The United States Department of Transportation awarded nearly $1.7 billion in grants for zero- and low-emission buses, distributing money among 46 states and territories.
Officials expect to award an additional $5 billion over the next three years.
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The grants will go toward roughly 1,700 buses for transit agencies, and state and local governments, which the Federal Transit Administration says will be U.S.-built. The FTA also says that nearly half of the buses will be "zero-emission models."
"Every day, over 60,000 buses in communities of all sizes take millions of Americans to work, school, and everywhere else they need to go,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a press release. “Today’s announcement means more clean buses, less pollution, more jobs in manufacturing and maintenance, and better commutes for families across the country.”
The announcement is the second round of grant funding from the Biden administration's infrastructure measure, which has so far invested $3.3 billion into the buses and related infrastructure.
The Department of Transportation says localities transitioning fleets from diesel to low- or no-emission buses will have public health benefits, such as improving air quality and reducing noise pollution.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, based in the nation's capital, is set to receive the largest grant, totaling $104 million. The funds will be used to convert the Lorton, Virginia, garage into a fully electric facility as well as purchase 100 electric buses. It will also fund training programs for drivers, mechanics, and first responders.
The second largest grant will go to Seattle, Washington-based King County Metro Transit, totaling $33.5 million. Grant funds will go toward the purchase of 30 electric buses and charging infrastructure, as well as train workers.
"The project will convert 27 bus routes that serve low-income areas and expand Metro’s apprenticeship program, including promoting transit careers for residents in underserved communities," the press release states.
Ohio will receive $29.3 million, Iowa City, Iowa, will receive $23.3 million, and the Seneca Nation of Indians will receive nearly $6 million.
FTA received 475 bids for grant funding, totaling roughly $8.7 billion.
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The low-emissions funding comes as Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) has introduced a bill to block Buttigieg from using taxpayer dollars to fly on private government planes.
Earlier this year, government watchdog Americans for Public Trust found Buttigieg took at least 18 flights using the taxpayer-funded Federal Aviation Administration fleet. APT is suing for public records on the cost of the flights.