Infrastructure Bill provides $5 billion in funding for electric school buses

FORT VALLEY, Ga. -- Fort Valley's Blue Bird Corporation will start producing more electric busses thanks to the newly signed Infrastructure Bill and Senator Raphael Warnock's push for clean energy.

Warnock earlier this year visited the Blue Bird Corporation that is headquartered in Fort Valley to tour their zero-emission school busses in an effort to promote his Clean Commute for Kids Act.

MORE:Senator Warnock tours Blue Bird Corporation in Fort Valley, views electric school bus

One provision in the Infrastructure Bill was actually based on the Senator's Clean Commute for Kids Act. This act worked to transition buses that run on diesel fuel to zero to low emission buses.

The Infrastructure Bill set aside $5 billion that provides federal funds to help school districts purchase brand-new battery powered school buses.

“Thanks to the foresight and innovation of companies like the Blue Bird Corporation, Georgia is already leading the nation in producing the technology that is helping modernize our school buses, protect children’s health and keep our air clean while also creating the sustainable, good-paying jobs that will move our economy into the future,” Senator Reverend Warnock said. “I was proud to champion $5 billion in the infrastructure package for boosting electric bus production, which will help further these efforts, and I’m so glad we’ve finally gotten it over the finish line. I’m thrilled to work with leaders at Blue Bird to get these investments flowing to Georgia and other manufacturers across the nation, so we can start greening our yellow school buses in earnest for the next generation.”

Clean energy busses can help with reducing air pollution linked to asthma, and will also drive demand for Amerian-made vehicle technology including items such as batteries.

“The infrastructure legislation, besides cutting air pollution linked to asthma, also is expected to drive demand for American-made vehicle technology, including batteries, resulting in new jobs. Every time a district is able to choose a greener alternative, we take a big step in providing a better, cleaner future for our children and communities," said Matthew Stevenson, President and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation.

Soon, school districts are expected to utilize this money, and spotting an electric school bus may become a common occurrence in the years to come.