Funding Available for Projects Cutting Transportation Emissions

The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) at North Carolina State University has issued a final request for proposals for more than $1.3 million in federal 2013-2015 funding. The funding is in the form of awards to governments, businesses, and/or nonprofit applicants for transportation technology related to emission-reduction projects. Guidelines and applications are available by clicking on “Incentives & Funding” at www.cleantransportation.org.

The Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) Project is a three-year, $6.2-million initiative of NCCETC funded with federal support from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. In addition to providing assistance for emission-reduction projects, CFAT focuses on activities that include a public education media campaign and developing clean transportation technology and policy training opportunities.

CFAT, supported with federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funds, operates in 24 counties that do not meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards. More than half of North Carolinians live in such counties. Previous proposal requests, in 2013 and 2014, distributed more than $3 million to 30 public and private entities for a variety of projects, including natural gas-powered trucks and refueling infrastructure, propane refueling equipment and vehicle conversions, electric vehicle charging stations, onboard telematics equipment, and biodiesel refueling equipment.

Funding assistance is allocated in the form of a reimbursement that can cover up to 80% of the project cost. In order to be eligible, a project must reduce transportation-related emissions within eligible North Carolina counties. There is an exception for electric recharging infrastructure which, in accordance with new federal guidelines, can be located anywhere within the state.