Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf today announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded grants to 17 alternative fuel projects that will save an estimated 650 million gallons of fuel in Pennsylvania. These Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants (AFIG) will be used to develop and promote the use of alternative fuels and develop supporting infrastructure, improving air quality through alternative fuel use.
“The AFIG program has made tremendous strides in reducing air pollution, improving the quality of the air we breathe, and paying economic dividends through a reduction in the use of gasoline,” said Governor Wolf. “These grants are awarded to a wide range of projects, both large and small. From purchasing two alternative fuel vehicles to converting entire fleets, these projects show a commitment to make changes that will benefit all Pennsylvanians.”
Nearly $2 million in grants were awarded across the two categories. The awards for vehicles will save approximately 650 thousand gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel annually. A full list of awardees is below. This is the final awarding of AFIG funding for applications submitted in 2016. Nearly $5.5 million was awarded to 43 projects for the calendar year. DEP expects to reopen the AFIG program with next the application submission date due early this summer.
“Places like Lycoming County and the River Valley Transit system will save money on fuel costs and cut down on air pollution, and the Philadelphia Airport will be able to serve customers with electric vehicles with new charging stations,” said Acting DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.
The primary goals of the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program are to improve Pennsylvania’s air quality and reduce consumption of imported oil through the use of alternative fuels that will help the commonwealth’s economy and environment. DEP accepts applications for innovative, advanced fuel and vehicle technology projects resulting in a cleaner and greener transportation sector within the Commonwealth. The AFIG Fund was established under Act 166 of 1992 and is administered by the DEP through the Office of Policy.
In addition to the Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants just awarded, DEP is offering a limited number of free technical assistance opportunities to municipalities, school districts, municipal authorities, and non-profit organizations to assist them in developing plans for building or expanding an alternative energy vehicle fleet. Applications for the Alternative Fuels Technical Assistance Program will be accepted through June 1, 2017.
Vehicle Projects:
Allegheny County
Awardee: City of Pittsburgh
Project: Second Avenue Electric Vehicle Project
Award Total: $80,000
Number of Vehicles: 10
Estimated GGE saved per year: 3,973
Project Description: The City of Pittsburgh is requesting $80,000, 50% of the incremental cost for 10 Nissan Leaf EVs as part of their goal to operate a fossil fuel free fleet by 2030. This project is the first part in the conversion of the Bureau of Permits, Licensing and Inspections fleet, currently made up of 50 Ford Focus sedans.
Armstrong County
Awardee: Sheeren Insurance Group Inc.
Project: Teach green to our teens, our future
Award Total: $16,000
Number of Vehicles: 2
Estimated GGE saved per year: 666
Project Description: Sheeren Insurance group is requesting funding of $16,000 to purchase 2 Nissan Leaf Battery Electric Vehicles.
Blair County
Awardee: A&M Transit Company
Project: Claysburg Propane Bus Purchase
Award Total: $19,982
Number of Vehicles: 6
Estimated GGE saved per year: 21,135
Project Description: A&M Transit is requesting $19,982 for the conversion of 6 72-passenger diesel school buses to propane.
Bucks County
Awardee: Centennial School District
Project: The Centennial School District Propane School Bus Conversion Project
Award Total: $44,000
Number of Vehicles: 10
Estimated GGE saved per year: 11,250
Project Description: The Centennial School District Propane School Bus Conversion Project is seeking $40,000 in AFIG funding to convert 10 buses to propane fuel. This is first part of their effort to convert their 76 school buses to run on propane. The 10 buses in this project range from 72 passenger to 30 passenger buses.
Delaware County
Awardee: School District of Haverford Township
Project: The Haverford School District Propane School Bus Conversion Project
Award Total: $40,000
Number of Vehicles: 10
Estimated GGE saved per year: 23,354
Project Description: The Haverford School District is requesting $40,000 in AFIG funding to convert 10 diesel buses, 7 72-passenger and 3 48-passenger buses, to utilizing propane as fuel.
Awardee: Wilson of Wallingford, Inc.
Project: Fleet expansion
Award Total: $7,350
Number of Vehicles: 2
Estimated GGE saved per year: 3,077
Project Description: Wilson of Wallingford is requesting $7,350 in AFIG funds to purchase two bi-fuel propane Ford Transit trucks. The applicant’s in house vehicles are wrapped in an advertisement that promotes Alternative Fuel.
Lycoming County
Awardee: River Valley Transit
Project: Purchase of Ten (10) CNG Transit Vehicles
Award Total: $200,000
Number of Vehicles: 10
Estimated GGE saved per year: 155,131
Project Description: River Valley Transit has requested $200,000 in AFIG funds to purchase 10 CNG 35′ and 40′ passenger buses as part of their conversion of their fleet of 29 fixed route transit vehicles from diesel fuel to CNG.
