SCRANTON – The Corbett Administration has awarded more than $3 million in Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants (AFIG) to 33 companies, counties and organizations making the switch to compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), or propane for medium to light-weight fleet vehicles.
“This funding makes it possible for many commercial, county and non-profit groups to convert their lighter-weight vehicles to natural gas or other alternative fuels,” Acting Secretary Chris Abruzzo said. “The 33 AFIG grants announced today – along with the next round of Act 13 grants – allow us to make the most of our abundant natural gas resources, edging us closer to energy independence while helping to improve our air quality,” Abruzzo said.
Abruzzo was joined today by Sen. John Blake (D-Lackawanna) and representatives of Cabot Oil, at Scranton’s Johnson College, a leader in natural gas job training.
The awarded AFIG grants will help pay for the conversion or purchase of 351 natural gas vehicles and 337 propane vehicles weighing less than 14,000 pounds. An estimated 15 new fueling stations and 30 existing stations will be supported by these vehicles.
AFIG grants are an annual solicitation, providing financial incentive for a variety of transportation projects with the result of reducing air emissions in Pennsylvania. This year, AFIG grants focused on medium to light-weight vehicles. DEP will announce the focus of the next round of grants when it opens, which is expected in early 2014.
Abruzzo also announced that the second round of Act 13 Natural Gas Vehicle grants will open on Saturday, Nov. 9, providing an estimated $11 million to help pay for the incremental purchase and conversion costs of heavy-duty natural gas fleet vehicles weighing more than 14,000 pounds. The Act 13 Natural Gas Vehicle grants are financed by impact fees paid by natural gas operators.
Fifty percent of this funding is allocated exclusively for local transportation organizations, including non-profit agencies providing public transportation services and public transportation, port and redevelopment authorities, as well as school bus projects.
Others eligible to apply include incorporated non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, state-owned or state-related universities, commonwealth or municipal authorities, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
Grant requests can be no more than 50 percent of the incremental purchase or retrofit cost per vehicle, with a maximum of$25,000 per vehicle. Applications are due by 4 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10, 2014, and will be awarded in the spring.
Applicants are encouraged to participate in a related webinar, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 2 to 3 p.m.
To register for the webinar, or learn more about the Act 13 and AFIG grant programs, visit www.dep.state.pa.us and click on the “Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program” button.
Editor’s note: The 33 companies and organizations that were awarded AFIG vehicle grants today are listed below, alphabetically by county, with a brief project description and funding amount.
Adams
Aero Energy, purchase of three and conversion of 10 commercial fuel delivery vehicles to operate on propane – $52,626
Allegheny
McCandless Township Sanitary Authority, conversion of five vehicles to operate on propane bi-fuel as an investigative demonstrative program to determine if propane can be a viable alternative to gasoline for use in municipal government fleets across Pennsylvania – $21,374
U.S. Steel Corporation, conversion of eight vehicles to CNG to be fueled by natural gas supplied from U.S. Steel’s Irvin Plant CNG fueling station – $52,618
Armstrong
CWM Environmental, conversion of 10 vehicles to CNG bi-fuel utilizing EPA certified Auto Gas America kits – $50,975
Bradford
Consolidated Resource, purchase or convert five vehicles to CNG bi-fuel – $25,000
Bradford County Commissioners and Partners, purchase 14 CNG or CNG bi-fuel vehicles. Partners include Northern Tier Counseling, Bradco Supply Company, Hurley Supermarkets, Inc., M.R. Dirt, Inc., and the Dandy Mini Marts, Inc. – $70,020
Butler
Air Star Transportation, conversion of 35 vehicles to propane bi-fuel. Five of the vehicles are propane ADA-compliant wheelchair lift vans – $111,500
Cranberry Taxi, retrofit 25 new dedicated CNG vehicles to expand its para-transit services. CNG fuel systems to be installed by World CNG in Norristown, Montgomery County – $156,250
SWEPI, L.P., purchase 10 CNG bi-fuel vehicles, which will reduce gasoline fuel costs for the fleet by approximately $40,000 a year. SWEPI LP has natural gas exploration and production operations in Tioga County, and has been coordinating with theTioga County Commissioners to support and advance additional natural gas filling stations – $55,000
