$20 million electric school bus grant announced
The Illinois State Board of Education has announced it has been awarded a nearly $20 million grant from the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program. ISBE will distribute grant funds to nine Illinois school districts to replace 70 internal combustion engine school buses with electric buses, install 70 electric charging stations, and offer workforce training to support new technologies. Electric bus maker Lion Electric, which recently laid off hundreds of employees from its Joliet plant, has obtained creditor protection and plans to restructure.
$820 million granted for sustainable aviation fuel
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced Thursday the selection of Southwest Illinois as the location for Avina Clean Hydrogen’s $820 million investment for a sustainable aviation fuel project. This taxpayer-funded investment will support the development of a facility capable of producing up to 120 million gallons of fuel annually. The project is estimated to create at least 150 full-time jobs in Illinois along with 1,000 construction jobs.
New specialty license plates next year
Several new specialty license plates are being added to 16 existing designs in the new year for Illinois. Separate laws going into effect Jan. 1, create the Sons of the American Legion plate, Air Force Combat Action Medal plate and a Defense Distinguished Service and Defense Superior plate. Another law allows specialty plates to be issued for motorcycles.