Vancouver-based GreenPower Motor Company Inc. has reached an agreement to buy property in Porterville CA so that it can establish production facilities in the city.

The company also noted in a news release this week that it intends to build the facility in compliance with the Buy America program. This enables GreenPower to take advantage of certain tax breaks and incentives.

"We are very excited about locating in Porterville, having the necessary manufacturing capabilities for Buy America compliance and being positioned to pursue market opportunities in California," said Fraser Atkinson, chair of the board of directors at GreenPower. "We understand that we will be the only manufacturer of all-electric heavy duty buses in the San Joaquin Valley so we will be seeking to become the preferred supplier."

GreenPower has already submitted a permit application to the city for a manufacturing facility for its all-electric buses on this property. The plant will be approximately 150,000 square feet in size and this includes 6,000 square feet of office space.

Porterville is located in the San Joaquin Valley air basin and is actively pursuing diesel bus emission control strategies in conjunction with ongoing funding and grants from the US Environmental Protection Agency, California State Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) and the Air Resources Board (ARB).

The company is paying $660,000 for the plot of land. An initial payment of $66,000 will close the deal, expected in the next 45 days.