Centre
Centre County Commissioners and Partners, purchase eight dedicated CNG and three CNG bi-fuel vehicles to serve para-transit, police and public works operations. Partners are: County Office of Transportation, Centre Area Transportation Authority,Ferguson and Patton townships – $70,146
Clarion
Redbank Chevrolet Partners, conversion of 37 vehicles to CNG. The partnership involves 20 local businesses under a coalition to support and take advantage of a growing local network of CNG fueling stations- $208,800
Francis J. Palo Partners, purchase 14 CNG vehicles and convert three vehicles to CNG, and convert two vehicles to propane as a part of an aggregation of fleet vehicles for four businesses in Clarion County – $118,750
Clearfield
Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, conversion of four vehicles to CNG bi-fuel and purchase one dedicated CNG vehicle for use in the county’s Meals on Wheels program, serving eligible residents of Clearfield County – $28,994
Columbia
Heller’s Gas, purchase of 10 propane trucks, eight for bulk delivery of gas, and two rack trucks. This project will displace approximately 40,500 gallons of diesel fuel per year – $124,472
Crawford
Vantage Healthcare Network, purchase five propane vehicles to be used for delivery of linen and pharmacy service to multiple hospitals and nursing homes throughout western Pennsylvania – $29,889
Dauphin
Pennsylvania American Water Company, purchase 14 CNG bi-fuel vehicles to be used to maintain water service to customers -$62,800
Delaware
Keystone Quality Transport, conversion of 74 vehicles to CNG dual fuel, conversion of 73 vehicles to propane, and purchase eight propane vehicles as part of their program to retrofit their entire fleet of para-transit and ambulance vehicles – $248,000
Delaware Express Shuttle, purchase 15 CNG airport shuttle vehicles that will provide service to and from the Philadelphia airport and throughout Southeast Pennsylvania – $96,000
Greene
EMS Southwest, conversion of two wheelchair vans and four ambulances to propane with a service territory in the greater Greene County area – $24,600
Jefferson
O Ring CNG Fuel System and Partners, purchase 18 new CNG vehicles and convert six existing vehicles to CNG. Four local business partners include: O Ring CNG Fuel System, Snyder Brothers, Inc., 3M Transport, LLC, and Dedicated Delivery Service – $133,715
Lackawanna
L.T. Verrastro, Inc., purchase 20 CNG vans, trucks, and sport utility vehicles. LTV has recently initiated the installation of a CNG filling station at its own facility in Old Forge, Lackawanna County. LTV intends to allow local municipalities to access their CNG fill station, along with a structured public access – $135,461
Lancaster
City of Lancaster, purchase six CNG vehicles with the goal of improving the air quality in Lancaster County, as well as reducing the city’s fuel costs – $29,950
Luzerne
DeAngelo Brothers, conversion of 43 light and medium-duty trucks from gasoline to propane – $153,000
Montgomery
King Limousine Service, purchase five CNG shuttles vans to provide passenger shuttle service throughout Southeast Pennsylvania – $32,488
VNG Company and Partners, purchase 32 CNG vehicles. Partner fleets include: Aqua PA, Comcast, and HB Electric Services. These vehicles will support the development of a new public CNG fueling station by VNG – $235,000
Asplundh Tree Expert Company, purchase seven CNG trucks for use in its tree trimming business. This project will displace approximately 14,000 gallons (GGE) of gasoline a year – $43,148
Philadelphia
Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities and Partners, purchase 50 propane school buses. Partners include: G. Davis, Inc. in Shohola, serving Pike, Luzerne and Wayne counties; North Pocono Bus Company, serving Lackawanna County; Norristown Area School District, serving Montgomery County, and Radnor Township School District, serving Delaware County – $250,000
Philadelphia Gas Works, purchase 50 CNG vehicles to demonstrate to PGW customers the financial viability of CNG as a fleet fuel – $240,000
Pike
Aqua Pennsylvania Inc., purchase nine CNG vans. This project intends to displace approximately 15,000 gallons of petroleum gasoline annually – $55,807
Washington
McKean Plumbing Heating and Supply Company, conversion of two vehicles to propane and purchase three propane delivery and service vehicles – $20,000
York
Shipley Energy Company York, retrofit 10 gasoline powered HVAC service vans to bi-fuel CNG and replace three service vans with three brand new dedicated CNG vehicles – $75,700
Shipley Energy Company Hanover, conversion of 10 service vehicles to propane bi-fuel – $35,000
Utztran Quality Foods, conversion of 10 delivery trucks to CNG. Each year, this project will displace approximately 14,860 gallons (GGE) of gasoline – $102,050