North Central Area Transit is asking the state for money to buy electric buses and solar panels. Ottawa City Commissioner Wayne Eichelkraut says the city will apply for a $500,000 grant for NCAT.
He hopes to get two electric buses and charging stations for them. He hopes solar panels to power the NCAT operations center would offset some of the rising cost of electricity.
Eichelkraut says it’ll probably take until next year to find out if the Illinois Department of Transportation awards the grant. How long it will take to get buses after that, he can’t be sure.