GREEN Buses Act

To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish a program relating to the acquisition or leasing of zero emission buses or bus facility improvements, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Generating Reduced Emissions by Electrifying New Buses Act GREEN Buses Act 2. Zero emission bus grants (a) In general Section 5339(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the heading by striking Low or no emission grants Zero emission grants (2) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (B)— (i) in clause (i) by striking low or no emission zero emission (ii) in clause (ii) by striking low or no emission zero emission (iii) in clause (iii) by striking low or no emission zero emission (iv) in clause (iv) by striking facilities and related equipment for low or no emission related equipment for zero emission (v) in clause (v) by striking facilities and related equipment for low or no emission vehicles; related equipment for zero emission vehicles; or (vi) in clause (vii) by striking low or no emission zero emission (vii) by striking clause (vi); and (viii) by redesignating clause (vii) as clause (vi); (B) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the following: (D) the term zero emission bus ; (C) by striking subparagraph (E) and inserting the following: (E) the term zero emission vehicle ; (D) in subparagraph (F) by striking and (E) by striking subparagraph (G) and inserting the following: (G) the term eligible area (i) designated as a nonattainment area for ozone or particulate matter under section 107(d) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7407(d) (ii) a maintenance area, as such term is defined in section 5303, for ozone or particulate matter; or (iii) in a State that has enacted a statewide zero emission bus transition requirement, as determined by the Secretary; and ; and (F) by adding at the end the following: (H) the term low-income community (i) the poverty rate for such tract is at least 20 percent; or (ii) in the case of a tract— (I) not located within a metropolitan area, the median family income for such tract does not exceed 80 percent of statewide median family income; or (II) located within a metropolitan area, the median family income for such tract does not exceed 80 percent of the greater statewide median family income or the metropolitan area median family income. ; (3) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively; and (4) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following: (5) Grant eligibility In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall make grants to eligible projects relating to the acquisition or leasing of zero emission buses or bus facility improvements— (A) that procure— (i) at least 10 zero emission buses; (ii) if the recipient operates less than 50 buses in peak service, at least 5 zero emission buses; or (iii) hydrogen buses; (B) for which the recipient’s board of directors has approved a long-term integrated fleet management plan that— (i) establishes a goal by a set date to convert the entire bus fleet to zero emission buses; or (ii) establishes a goal that within 10 years from the date of approval of such plan the recipient will convert a set percentage of the total bus fleet of such recipient to zero emission buses; and (C) for which the recipient has performed a fleet transition study that includes optimal route planning and an analysis of how utility rates may impact the recipient’s operations and maintenance budget. (6) Low and Moderate Community Grants Not less than 10 percent of the amounts made available under this subsection in a fiscal year shall be distributed to projects serving predominantly low-income communities. . (b) Metropolitan transportation planning Section 5303(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (8) Maintenance area The term maintenance area 42 U.S.C. 7501(2) .

Summary: Generating Reduced Emissions by Electrifying New Buses Act or the GREEN Buses Act This bill limits eligibility for certain grants that support projects to reduce emissions of public transportation vehicles. Current law permits the use of the grants for (1) projects related to both low- and zero-emission vehicles, and (2) constructing new and improving existing public transportation facilities to accommodate such vehicles. This bill limits the use of the grants to (1) projects related to no-emission vehicles, and (2) improving existing public transportation facilities. The bill also sets out additional criteria that apply to the grants. For example, the bill specifies the minimum number of buses that must be procured through a grant. Furthermore, at least 10% of grant funds must be distributed to projects that predominately serve low-income communities.