Pennsylvania Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program For Heavy-Duty Vehicles
September 2, 2014
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will offer competitive grants for the incremental cost share for the purchase of vehicles over 14,000 pounds that operate using compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas.
Approximately $6 million will be available (from amounts deposited in the Marcellus Legacy Fund) for the Natural Gas Energy Development Program (Program). The purpose of the Program is to provide funding to support the purchase or retrofit of natural gas vehicles that utilize new or existing natural gas fueling stations within this Commonwealth. The following requirements must be satisfied:
- Each project must request funding for five or more eligible vehicles. Eligible vehicles include purchased or retrofitted new and used vehicles.
- The vehicles utilizing incremental purchase or retrofit cost funding must be registered in this Commonwealth.
- Each grant will cover no more than 50% of the incremental purchase or retrofit cost of eligible vehicles.
- Grants will not provide more than $25,000 for each eligible vehicle.
- Grantees may not receive incremental costs for a vehicle purchased or retrofitted prior to December 1, 2014.
- Grant funds awarded under this Program may not be used in place of available Federal funds.
- Projects must be completed within the grant period of performance which will be 18 months from December 1, 2014.
The following entities are eligible to apply for these grants:
- Commonwealth authorities;
- municipal authorities;
- the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission;
- incorporated nonprofit entities;
- State-owned or State-related universities;
- for-profit companies; and
- local transportation organizations.
This is the third and likely final round of Natural Gas Vehicle grants for fiscal year 2014-15. It is understanding that, unlike the first and second rounds, this third round of funding has no exclusive allocation for local transportation organizations. The first round awarded $6.3 million to 19 companies and organizations making the switch to natural gas. The second round awarded $7.7 to 25 companies and organizations making the switch to natural gas for their heavy-duty fleet vehicles.
Applications must be submitted through the eGrants system at www.grants.dcnr.state.pa.us. Applications will be accepted beginning August 30, 2014, through 4 p.m. on November 14, 2014.
You can read more about these grants at the DEP’s website for the Program:
If you have any questions about the content of this post, please contact Dan Clearfield at (717) 237-7173; dclearfield@eckertseamans.com, Deanne O’Dell at (717) 237-3744; dodell@eckertseamans.com, or Carl Shultz at (717) 255-3742; cshultz@eckertseamans.com. This Eckert Seamans Energy and Utilities Blog is intended to keep readers current on matters affecting businesses and is not intended to be legal advice.