The Hawaii Department of Transportation and surrounding counties are taking a ride on the green side after receiving over $5 million in federal funding for the purchase of electric buses, announced by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) on July 2.
Hawaii, Kauai and Maui counties will be using the money to purchase the buses and invest in charging infrastructure, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
"Over $5 million in new federal funding is on the way to Hawaii Island, Kauai and Maui to improve our public transit system with new zero-emission buses," Schatz wrote in a July 6 Facebook post. "These electric buses make our air cleaner, our roads quieter and they reduce the operating costs of our public transit. Hawaii has been a leader in clean energy, and this new federal funding will make it easier for people to get around while cutting greenhouse gas emissions and pollution."
Each county will receive funds for three new electric buses, according to the Star-Advertiser. These funds will help move Hawaii closer to its goal of decarbonizing its economy by 2045, Schatz said.
Gov. David Ige recently signed three bills to expand the use of electric vehicles in Hawaii.
The Federal Transit Administration’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Grant Program is the source of the funding. The program has been a backbone to state and local transit agencies during their transition to green alternatives.