WASHINGTON (CBS19 NEWS) -- Nearly 400 school divisions across the country, including one in this area, are getting some money for new school buses.

Earlier this week, the Biden administration announced the recipients of funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program rebate competition.

Nearly $1 billion in funding from the Infrastructure Law is going to school divisions to help them purchase zero-emission vehicles.

“President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is accelerating our nation’s transition to electric and low-emission school buses while ensuring a brighter, healthier future for our children,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “As many as 25 million children rely on the bus to get to school each day. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, we are making an unprecedented investment in our children’s health, especially those in communities overburdened by air pollution. This is just the beginning of our work to build a healthier future, reduce climate pollution, and ensure the clean, breathable air that all our children deserve.”

Back in May, the EPA announced it has $500 million for the Clean School Bus Program this fiscal year, but due to overwhelming demand, the federal agency nearly doubled the amount of funding to be awarded.

Using a lottery system, the EPA selected 389 applications, totaling $913 million in requests, to support the purchase of more than 2,400 buses. Of those buses, 95 percent will be electric.

This is the first $1 billion of a five-year, $5 billion program that was created under the Infrastructure Law, and the EPA will be launching other rounds of program funding in the coming months.

Another $1 billion for clean school buses will be made available for fiscal year 2023.

School divisions receiving these funds can now buy new school buses and eligible infrastructure. They will need to submit paperwork showing they have ordered such equipment.

Locally, Nelson County is getting $790,000 to be used toward two new buses and the infrastructure needed to power them.

Other school divisions in Virginia receiving these funds include Carroll County, Charlotte County, Floyd County, Franklin, Galax, Goochland County, Grayson County, Lee County, Lynchburg, Powhatan County and Wise County.

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