The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) is awarding more than $2.6 million in rebates to schools across Nebraska to aid in the replacement of older diesel school buses.
The rebates are funded from Nebraska’s share of the Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Mitigation Trust. Trust funds may be used to replace diesel vehicles and engines in order to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx).
The funded projects include 60 public school districts, one private school, and one bus contractor serving a public school district. The department initially planned to fund 32 rebates, but because of high demand, all 62 applicants will receive funding.
Most of the school districts will purchase newer diesel buses, but 10 are planning to purchase propane autogas buses. NDEE notes that these buses meet California NOx emissions standards that are much stricter than the current federal standard.
“The department received a large number of applications from schools across the state,” says Jim Macy, director of NDEE. “The funds available for this program give us the opportunity to provide financial assistance to schools that will help reduce harmful diesel emissions.”
