The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded USD 2.9 million in 2022 Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant funding to municipalities, schools, and businesses around the state to switch to zero- or low-emission vehicles, mainly long-haul tractor trailers, buses and garbage trucks, which are the biggest consumers of gasoline, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

The DEP Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) program supports projects to replace older gasoline or diesel fuelled vehicles with cleaner fuel vehicles and install related fuelling infrastructure to improve air quality in Pennsylvania. The funded projects include the deployment of 11 LPG-powered vehicles.

The projects will be fully paid for with DEP funds. DEP receives approximately USD 5 million in funding each year through the utilities gross receipts tax collected during each fiscal year to carry out the provisions of the Alternative Fuels Incentive Act.

“The Shapiro Administration is committed to supporting municipalities, school districts, and businesses that want to make zero- or low-emission transportation part of their operations,” said DEP Secretary Rich Negrin. “The range of funded projects shows that interest in clean transportation is burgeoning among business and community leaders in Pennsylvania. DEP is excited to help them include healthier air quality in their mission.”

The grants for Autogas vehicles include:

-Derry Township School District (in Dauphin) will receive USD 70,000 for seven LPG-fuelled school buses as part of their Propane School Bus Conversion Project.

-Tri-County Transit Service (in Montgomery) will get USD 120,000 to purchase four LPG transit buses.

These new grant awards are the second and final set of 2022 AFIG grants, following the first set of 2022 AFIG grants, totalling USD 1.5 million, announced in February.

Source: State of Pennsylvania

13 September 2023