Biden administration invests $1.5 billion in clean buses

The Biden administration announced Thursday it will invest $1.5 billion in transportation manufacturing, including zero-emission buses.

The White House will meet with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to discuss building clean transit buses and the government's efforts at “the scale and pace necessary to meet market demand and meet the nation's climate and equity goals.” announced that they had discussed how to manufacture buses.

Approximately 60 representatives from various U.S. transit agencies, bus manufacturers and other stakeholders met on Wednesday to discuss President Biden's plans to invest in the United States, according to an announcement.

Biden signed a major bipartisan infrastructure bill into law in November 2021.

The $1.5 billion for clean transportation is “critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in transportation, which is the largest emitting sector.”

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said this investment will bring thousands of new buses to communities across the country thanks to bipartisan infrastructure legislation.

“More funding for buses means less congestion on our roads, less air pollution, and more jobs for American workers,” Buttigieg said in a statement.

FTA has a grant program that allows transit agencies to purchase and renovate older buses and facilities.

Of the total amount in the fund, $1.1 billion will go to the government's low- or no-emissions program, which allows transit agencies to purchase or lease zero-emission buses. The Department of Transportation said $390 million of the fund will go toward subsidies for buses and bus facilities.

FTA Secretary Nuria Fernandez said the funding will help reduce pollution and promote a cleaner, faster and safer bus riding experience.

“FTA also provides solutions for transit agencies to reduce bus costs, shorten production schedules, and maintain domestic manufacturing capacity when procuring buses,” Fernandez said in a statement. Stated.