Gavin Newsom Surprises California Parents With Good News

Governor Gavin Newsom wants to put more electric school buses on California's roads...

Photo byGage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons

Governor Gavin Newsom recently reaffirmed his commitment to help California schools put more electric and zero-emission school buses on the roads.

“California schools have already replaced hundreds of old polluting school buses with new zero-emission models," he said. "We're protecting thousands of kids from harmful diesel pollution. We’re getting more kids on clean school buses while paving the way for the rest of the country to follow our lead.”

California is offering approximately $150 million to put more electric and zero-emission school buses on the roads. According to a press release by Governor Newsom's office, "the state is accepting applications through Sept. 29, 2023, and award recipients can receive up to $495,000 to replace older, polluting fossil fuel-powered buses with zero emission options, as well as charging equipment."

The program, which is part of California's efforts to replace aging buses with zero-emission technology, has received a lot of praise from Governor Newsom. After all, zero-emission school buses are critical to California's efforts to achieve net-zero carbon pollution by 2045, as well as to protect children, who are vulnerable to the health effects of diesel exhaust.

To date, the state of California has spent more than $1.2 billion cleaning up old, diesel-powered school buses, according to Governor Newsom's press release. California is also planning to spend $1.8 billion on zero-emission school buses and associated charging infrastructure over the next five years.

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