California will use $9.5 million from California Climate Investments (CCI), the state’s cap-and-trade program, to bring 10 battery-electric buses and supporting infrastructure to serve disadvantaged communities in the south San Joaquin Valley city of Porterville.

In addition to the buses, the project includes charging stations and solar panels. Southern California Edison will support the installation of the infrastructure and provide special rates for high-voltage bus charging.

The ten new EV350 40-foot electric transit buses, manufactured by GreenPower Motor Company, will serve all nine Porterville Transit routes in the communities of Porterville, East Porterville, Strathmore and the Tule River Indian Reservation. They are expected to arrive by early 2018.

GreenPower will build a manufacturing facility for electric buses and batteries, which is expected to open in 2018.

“Thanks to proceeds from the cap-and-trade program, California is on a roll to put zero-emission cars, trucks and buses in the communities that need them the most,” said CARB Chair Mary Nichols.

“This project in Porterville clears the air with zero-emission buses in a community that faces serious air quality issues,” said CARB board member Alex Sherriffs. “It provides employment and on-site job training for young people in this and other San Joaquin Valley communities who have all too often been left out of the clean-tech boom in California.”

Source: ARB via Green Car Congress