama’s Congressional delegation to vote for the law, said this funding would make a difference for Alabama’s schools.

“President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is once again delivering for Alabama,” Sewell said in a news release. “Not only will this funding reduce pollution and make our communities healthier, but it will also save our school districts money and free up resources to invest in the success of our students.

“I was so proud to make this program possible and I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for this investment into Alabama’s schools.”

School districts that have not received or applied for electric bus funding can still do so, said Gettle, the acting EPA Regional Administrator.

Funding for the program runs through 2026. The next round of applications closes on July 25.

“[This program] is a way that EPA really makes a difference in the communities where these buses show up,” Gettle said.

“It’s just a new piece of technology that really can make a difference in the quality of people’s lives.”