The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in Florida is supporting the procurement of electric public transport buses in 13 counties of the US state with 68 million US dollars. Seven school districts also receive grants. The funds come from fines paid by Volkswagen for the diesel scandal.
A total of 227 electric buses will replace diesel vehicles in the counties of Alachua, Broward, Duval, Escambia, Hillsborough, Leon, Marion, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco and Pinellas, according to a statement from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office . The grants for the Broward, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas, and Sarasota school districts will enable the purchase of 218 electric school buses.
Funding comes from the $166 million that Florida was allocated from Volkswagen’s diesel scandal fines. Funds were also allocated from this budget in Florida to install 150 electric vehicle charging stations along the state’s highways.
“This funding will help reduce emissions while bringing our transit bus fleets up to more modern standards,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis. “This is a win for air quality and for the state’s efforts to encourage growing use of electric vehicles.”
flgov.com