City bringing first electric buses to Albuquerque

After receiving $2.7 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s Low-or No-Emission (Low-No) grant program, the city of Albuquerque is bringing the first electric buses to ABQ Ride routes, with the buses for regular ABQ Ride routes and can't be used on the ART corridor.

“We are not waiting to take bold action on climate change right here at the local level,” said Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. “With this $2.7 million federal grant  we will bring the first electric buses to Albuquerque. Transitioning our fleets is just one of the projects we’ve taken on to make Albuquerque one of the top 10 cities in the nation for renewable energy. It’s not just a number to us, it’s about equity. Our residents already know the impact of climate change, as local farmers along the Rio Grande deal with changing conditions and kids with asthma can’t play outside on high ozone days.”

In combination with other funding, this grant will buy five, 40-foot electric buses to supplement service on local ABQ Ride routes. The grant also pays for related expenses such as chargers for the new buses. An electric bus manufacturer will be chosen in a competitive bid process.

“Albuquerque received the fourth highest funding amount of all the recipients,” said Transit Director Bernie Toon. “While electric technology is not ready to be used on the ART route, we aren’t waiting to start transitioning our other buses. These new electric buses will go a long way in moving our city toward using more sustainable energy in the future.”

Electric vehicles are one part of a sustainability initiative the Keller Administration has launched to make Albuquerque a top-10 city for renewable energy nationwide, including:

· Signing the Paris Climate Agreement upon taking office;

· Investing $25 million in solar projects at 12 city-owned buildings;

· Creating the Green Team Initiative to expand sustainability thinking and practice across all city departments;

· Winning the Bloomberg American Cities climate challenge, securing resources to support sustainability efforts and hire staff with a sustainability focus;

· Investing the $600,000 in Volkswagen settlement funding to build charging stations for public use and begin to transition the city fleet to EV;

· Launching an innovative partnership with Solar Direct with PNM and the Jicarilla Apache Tribe to get ABQ to 65 percent renewable energy by 2021;

· Replacing old streetlights with more efficient LEDs; and

· Retrofitting city buildings to increase energy efficient and lower carbon footprints.

Mayor Keller also thanks the many local community leaders who contributed letters of support toward Albuquerque’s grant application to the Federal Transit Administration, including:

· NM Energy Conservation and Management Division

· NM Solar Energy Association

· Mid-Region Metropolitan Planning Organization

· Mid-Region Council of Governments

· Public Service Company of New Mexico

· Southwest Energy Efficiency Project

· Land of Enchantment Clean Cities

· REIA (Renewable Energy Industry Association) NM

· BioPark Conservation Program

· New Mexico Environmental Law Center

· Audubon New Mexico

· Electrification Coalition

· 350.org New Mexico

· Juntos: Our Air, Our Water

· NM BioPark Society

·  National Resources Defense Council