Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality opens applications for School Bus Replacement Program

CASPER, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - Nearly $850,000 will be provided to Wyoming school districts to replace diesel school buses.

The grant funding for the School Bus Replacement Program comes from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality through the 2022 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act.

According to the agency, the replacement buses will not only curb emissions, but will sport improved safety features to make transporting students safer.

“This program is really for the benefit of Wyomingites, and making sure that they’re not only replacing these buses with better emission type of school buses, but they have a little bit more extras on these buses and obviously it keeps the cost down for the state,” said WYDEQ Outreach Manager Keith Guille.

Since 2016, the agency says it has helped to replace over 100 buses in school districts across Wyoming.

Applications for the program are now open, buses eligible for replacement must have engine models between 2004 and 2007, and must be fully operational. According to Guille, the application period will be open for about a month.

“In this day and age trying to get even a new vehicle it’s not the easiest, so it’s the same thing same thing with these school buses. So the sooner the better for them to put those orders in,” said Guille.

The WYDEQ estimates the 2022 funding will help to replace about 25 buses across the state.

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