Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration on July 20 awarded more than $2.1 million in 2019 Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants (AFIGs) to 18 cleaner-fuel vehicle projects in Pennsylvania to help improve air quality and public health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change.

“We’re committed to helping Pennsylvanians breathe cleaner air at school, in their neighborhoods, and at their workplaces and to reducing climate change by putting more cleaner fuel vehicles in use around the state,” said Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) secretary Patrick McDonnell.

Eighteen vehicle replacement projects, located in 13 counties, will put 82 cleaner fuel vehicles in use that are expected to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 1349 metric tons annually.

The AFIG program supports replacement of older gasoline- or diesel-fueled vehicles with cleaner fuel vehicles and fueling stations for these vehicles to reduce emissions of harmful pollutants including carbon monoxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide, a principal greenhouse gas.

Electric, ethanol, biodiesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied propane gas, and other cleaner fuels are supported. Local governments, schools, businesses, and organizations may apply for grants. DEP administers the AFIG Program under the Pennsylvania Alternative Fuels Incentive Act of 2004.

Grouped by county, and limited to propane only, the 2019 AFIG recipients are as follows:
  • Butler: ProGas Inc, $6500 to replace a gasoline vehicle with a propane vehicle and train six new technicians to do propane conversions.
  • Crawford: Crawford Area Transportation Authority, $290,000 for eight propane and three CNG vehicles.
  • Delaware: Radnor Township School District, $42,500 to purchase five propane school buses.
  • McKean: Bradford Area School District, $19,000 for two propane school buses.
  • Philadelphia: AAA Club Alliance, $17,335 for a propane tow vehicle.
  • Somerset: Seven Springs Mountain Resort Inc. $87,000 for five propane shuttle buses.

SOURCE: The Weekly Propane Newsletter, July 23, 2020. Subscribers to the Weekly Propane Newsletter receive all the latest posted and spot prices from major terminals and refineries around the U.S. delivered to inboxes each week. