in our Spotlight on Business Report this may be the last generation of New Jersey kids to ride the diesel school buses we've always known New Jersey is getting a chunk of money from the federal government's 5 billion clean School Bus program to go green and make the switch to electric buses as Melissa Rose Cooper reports it's part of a larger effort to improve air quality in our cities and the health of our youngest residents our children deserve clean environments clean air clean water they deserve what should be an American Birthright for every child a physical environment in which they can Thrive so Senator Corey Booker is applauding a new $9 million Federal initiative to place more electric school buses on New Jersey roads and it's going to help with funding for the Union City Elizabeth Newark Bluefield and Lakewood it's going to replace 42 school buses and create 28 School Bus bus Chargers school buses one school bus in the life of that school bus pumps so many tons of toxic fumes into our air this is going to be a powerful step thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law putting an unprecedented nationally $5 billion of funding to transform our nation's Fleet of school buses the grant is part of the US Environmental Protection agency's clean School Bus program which funds electric buses as well as propane and compressed natural gas ones Regional Chief of Staff Olivia Glenn says the money will help support the agency's environmental justice goals this historic funding has enabled EPA to invest heavily in meaningful programs at the community level it also follows through on the justice 40 initiative set in motion by President Biden setting aside 40% of certain federal resources for direct use in vulnerable and historically disinvested communi unities by providing these resources to these communities we are creating a safer environment while also creating jobs and enriching the local economy while traditional diesel school buses are known to produce High tailpipe emissions the electric ones don't give off any which Advocates say is a win-win for both kids health and the environment the shift to Electric school buses not only ensures cleaner and safer transportation for our children but also significantly reduces harmful emissions contributing to a healthier environment for generations to come this program is critical because it aligns with Senator Booker's vision for sustainable progress it showcases the potential for Innovation and Forward Thinking policies that address both the immediate needs of our communities and the long-term health of our planet by Leading this effort Senator Booker continues to demonstrate his commitment for shaping a brighter future for the next generation and serves as a shiny example of the positive impact that can be achieved through bipartisan a collaboration and a shareed dedication to securing a better tomorrow focusing on our children focusing on their future and their health outcomes is something that's so consequentially important we owe a great amount to this next Generation they are going to have to carry quite the burden of things that we have to deal with in our communities as a country and globally we owe it to them to give them the healthiest community that they can possibly grow and prosper in Senator Booker says there still more work to do but he believes the electric school buses bring the state another step closer to creating cleaner air for NJ Spotlight news I'm Melissa Rose Cooper