Gov. Beshear announces funding for cleaner school buses

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – Governor Andy Beshear today announced that five school districts in Kentucky will receive funding for cleaner school buses.

The $340,950 will go toward purchasing new diesel and propane buses that will reduce emissions and keep students healthier.

“We are making a difference for future generations by creating a new Kentucky home they can be proud of,” Governor Beshear said in a news release. “I applaud our school districts for taking the lead in improving the health of our students by replacing older, more polluting school buses with newer, cleaner models. Modernizing our school bus fleets means cleaner air for our children and our communities.”

According to the news release, school districts in Campbell, Fleming, Henry, Mason and Nelson counties will use the money to replace older model diesel school buses with new diesel and propane buses that will emit 98 percent less particulate matter and 90 percent less particulate matter. less nitrogen oxide than the older buses.

A total of ten buses will be replaced by the five school districts.

The prices for each school district are:

Campbell County: $65,000 for two propane canisters
Fleming County: $39,218.75 for one diesel bus
Henry County: $39,231 for one diesel bus
Mason County: $72,500 for two diesel buses
Nelson County: $125,000 for four diesel buses

Each year, Kentucky school buses travel more than 100 million miles, providing the safest transportation for more than 350,000 children every day. However, the diesel exhaust from these buses is harmful to human health, especially to children who breathe faster than adults and whose lungs are not yet fully developed.

“Replacing older models of diesel school buses can make a significant difference in cleaner air,” DAQ Director Michael Kennedy said in a news release. “Fewer emissions mean students, drivers and residents can all breathe easier.”

Since 2018, more than $1.7 million has been provided to 22 Kentucky counties for school bus upgrades.