WHAT: The Orange County Transportation Authority will debut its new hydrogen fueling station, the largest transit-operated hydrogen fueling station in the United States, along with its new fleet of 10 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses.
The new hydrogen fueling station and buses are part of OCTA’s ongoing efforts to use zero-emission transportation technology for a balanced and sustainable transit future.
Media is invited to attend this event to join with OCTA, state and local officials to celebrate the unveiling of the fueling station and get an up-close look at the new electric buses. Immediately following the event, guests can view a demonstration of how the fueling station and buses operate.
WHEN: 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 31
WHERE: OCTA’s Santa Ana Bus Base, 4301 W. MacArthur Blvd. Santa Ana, CA 92704
WHO: Scheduled speakers include:
- Steve Jones, OCTA Chairman and Garden Grove Mayor
- Gil Cisneros, U.S. Congressman, 39th District
- Miguel Pulido, OCTA Director and Santa Ana Mayor
- Darrell E. Johnson, OCTA CEO
- Judy Mitchell, California Air Resources Board member and South Coast AQMD member
- Dan Raudebaugh, Executive Director of Center for Transportation and the Environment
WHY: OCTA’s hydrogen fueling station is the largest in the nation for public transportation. Along with the 10 fuel cell buses, this represents a $22.9 million investment in zero-emission transit. More than half of the funding – $12.5 million – comes from California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities.
Other funding comes from SB 1 State of Good Repair funds, administered by Caltrans, and from the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Clean Fuels Fund. This project is also a partnership with the California Air Resources Board, Center for Transportation & the Environment, Trillium, New Flyer, Air Products, Ballard and Fiedler.
OCTA was the first large public transportation agency in Southern California to operate a hydrogen fuel cell bus, debuting a pilot program in 2016.
