EPA grant to help fund purchase of bus to lower emissions

Black River Local School District has received a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for a new school bus.

The $68,637 grant will be used by the district to replace a 2002 diesel-powered school bus with a 2019 diesel-powered school bus, according to a news release.

The funding, which is part of Ohio’s Diesel Mitigation Trust Fund Grant program, is part of an effort by Ohio’s environmental agency to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel vehicles and equipment, the release said.

Projects were selected based on their ability to produce the largest reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions in four categories: school buses; transit buses; heavy-duty trucks; and airport ground support equipment.

This first round of funding from Ohio’s portion of the national Volkswagen settlement resulted in $15 million, which the Ohio EPA expects to award to priority counties that do not presently meet federal air quality standards for ozone.

Ohio EPA will continue to award funding annually until the remaining funds from the Volkswagen settlement have been spent.

The school district has ordered a 2020 model Bluebird conventional handicap school bus to replace a 2002 international school bus from Cardinal Bus Sales and Service in Lima, according to the release.

Black River Schools expects the bus in the next two weeks, which will produce less pollution and contribute to Ohio’s plans for cleaner air.

The grant will cover 75 percent of the new bus’s total cost.

“Our school district is dedicated to fiscal responsibility and stretching taxpayers’ dollar as far as possible,” said Superintendent Chris Clark. “Through grant writing, we have not paid full price for a new bus in a number of years.

“In addition to saving tax dollars, we are also making our transportation fleet more environmentally friendly. Thank you to Ohio EPA for selecting our district as a grant recipient.”