LAVTA Award Will Expand Hydrogen Fueling Station

The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA), Livermore, CA, has received a $3 million federal funding award to expand a hydrogen fueling station supporting its Wheels bus fleet expansion. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) and Karrington Hendrix representing the office of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) attended the recent award celebration event.

“Today, we celebrate the bold leadership of our Members of Congress who secured funding in Washington for LAVTA’s hydrogen fueling station to benefit their communities and constituents back home,” said Executive Director Christy Wegener. “This truly is the start of a zero-emissions and clean-energy transportation future in the Tri-Valley.”

The award comes from Community Project Funding as part of Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 4366), which included a total of $15.2 million in federal funds Rep. DeSaulnier secured for multiple projects across Alameda County.

“This federal award will enable LAVTA to deploy hydrogen fuel cell buses over the next two years, enabling conversion away from fossil fuels faster by increasing the number of buses we will be able to support with hydrogen fuel sooner,” said Evan Branning, LAVTA board chair and Livermore City councilman. “The funding also allows LAVTA to successfully meet California’s climate goals while being a catalyst for good paying construction and clean-energy jobs in the Tri-Valley.”

Construction for the project is expected to break ground in 2025 and be completed in conjunction with delivery of the first hydrogen fuel cell buses in 2027. LAVTA is working with industry peers and experts to ensure resource availability and workforce support for this technology.