Leaders Highlight How Las Vegas Is Benefiting from Federal Clean Energy Investments
(LAS VEGAS, NV) – Today, Congresswoman Dina Titus and Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom joined Las Vegas area students and public health advocates to showcase the benefits of Clark County School District’s (CCSD) investments in electric school buses and how funds through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) made this progress possible.
Funds for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) clean school bus program were allocated thanks to the IIJA passed in Congress and signed into law by President Biden. CCSD was awarded more than $9 million to purchase new electric buses and infrastructure. This funding will enable CCSD to replace existing “dirty diesel” buses with zero and low-emission models, thus reducing tailpipe pollution, improving air quality, and reducing environmental impacts in Southern Nevada.
“Cleaning up our buses, cleaning up our air, cleaning up our neighborhoods, saving money, and saving health…it’s kind of a win-win-win-win,” said Representative Dina Titus. “We’re making progress on all levels for public transit as well as for school children, and it’s so very important.”
Members of the community, including students and environmental advocates, are excited about the arrival of this electric bus fleet.
“Every student knows what it’s like to have to breathe in the pollution from our old diesel school buses, ” said Griselda Delgado, a Clark County School District student. “We can see and smell the black soot. These electric buses are going to go a long way to help us get rid of the smog that’s choking our city.”
“I fought to include this funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law because I knew it would make a difference for our students and their families,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “These new, low-emissions school buses I helped deliver are an investment in our future that will combat pollution, improve air quality, and help keep our kids healthy.”
Senator Jacky Rosen voiced her support for this grant, noting, “Through this historic federal investment in our infrastructure, which I was proud to help secure, we will be able to reduce our carbon footprint, cut down on pollution, and improve our air quality. With these new clean energy vehicles, we can tackle climate change while powering our state.”
This legislation combined with the clean transportation incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ishelping Las Vegas transform its transportation sector and reduce harmful vehicle pollution that is fueling climate change.
A recording of the event can be found here.
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