ICYMI: Columbus To Receive $22.8 Million Grant for Clean Energy Buses

Columbus, Ohio – Last week, federal officials announced a new $22.8 million grant awarded to the Central Ohio Transit Authority to launch a fleet of electric buses. COTA plans to purchase 10 battery electric buses and 10 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses with the grant, with an organizational goal to achieve a zero-emission fleet by 2035. The grant is one of four awarded to projects in Ohio, part of $1.5 billion total in grants awarded to 117 projects nationwide. 

This funding comes as part of the federal clean energy plan, which is approaching the two-year anniversary of its passage in August, 2022. Since then, Ohio has received 1.6 billion in public funding for clean energy projects like electric buses and charges, with an additional $10.43 billion privately invested in new clean energy projects as of June 2024. 

“Everyone deserves reliable, safe, healthy transportation, especially in communities disproportionately impacted by poor air quality, where access to public transit has been inconsistent,” said André Crombie, Climate Power’s States Interim Managing Director. “Investments like this are possible thanks to Senator Sherrod Brown and Rep. Shontel Brown’s leadership and support for the clean energy plan. The plan has been a huge win for Ohioans, and we must continue to elect leaders who will invest in Ohio.” 

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