OCEANSIDE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The North County Transportation District broke ground Tuesday on a new hydrogen fueling station for its buses, bringing it one step closer to transitioning to a zero-emissions fleet.

Once complete, the facility will support NCTD’s new hydrogen fuel cell electric buses for its BREEZE service. According to the transit district, these buses are expected to make up a quarter of its fleet by 2025, before going fully electric by 2040.

The $8 million project is being funded in part by the Federal Transit Administration’s Low-Emission or Zero-Emission Vehicle Grant Program, the California Energy Commission and funds made available through a request by Representative Mike Levin during the congressional budget process for 2022.

The grant from the Federal Transit Administration also helps with workforce training and the development of an apprenticeship program in collaboration with Palomar College.

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“The rollout of these cutting-edge, cleaner, quieter, zero-emission hydrogen buses will be transformative,” NCTD Board Chair Jewel Edson said in a statement. “By replacing decommissioned CNG buses and eliminating tailpipe emissions, these hydrogen buses will help improve BREEZE service reliability and air quality throughout NCTD’s service area.”

According to NCTD, the West Division fueling station is expected to be operational by summer 2025.

The district will then debut hydrogen buses on routes serving areas around Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Camp Pendleton and Fallbrook.

The new BREEZE electric fleet will join other zero-emission buses that are already in use elsewhere in the county, including battery electric buses deployed by the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.

“This investment supporting zero-emission buses will lead to significant reductions in greenhouse gases, cleaner air and a more sustainable transportation network for North County and San Diego as a whole,” Levin said.

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