Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) unveiled a new hydrogen fueling station and its first hydrogen-powered buses at its Riverside headquarters. The event marks the beginning of RTA's transition from Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to a fully zero-emission fleet.
The shift is part of a broader push across Riverside County to cut vehicle emissions and improve air quality, an issue that affects public health and environmental conditions throughout the region.
The project was funded through a combination of federal, state and local sources, including $4.89 million in competitive federal Low or No Emission grant funding that RTA secured to purchase its first five hydrogen fuel cell buses. The fueling station was built by Clean Energy, a company RTA says is among the few with the expertise needed to manage the liquid hydrogen volumes required to fuel a full bus fleet.
"It is an honor to welcome our new eco-friendly hydrogen-fueling station and our first hydrogen-powered buses as we celebrate this exciting milestone for RTA and Riverside County," RTA CEO Kristin Warsinski said in a statement. "Technology may drive progress, but it's the dedication, collaboration and expertise of our workforce, Board Members and community who truly make advancements like this possible."
Jim Steiner, RTA Board Chair and a Corona City Councilmember, said the project reflects a long-standing priority for the agency's board.
"It has been a top priority for the RTA Board of Directors to bring Riverside County residents a greener public transportation service, and we're proud to have reached this monumental milestone today," Steiner said in a statement. "The transition to zero-emission technology is a major investment in our county and in our workforce training. We're proud to embrace the future of eco-friendly transportation and do our part to reduce our environmental impact."
Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, who is also a state governor-appointed member of the California Air Resources Board, attended the event; also present were members of the RTA Board of Directors, Riverside County Supervisor Jose Medina and other local stakeholders.
