The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) currently has a school bus award opportunity open to districts that own and operate their own fleet. 

KDHE established the Kansas Clean Diesel Program in 2008 to use Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) State Grant Program funds from the Environmental Protection Agency to provide project assistance for diesel fleet improvements. 

EPA allocated funds this month to Kansas and other states as part of the ongoing DERA State Grant Program. KDHE will use these funds to provide partial funding to school districts for fleet improvements. This opportunity includes funds from the VW Trust allocation for Kansas. 

One older model diesel-powered school bus is required to be decommissioned for every new school bus awarded through the Kansas program – up to five school buses. 

New buses that are diesel, alternative fuel and battery electric are eligible for an award from KDHE. 

Most awardees will receive up to a 25% reimbursement for new buses purchased, per requirement. Projects involving new buses that are battery electric will receive 45% reimbursement, per requirement. 

State funding can’t be stacked with federal (EPA) for the same bus, per state and federal requirements. 

Deadline for submissions is Dec. 20, 2022. 

Visit https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/404/Kansas-Clean-Diesel-Program for the application process. 

For questions, email Kathleen.waters@ks.gov.