Montgomery County
Awardee: Lower Merion School District
Project: Maintaining a Green Fleet Legacy-Acquisition of Ten Compressed Natural Gas Buses
Award Total: $121,752
Number of Vehicles: 10
Estimated GGE saved per year: 22,908
Project Description: Lower Merion School District is requesting $121,752 in AFIG funds for the purchase of 10 72-passenger CNG buses.
Northampton, Lancaster Counties
Awardee: UGI Utilities, Inc.
Project: UGI Utilities CNG Vehicle Acquisition
Award Total: $196,040
Number of Vehicles: 31
Estimated GGE saved per year: 20,447
Project Description: UGI Utilities, Inc. is requesting $196,040 in AFIG funds to acquire 31 CNG vehicles, including freightliner tractors, light duty Chevrolet trucks, and light duty Ford trucks and Transit vans, to be used out of their Lancaster and Bethlehem facilities. These acquisitions will be a mixture of CNG Dedicated and CNG Dual Fuel vehicles. CNG Fueling will take place at existing public accessible stations in both regions.
Philadelphia County
Awardee: Philadelphia Parking Authority
Project: Purchase Alternative Fuel Vehicles for the Philadelphia Parking Authority
Award Total: $10,000
Number of Vehicles: 2
Estimated GGE saved per year: 2,000
Project Description: The Philadelphia Parking Authority is requesting $10,000, 50% of the incremental cost for 2 Nissan Leaf EVs for use in their Off Street Division’s Downtown / Center City Garages in Philadelphia. This is the first part in the purchase of a fleet of new, dedicated, alternative fuel (all electric) vehicles and was submitted in conjunction with a second vehicle application and two refueling infrastructure applications.
Awardee: Philadelphia Parking Authority
Project: Purchase Alternative Fuel Vehicles at the Philadelphia International Airport
Award Total: $10,000
Number of Vehicles: 2
Estimated GGE saved per year: 914
Project Description: The Philadelphia Parking Authority is requesting $10,000, 50% of the incremental cost for 2 Nissan Leaf EVs for use in their Airport Operations Division at the Philadelphia International Airport. This is the first part in the purchase of a fleet of new, dedicated, alternative fuel (all electric) vehicles and was submitted in conjunction with a second vehicle application and two refueling infrastructure applications.
Susquehanna County
Awardee: Xpress Natural Gas, LLC
Project: Forest Lake CNG Center
Award Total: $200,000
Number of Vehicles: 10
Estimated GGE saved per year: 384,610
Project Description: Xpress Natural Gas LLC is requesting $200,000 in AFIG funding for the purchase of 10 CNG Freightliner tractors which will collect stranded gas from gathering systems in Susquehanna County and will compress and transport that gas out to market.
Refueling Infrastructure Projects:
Allegheny County
Awardee: City of Pittsburgh
Project: Second Avenue Charging Infrastructure Project
Award Total: $175,000
Project Description: The City of Pittsburgh is requesting $175,000 in funding to purchasing a five dual-hose, mobile, solar powered charging units with battery storage to be housed at the Second Avenue Parking Lot and power the City’s fleet at night. The chargers will be open to the public during the day and available to deploy to communities in times of extended grid failure.
Bucks County
Awardee: Centennial School District
Project: The Centennial School District Propane Refueling Project
Award Total: $292,338
Project Description: The Centennial School District Propane Refueling Project seeks funding of $292,338 to build a propane refueling stations to fuel their first 10 propane school buses. The project will continue to supply fuel for the remainder of District’s 66 buses as they are converted.
Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties
Awardee: Mobile Fueling Solutions
Project: Mobile Fueling Solutions for CNG
Award Total: $500,000
Project Description: Mobile Fueling Solutions for CNG seeks funding on $500,000 for the construction of 2 “Virtual Pipeline” mobile CNG fueling units.
Philadelphia County
Awardee: Philadelphia Parking Authority
Project: Proposed EV Charging Stations at Four Center City Garages
Award Total: $43,332
Project Description: The Philadelphia Parking Authority is requesting funding of $43,332for the installation of four new electric vehicle charging stations at four center city garages in Philadelphia.
Awardee: Philadelphia Parking Authority
Project: Proposed EV Charging Stations at the Philadelphia International Airport
Award Total: $43,332
Project Description: The Philadelphia Parking Authority is requesting funding of $43,332 for the installation of four new electric vehicle charging stations at Philadelphia International Airport.