Keaton PetersIllinois is looking to spark the transition to electric public transportation across the state with a new infusion of funding.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) has announced a new $27 million funding opportunity for government and transit agencies to replace aging diesel buses with new all-electric models.
The Illinois EPA issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to provide selected applicants with grants covering 75% of the cost of purchasing electric transit buses and the necessary charging infrastructure.
Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis with a minimum award amount of $300,000 per project. The NOFO will remain open until all allocated funds have been exhausted.
Public transit is already considered a win for emissions reduction compared to reliance on personal vehicles. By providing financial incentives for transit agencies to adopt electric buses, the Illinois EPA aims to further reduce emissions, improve air quality and help Illinois meet its climate goals.
The funding also has the potential to catalyze wider adoption of electric vehicles, as the expansion of charging infrastructure and increased visibility of electric transit buses can help build public confidence in the technology.
The Illinois EPA estimates that this funding could support the replacement of up to 40 diesel-powered transit buses with zero-emission, all-electric alternatives. In addition to lowering carbon dioxide, this transition is expected to significantly reduce nitrogen oxide, which is associated with a number of health problems.
Eligible applicants include government and transit agencies that own and operate public transit buses. The Illinois EPA has defined three priority areas across the state:
- Priority Area 1: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties, Oswego Township in Kendall County, and Aux Sable and Goose Lake townships in Grundy County.
- Priority Area 2: Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair Counties.
- Priority Area 3: Champaign, DeKalb, LaSalle, McLean, Peoria, Sangamon, and Winnebago Counties.
To qualify for the Electric Transit Bus NOFO, existing diesel buses must be model year 2009 or older, currently operating in the transit fleet and fall within the Class 4-8 vehicle categories. Once replaced, the old diesel buses must be scrapped within 90 days of the new electric buses being placed into service.
The Illinois EPA’s Driving a Cleaner Illinois program is supported with funds by the Volkswagen Settlement Beneficiary Mitigation Plan, which looks to reduce air pollution, promote clean transportation, and improve public health in communities across the state. The NOFO is now open, and more information can be accessed through the Illinois EPA’s website.
Photo courtesy Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York
