MARTHA'S VINEYARD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Martha's Vineyard announced that 50% of its buses will be electric by June and will be charged through solar panels.
The Vineyard Transportation Authority (VTA) reported this week that new solar canopies will be used to charge the island's 16 electric buses.
Since going electric from diesel, Martha's Vineyard has already "reduced the VTA's Green House Gas emissions by over three million pounds" and has saved them "over $24,000 in energy costs."
"An all-electric fleet of buses, vans, and service vehicles will ensure greater service reliability, lower maintenance and fuel costs, and create greater resilience when the power goes out. And we will be powering the buses from locally generated solar energy," VTA administrator Angie Gompert said at the unveiling of the microgrid May 14, according to The VTA.
Over the next ten year, Mass Transit Magazine said about 36,000 tons of carbon dioxide will be eliminated with the electric buses.
There will also be charging stations installed along the bus routes.
WBZ NewsRadio's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports:
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