DUP North Antrim MLA has welcomed the allocation of £11.2m to Wrightbus as part of the UK Government’s commitment to developing hydrogen-fuel technology.
Commenting, Mr Storey said: “This is fantastic news. The fact that Wrightbus is one of only three UK companies to receive this funding speaks volumes about the highly coveted workforce in Ballymena. After the setbacks and disappointments of recent years I am delighted that workers can now be optimistic for the future.
“I have no doubt that this announcement will be game-changer, not just for creating more manufacturing jobs in the next decade, but for supporting other parts of the local economy which benefit from having this skills base and workforce on their doorstep.
“It is important that this national investment is backed up by strong support at an Executive level. I know my colleague, the Minister for Economy, is committed to leading a green recovery from Covid-19 and harnessing the role that clean hydrogen can play in that.
“However, the onus is also firmly on the Infrastructure Minister. This funding will be used to manufacture low-cost hydrogen-fuel cell technology for buses at Wrightbus and this holds great potential to transform public transport options in Northern Ireland.’’
