OKC seeks federal grant for electric water taxi motors
BY MICHAEL KIMBALL NewsOK.com
Thursday, August 16, 2012
8/16/12 at 5:29 AM
OKLAHOMA CITY - Bricktown's water taxis will be quieter and cleaner if Oklahoma City wins a federal grant for electric motors.
The Oklahoma City Council approved an application this week for about $153,000 in federal Energy Department grant money to convert the boats from gasoline to electric power. The city would use the money to pay for new motors for use by Water Taxis LLC, the company the city contracts to run the service.
"They've pretty much given us an OK on it, but they have to formally go through the process of sending it through the federal Department of Energy for a signoff," said Larry Ogle, assistant director of Oklahoma City's Parks and Recreation Department.
The funds are for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects from the recession's stimulus packages and include a provision to buy American-made parts, so part of the remaining steps are to get motors assembled in the United States, Ogle said.
Original Print Headline: OKC seeks federal grant for electric motors for water taxis
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