WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, along with Representative Ilhan Omar announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the Twin Cities a grant of $2,500,000 for zero-emission and low-emission transit buses.

“Clean investments in our transportation infrastructure serves as a down payment on the long-term economic and environmental well-being of our state and country,” Klobuchar said. “By investing in zero-emission and low-emission transit in the Twin Cities, we are making important progress to fight climate change and reduce our environmental footprint.”

“Minnesota is already a leader in clean energy, and empowering our communities to invest in zero and low-emission transit vehicles will make Minnesota public transit cleaner, healthier and more affordable,” Smith said. “Electric buses are quieter, more efficient, produce far fewer health harming emissions and have dramatically lower fuel costs than petroleum diesel buses. This investment just makes sense.”

“If we are going to confront the climate crisis, we must build a green society, invest in alternative energy sources and energy efficiency programs,” Omar said. “Those efforts start at home. Minnesota is a clean energy leader—and I’m glad we will have resources to build a clean energy future.”

The Low or No Emission Program (Low-No) provides funding to State and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities such as recharging, refueling, and maintenance facilities. 

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