Mass Transit – CARB Awards Funding to the City of Porterville to Deploy 10 GreenPower Buses and Charging Infrastructure
BY: MASS TRANSIT DATE: DECEMBER 8, 2016
GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (GreenPower) recently announced that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has awarded $9.5 million to the City of Porterville to deploy 10 GreenPower EV350 40-foot zero-emission all-electric transit buses on all nine Porterville Transit routes, and to install the charging infrastructure including 11 charging stations.
“We look forward to working with GreenPower in replacing our aging active-fleet to 100% electric buses that produce zero emissions,” stated Richard Tree, transit manager, Porterville Transit. “Substantial grants like this one are driving the entire industry forward, and making all-electric the new norm in public transportation, while playing a significant role in accomplishing our mission to improve the environment in our community and the Valley.”
CARB’s award to the City of Porterville was one of only nine awards from the highly competitive Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Pilot Program. The grant award is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing clean-air benefits to California neighborhoods, with an emphasis on disadvantaged communities. California Climate Investments programs are funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund using proceeds from the state’s cap-and-trade auctions.
Projects like the one in Porterville are intended to help accelerate technology commercialization by placing significant numbers of zero- and near zero-emission trucks and buses in clusters as well as installing the infrastructure necessary to support the project vehicles. In addition, Porterville Transit will operate all of the new buses on routes in disadvantaged communities – those most affected by air pollution — providing zero-emission transportation to many citizens who are dependent on public transportation for their daily needs.
“With sincere gratitude to the support of the California Air Resources Board and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, and in partnership with GreenPower, the City of Porterville is excited at the unique opportunity for fleet-wide implementation of the latest in electric transit technology in service to our community,” stated Milt Stowe, mayor of Porterville. “We are thrilled by the commitment by GreenPower Motor Company to establish its manufacturing facility in Porterville and the hundreds of local jobs it will generate, in addition to the economic and technological benefit to the greater San Joaquin Valley.”
GreenPower recently completed the acquisition of 9.3 acres in the City of Porterville, is working on the grading and development permits with the City and has started the design of the modular buildings for a multi-phased development of a manufacturing facility comprising 150,000 square feet.
“We are excited to be working with the City of Porterville on a system-wide deployment of our all-electric transit buses and charging infrastructure,” said Fraser Atkinson, chairman of GreenPower. “The Porterville project will serve as a model for other operators in the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and across North America who are seeking to deploy not just a zero-emission vehicle, but a zero-emission solution.”
Disclaimer: GreenPower does not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article.
