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In December 2023, four West Virginia school districts began operating new all-electric school buses manufactured by Green-Power Motors. School districts and other tax-exempt entities that purchase these buses are eligible for Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit tax credits of up to $40,000, and West Virginia counties are also set to receive $18 million under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Clean School Bus Program for further purchases. Additionally, a manufacturing center for these electric buses in Huntington is set to double its welding program’s capacity and introduce new programs focusing on robotics and aerospace welding, thanks to funding from the Rural Development branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Program.
New Electric School Buses Roll Out in West Virginia
In December 2023, four West Virginia school districts, Cabell, Clay, Kanawha, and Monongalia, unveiled their new all-electric school buses. These buses, created at the Green-Power Motors facility in South Charleston, West Virginia, signify significant strides towards sustainable transportation and emission reduction.
The Future of School Transportation
Kanawha County Schools Superintendent Tom Williams promotes this initiative as “the wave of the future.” Evidence of this development’s local impact, GreenPower employed former Kanawha County students during the bus’s creation. This local involvement in creating sustainable solutions exemplifies the company’s potential for enhancing community engagement.
Tax Credits for Going Green
GreenPower’s electric school buses qualify school districts for Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit tax credits up to $40,000 under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Furthermore, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has allocated $18 million for West Virginia counties to acquire electric buses, thanks to the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Clean School Bus Program.
Advancing Manufacturing in West Virginia
In Huntington, West Virginia, the decade-long dormant ACF Industry’s machine shop is set to transform into the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center. This facility will offer equipment, training, and employment opportunities to invigorate local manufacturing.
Boosting Local Employment Opportunities
Mike Friel, the communications director at the Marshall Center, highlights the potential for training students to meet industry demand and provide good paying local jobs. With financial support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Program, the Center seeks to double its welding program capacity and launch programs in robotics and aerospace welding.
Enhancing Domestic Manufacturing
The Inflation Reduction Act offers tax credits and incentives to manufacturers, aiming to bolster domestic manufacturing and clean energy production.
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