The U.S. EPA on Feb. 19 announced plans to revamp its Clean School Bus program to focus on a wider range of alternative fuels, including renewable natural gas (RNG), biodiesel, renewable diesel and E85.The CBP was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which provide the agency with $5 billion for fiscal years (FY) 2022-2026 to support the replacement of older, diesel-powered school buses with cleaner models. To date, the program has primarily provided funding for zero-emission battery electric buses, with a minority of awards supporting other technologies, primarily buses fueled by propane or compressed natural gas (RNG).&nbsp;The EPA has been reviewing and revamping the CSB program in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order Unleashing American Energy, which was signed on Jan. 20, 2025. The EPA on Feb. 19 opened a public comment period to inform its next steps.&nbsp;Specifically, the EPA is inviting public comments to inform its understanding of the availability of alternative fuels and associated technologies in the medium- and heavy-duty school bus sector. The agency said it is committed to ensuring all technologies covered by the definition of “clean school bus” in the law establishing the CSB program are included in a new funding opportunity that is scheduled to launch later this year.&nbsp;A notice published in the Federal Register outlines several areas in which the EPA is interested in stakeholder input, including the availability, market price, and performance of alternative school buses that operate entirely or in part on liquefied natural gas (LNG), compressed natural gas (CNG), hydrogen, propane or biofuels; the availability, market price, and performance of LNG, CNG, hydrogen, propane or biofuels; the availability, market price and performance of associated alternative fueling infrastructure; the need for school bus fleets to have dedicated fueling infrastructure when operating buses in their fleet on alternative fuels in the near term; and ways that the EPA can enhance and expand grant implementation tools and improve oversight methods.&nbsp;Public comments can be filed through April 6. Additional information is available on the Federal Register <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/20/2026-03351/development-of-guidance-for-alternative-fuel-vehicles-and-fueling-infrastructure-deployment-under">website</a>.

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The U.S. EPA on Feb. 19 announced plans to revamp its Clean School Bus program to focus on a wider range of alternative fuels, including renewable natural gas (RNG), biodiesel, renewable diesel and E85.

EPA to overhaul Clean School Bus program

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