Park City, UT— On September 10, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a press conference at Jeremy Ranch Elementary School to announce a $400,000 grant to Park City School District to subsidize the purchase of two electric school buses. This grant marks the district’s first step toward incorporating electric buses into its fleet as part of ongoing efforts to reduce emissions and promote sustainability.

"We’re gathered here today in a bit of a celebration," said Mike Tanner, Chief Operating Officer for the Park City School District. "After several attempts to secure funding for electric buses, we were finally successful. The EPA granted us about $400,000 to subsidize the purchase of two new buses, which will be delivered soon."

The buses, funded through the EPA's Clean School Bus Program, aim to improve air quality and protect student health by reducing diesel emissions. Kelly Watkins, Chief of Staff for EPA Region 8, emphasized the program’s triple benefits: healthier air for children, a reduced environmental footprint, and cost savings over time.

"These buses are better for children’s health because they eliminate diesel emissions, which can be damaging to young lungs,” said Watkins. “They’re also better for the environment and, in the long run, they save on fuel and maintenance costs.”

The new electric buses are part of a broader initiative under the bipartisan infrastructure law, which allocates $5 billion over five years for clean school bus programs across the U.S. These two buses will join a growing fleet of low-emission buses in Utah, becoming the 23rd and 24th electric school buses deployed in the state.

Kim Kelly from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality noted that the replacement of two diesel buses with electric models is expected to cut harmful pollutants by over 43 tons annually.

Tanner concluded by recognizing Park City’s longstanding commitment to sustainability: "In Park City, we’ve been working toward reducing emissions for a number of years, and this is just the next step. We’re excited to see how the electric buses perform in our mountain environment."

After installing charging infrastructure and staff training, the buses are expected to be operational by late spring 2025.