Going electric hasn’t yielded the best results for everyone throughout the years. Just ask Bob Dylan circa 1965. But when a new Worcester Regional Transit Authority bus fleet went electric on Thursday, Governor Deval Patrick lauded the public transportation system for its dedication to clean technology and alternative fuel sources.
With approximately $7 million compiled of federal funds and matching state funds from MassDOT, WRTA splurged on six Proterra plug-in, all-electric buses which, according to Governor Patrick’s office, is the largest fleet of Proterra all-electric buses in the country.
“We are committed to using innovative strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, bolster our energy independence and grow our clean energy economy,” said the governor in a statement. “The WRTA’s new fleet is an example of how we are accelerating the adoption of cleaner vehicles throughout Massachusetts to reduce harmful pollutants and promote a more sustainable environment for future generations.”
The new electric power source will help each bus emit 130 fewer tons of carbon dioxide annually than those running on diesel fuel. Operating costs will also decrease to the tune of $3 million over a 12-year span.
The WRTA will act as the poster child for Governor Patrick’s new initiative dubbed the Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles program. MOREV will provide state rebates of up to $2,500 for Bay Staters who purchase plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. The best part about MOREV is that it isn’t just limited to statewide transit authorities – it’s open to all Massachusetts residents.
In a continuation of the governor’s endearment towards clean energy, especially pertaining to public transportation, he charitably doled out “$600,000 in Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program grants to 16 municipalities, two public universities and colleges, and one state agency for the acquisition of plug-in hybrid or battery-electric vehicles and the installation of Level 2 charging stations,” according to his press office.
His recent commitments fall directly in line with The Clean Energy and Climate Plan’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.
