The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Livingston Parish and Jefferson Parish a total of $12,700,000 to help purchase 45 zero-emission vehicles through the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program. This initiative, part of President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, aims to accelerate American leadership in clean technologies and combat the impacts of climate change. Jefferson Parish will use $7.1 million to replace 25 diesel school buses with zero-emission electric buses, while Livingston Parish will replace 20 diesel school buses with electric ones using $5.6 million. The projects include installing charging infrastructure to support the new vehicles. The program not only focuses on reducing harmful emissions and enhancing infrastructure but also aims to create job opportunities. Priority is given to disadvantaged communities facing air quality challenges, aligning with President Biden's Justice40 Initiative to benefit marginalized communities. Over $735 million has been allocated to various applicants across the U.S. to purchase more than 2,000 zero-emission vehicles, promoting transportation decarbonization and supporting the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy.