The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has introduced a new “Pollinator” license plate, thanks to recently passed legislation.
Vehicle owners in Pennsylvania can now purchase these plates to show their support for pollinator conservation efforts.
Sixty-five percent of the proceeds from the sales will be allocated to the Pollinator Habitat Program Fund, aimed at supporting ongoing efforts to revitalize insect populations vital to plant pollination.
The Pollinator Habitat Program Fund will finance the creation of naturalized gardens and meadows, which will be planted with pollinator-friendly species of flowering plants. These spaces will be designed specifically for bees, butterflies, beetles, and other insects impacted by habitat loss.
By offering more flowering plants as sources of nourishment, these insects will have an opportunity to flourish in these restored areas. Additionally, the program aims to help reverse the decline of federally listed threatened or endangered species, such as the monarch butterfly.
PennDOT Acting Secretary Mike Carroll emphasized the importance of fostering a healthy pollinator population in Pennsylvania. “Developing habitats for this important group of insects contributes to both the environmental and economic health of our Commonwealth, and PennDOT is proud to offer a license plate to help support these important efforts,” he said.
The Pollinator license plate, featuring an image of a monarch butterfly, honeybee, and green sweat bee visiting a flower, is now available for passenger cars or trucks with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds.
To obtain the plate, applicants must submit a completed Form MV-911, “Application for Special Fund Registration Plate.”
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding highlighted the significance of pollinators for the environment and the food system. “One out of every three bites we eat is made possible because of pollinators and their role in promoting biodiversity and plant health in our food system, and this pollinator license plate is a way for us to help grow and sustain plant and pollinator life,” he said.
For more information on the Pollinator license plates, including eligibility requirements and plate images, visit the Registration Plates page on PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website.
