GOV. CORBETT ANNOUNCES NEW NGV PROJECT GRANTS

On Friday, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett awarded $7.7 million in in the second round of Act 13 funding to 25 companies and organizations transitioning their heavy duty fleet vehicles to natural gas. Act 13 of 2012, which was the single largest step in modernizing the state’s Oil and Gas Law in nearly three decades, authorized the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop and implement the Natural Gas Energy Development Program. The program, which is funded by impact fees paid by natural gas operators, distributes up to $20 million in grants over three years to help pay for the incremental purchase and conversion costs of heavy-duty natural gas fleet vehicles. “Act 13 not only strengthened oversight of the drilling industry, it allows us to continue growing jobs while cleaning the air at the same time,” Corbett said. “Natural gas, particularly from the shale formations here in Pennsylvania, is an abundant, affordable, domestic fuel that is putting this country on a path to energy independence.” For this second round of the program, DEP received applications from 37 applicants requesting more than $10 million in grants. The funding recipents by county are the following:

Allegheny
Giant Eagle, purchase 20 CNG vehicles – $300,000
Freight Equipment Leasing LLC, purchase six CNG tractor trailers – $150,000

Beaver:
• Beemac Trucking LLC, purchase 20 CNG tractor trailer trucks – $500,000

Blair:
• Burgmeiers Hauling, purchase six CNG refuse trucks – $138,955

Bucks:
• Constructural Dynamics, purchase 20 CNG concrete mixer trucks – $500,000

Butler:
• Butler Area School District, purchase 30 CNG school buses – $300,000

Centre:
• Centre County Commissioners, Centre Area Transportation Authority, State College Borough and Penn State University, purchase 10 CNG vehicles – $165,872

Clearfield:
• “O” Ring CNG Fuel Systems LP, Paris Companies and Advanced Disposal, convert five trucks to dual fuel and purchase 20 CNG waste hauling trucks – $498,220

Clinton:
• Clinton County Solid Waste Authority and Wayne Township, convert 14 CNG vehicles for use at the Wayne Township Landfill – $299,974

Cumberland:
• Giant Food Stores LLC, purchase five LNG trucks – $125,000

Delaware:
• PreFlight LLC, purchase 10 CNG shuttle buses – $122,500
• Rose Tree Media School District, purchase 12 CNG school buses – $300,000
• Aqua Pennsylvania, purchase nine CNG dump trucks – $225,000

Lackawanna:
• L.T. Verrastro, purchase 20 CNG trucks – $416,110

Lancaster:
• Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, City of Lancaster and Goods Disposal Service, convert five trucks to CNG, and purchase five CNG vehicles – $213,995

Luzerne:
• Schneider Resources, purchase six CNG trucks – $150,000

Montgomery:
• Advanced Disposal Services Solid Waste of PA, convert 20 waste hauling vehicles to CNG – $472,115

Philadelphia:
• Phil. Clean Cities/United Parcel Service, convert 20 long haul trucks to LNG – $500,000
• Phil. Clean Cities/PA. Amer. Water/PA. Turnpike, convert 23 vehicles to CNG – $418,650
• Neapolitan Express Operating LLC, purchase 20 CNG mobile food trucks – $250,000

Schuylkill:
• Penske Truck Leasing, purchase 23 CNG vehicles – $499,997

Washington:
• Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority, purchase five CNG commuter buses – $125,000

Wyoming:
• Kane Freight Lines, purchase 10 CNG trucks – $250,000

York:
• Hogan Transports, purchase 20 CNG transport trucks – $500,000

Multiple locations:
• Waste Management of Pennsylvania, purchase seven CNG solid waste collection vehicles for its Erie County location, with an additional 13 CNG solid waste collection vehicles for its Washington County location – $300,000

The first round awarded $6.3 million to 19 companies and organizations making the switch to natural gas. The third and final rounds are slated to open in late summer. Grant requests cannot exceed 50 percent of the incremental purchase or retrofit cost per vehicle or a maximum total of $25,000 per vehicle.

Gov. Corbett also recently announced the March 1 opening of the Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant (AFIG) program, providing an estimated $8 million to help companies and organizations purchase or convert CNG, LNG or bi-fuel vehicles weighing 26,000 pounds or less. Applications are also being accepted for innovation technology projects that include research, training, development and demonstration of new applications or next phase technology related to alternative transportation fuels and alternative fuel vehicles.

To learn more about AFIG and Act 13 grant programs, visit www.dep.state.pa.us and click on the “Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program” button on the homepage.