John Wayne Airport gets $811K grant for zero-emission buses

John Wayne Airport was awarded an $811,167 Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program grant earmarked for the second phase of a plan to replace the airport’s compressed natural gas-powered shuttle buses with electric counterparts, a lawmaker announced Monday.

“This grant is welcome news for Orange County and the world-class airport in our backyard,” said Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Huntington Beach. “John Wayne Airport is a leader in environmental best practices, and the implementation of an entirely electric fleet of shuttle vehicles is another example of their commitment to sustainability and improving air quality for residents.”

Airport Director Barry Rondinella said the grant “allows us to implement advanced electric power technology in our goal to continually improve airport emissions today and into the future.”

The Airport Zero Emissions Vehicle and Infrastructure Pilot Program allows grant recipients to use AIP funds to purchase ZEVs and to construct or modify infrastructure needed to use them. Created by Congress in 2012, the program seeks to improve airport air quality and facilitate use of zero emissions technologies at airports.

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