The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced funding for more than $2.7 million in Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants (AFIGs) to 18 cleaner fuel transportation projects state-wide that will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other air pollutants. “These projects will help every single Pennsylvanian breathe cleaner air at school, in their communities, and at their workplaces,” said DEP Executive Deputy Secretary Ramez Ziadeh.

The AFIG Programme funds projects that replace older gasoline- or diesel-fuelled vehicles with cleaner fuel units. It supports the deployment of LPG, CNG, electric, ethanol, biodiesel, and other alternative fuel vehicles, as well as the installation of fuelling stations for these vehicles.

AFIG grants are awarded for projects in three categories: Vehicle Retrofit and/or Purchasing; Refueling Infrastructure; and Innovative Technology. The 2021 AFIG funded projects will put 87 cleaner fuel school buses, package delivery trucks, and other vehicles in use, and save an estimated 262,798 gasoline equivalents (GGE) from the atmosphere. The projects are collectively anticipated to reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 600 metric tonnes per year.

Some of the projects that will receive the AFIG grants are:

Wilson School District will receive $76,000 for the purchase of nine Autogas school buses to continue District’s fleet conversion. The estimated GGE saved per year is 14,817.

R N Goss Gas Products Co will get $19,624 for the purchase of two Autogas delivery trucks. The estimated GGE saved per year is 8,334.

Thompson Gas LLC will receive $280,125 to acquire 27 class 3+ Autogas delivery vehicles at the LKQ locations in York and Bethlehem. The estimated GGE saved per year is 141,600. In addition, Thompson Gas will get $159,000 to install two LPG refuelling stations for its retrofitted fleet vehicles at their respective branch locations in York and Bethlehem, with an estimated GGE saved per year of 128,304.

Over two-thirds of this year’s funding will go towards projects either in or serving Environmental Justice areas. These communities are defined by DEP as any census tract where 20% or more of residents live at or below the federal poverty line, and/or 30% or more of the population identifies as a non-white minority. For more information, please visit this link.

2 February 2022