Met Council gets $1.1 million to buy hybrid buses

by Madeleine Baran, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — The Metropolitan Council secured $1.1 million in federal funding on Monday to purchase 35 small diesel and electric hybrid buses.

A transit provider in Fergus Falls also received $845,000 to fund environmental technology. Productive Alternatives/Transit Alternatives will use the funds to purchase energy-efficiency upgrades, hybrid vehicles, wind generator power systems, and equipment to convert cooking oil needed to blend with vehicle fuel to operate some of their buses.

The Metropolitan Council will replace 35 current Metro Transit vehicles with 17 electric hybrid and 18 small diesel buses.

"Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Council is showing how investing in green transportation not only helps the planet and strengthens our economy, but also creates jobs," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a statement.

The federal government awarded the grants as part of the $100 million in Economic Recovery Act funds set aside for innovative environmental technologies to help reduce global warming. Forty-three projects have received program funding.