Patrick celebrates electric WRTA buses, announces EV incentives
Gov. Deval Patrick made two announcements regarding state investments in alternative fuel vehicles Thursday while attending the Worcester Regional Transit Authority’s (WRTA) launch of a new, fully electric bus fleet for the city.
In what the Patrick administration said makes up the largest fleet of Proterra all-electric buses in the country, the WRTA purchased six using more than $7 million in federal funds as well as matching funds from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
In a statement, state Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rick Sullivan thanked Patrick for his efforts, saying, “Thanks to his support, the transit authority is now home to a fleet that is cleaner, quieter and will save money. Today’s announcement shows that alternative fuel vehicles are a win-win for the environmental and economic bottom line.”
According to the statement, each bus eliminates 130 tons of carbon dioxide per year that buses with diesel fuel would otherwise emit and will lower operating costs by nearly $3 million over 12 years.
Patrick announced the Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles (MOREV) program, in which rebates of up to $2,500 will be given to state residents who purchase plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. The incentive will be funded with $2 million in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auction proceeds.
In addition, Patrick announced the recipients of the state’s second round of grants through its Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program.
Nearly $600,000 in grants was given to 16 municipalities, two public colleges and universities, and the Department of Environmental Protection for the acquisition of plug-in hybrid or battery-electric vehicles and the installation of charging stations. In Central Massachusetts, Framingham received $10,000 for the purchase of two, plug-in hybrid vehicles, while Sudbury received $17,500 for purchasing one electric vehicle.
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