Two northwest Iowa school districts are receiving money to help their bus fleets to reduce diesel emissions.

The Rock Valley School District is among six school districts that have been selected to receive up to $38,000 in reimbursement as a match for a new school bus to replace the oldest school buses still in regular use. These six school districts will also receive full reimbursement for retrofits to reduce diesel emissions on bus engines older than 2004 models in their fleets.

Sibley-Ocheyedan School District has been selected to receive full reimbursement for retrofits only. A total of $280,359 will be awarded.

Funding is provided by the Iowa DNR through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Clean Diesel Campaign. School Administrators of Iowa is handling administration of the grant on behalf of the DNR. The Bus Emissions Education Program (BEEP) has assisted with grant publicity and other roles.

Bus engines produced after 1994 are certified by the EPA to produce 95 percent less emissions than pre-1994 models — so replacing an old bus is a big change for the environment as well as the health of students, according to the EPA and the Iowa DNR.

By Scott Van Aartsen
News Director

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