Breaking: Alabama A&M University Awarded a Whooping $8.1M to Achieve 100% Zero Emissions

Alabama A&M’s Bulldog Transit System has secured an impressive grant of $ 8.1 million through the Competitive Low-No Emissions Program for Fiscal Year 2023. This significant funding will help accelerate BTS’s goal of creating a fully zero-emissions transit system by 2031.

Since launching its sustainability initiatives in 2017, BTS has been steadily moving away from fossil fuel-powered buses to battery-electric ones. The newly awarded grant will support crucial upgrades to the current infrastructure, including a major expansion of a solar power microgrid system, boosting its capacity to 2.5 megawatts. This solar initiative is essential for powering the electric storage system that serves charging stations and bus facilities.

“This funding enables us to build upon the infrastructure we’ve already developed and improve our solar energy capabilities,” said Marshall Chimwedzi, director of AAMU BTS. He noted that the second phase of their project will include the addition of charging stations, a driver’s lounge, and microgrid monitoring rooms in the bus storage facility. Upgrades will also involve enclosing the service bay and modernizing information systems with real-time monitors to enhance operational efficiency.

The comprehensive project will also include an eight-bay expansion of the bus storage facility and workforce development initiatives designed to train technicians in the maintenance of solar and electric buses. Additionally, BTS intends to acquire a zero-emissions autonomous shuttle, an electric shuttle bus, and an electric service truck. The timeline for this grant spans from September 16, 2024, to March 30, 2031, with the goal of reaching complete zero emissions by the end of this period.

Furthering the Zero Emissions Goal

Alabama A&M University has made notable progress in sustainability, becoming the first Historically Black College or University to introduce electric buses, along with a charging station and a designated bus storage facility, in 2019. In 2021, the university strengthened its dedication to renewable energy by securing an additional $ 4.2 million grant to enhance its electric bus fleet, build a service bay, and implement a battery-electric storage system.