Gabriola Island’s transit operator seeks to further its mandate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with plans to add electric buses to its fleet.
Gabriola Community Bus Foundation, which runs Gabriola Environmentally Responsible Trans-Island Express, has applied to the federal government for Infrastructure Canada rural transit solutions fund money with plans to purchase up to two electric buses and related infrastructure. The number of buses would be dependent on the amount of funding secured, the foundation said in a letter to the Regional District of Nanaimo.
Under the program, the Government of Canada can provide non-profit applicants like the foundation with up to 80 per cent of capital expenses and a maximum of $5 million for zero-emission items such as transit vehicles.
The other 20 per cent can come from other sources – provincial and municipal government funding, donations – and the foundation said it believes it could be eligible for rebates via the provincial government’s Clean B.C. Go Electric program, it told the RDN.
In an e-mail, the foundation confirmed it has submitted an application, but said it had no further comment.
The RDN board voted unanimously at its April 12 meeting to support the application.
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