Biden Announces $1.7 Billion In Grants To Buy U.S.-Made Low & No Emission Buses

On Monday, President Joe Biden announced a $1.7 billion investment for buying “low and no emission buses and transit projects across 46 states and territories.”

Biden said that the new buses will serve to improve public health, as diesel exhaust will no longer be going into the air the new buses will be much easier to sustain.

This investment will be funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law, which has now given $3.3 billion to American transit buses. The announcement made on Monday marks the bill’s second bus grant package.

After more than two years of funding, the number of zero-emission transit buses funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law has now surpassed 1,800. Government officials expect to invest around $5 billion more over the next three years.

Members of the Biden administration have shared their pride and excitement for this new project.

“Even if you don’t take the bus, these investments will benefit you because your family can breathe cleaner air,” said Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to reporters. “You can find a quieter neighborhood or commute when you no longer have old buses chugging down the roads.”

Senior Advisor to the President and White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu acknowledged the administration’s efforts to boost job security and protect those who may feel put out by these new protocols.

“This funding also invested more than 1,700 America-built buses that would be manufactured in American factories with American workers,” told Landrieu to reporters. “There are millions of dollars set aside for workforce programs, the people servicing diesel buses need the skills to work on clean buses. We can’t leave them behind as we make this transition.”

Upon the passing of the bipartisan infrastructure law, the government received 475 project proposals for grants, totaling roughly $8.7 billion. This number is indicative of the huge need for infrastructure funding and improvements in the U.S., which is lagging other Western nations in investments.

Article by Ava Lombardi