International:
Pennsylvania allocates nearly $2M for clean energy vehicle projects
Tom Wolf’s administration has awarded about $1,890,000 in grants for 12 clean energy vehicle projects in Pennsylvania that will help improve air quality and public health in the state. Funded through Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants (AFIG) program, the projects are expected to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 1,835 metric tons.
“Replacing gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles with lower-emissions alternative fuel vehicles will make Pennsylvania’s communities and environment healthier,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “It helps slow the increasingly urgent impacts of climate change we’re seeing, and saves owners money on fuel costs.”
The AFIG program supports the replacement of older shuttles, school buses, waste-hauling trucks, and other vehicles with cleaner natural gas and electric vehicles, as well as installation of fueling stations for such vehicles.
Some of the grants were awarded to:
- Waste Management: $600,000 to purchase 16 heavy-duty CNG vehicles for use at the company’s sites in Westmoreland, Bucks, Lackawanna, and Montgomery Counties, continuing their transition to alternative fuels.
- People’s Natural Gas Company: $180,000 for 24 new dual-fuel natural gas/diesel vehicles in locations in Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Washington Counties.
- Snyder Brothers, Inc.: $463,064 to upgrade and expand capacity to meet increasing demand at two fast-fill CNG fueling stations in Armstrong County that serve their fleet and are also available to the public.
- TC Recycling: $240,000 for six new CNG trash collection trucks at their Mars site in Butler County.
- Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority: $138,560 to expand its CNG waste transfer fleet by adding four new trucks.
School districts, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses are eligible to apply for AFIG grants. The deadline to apply is December 13.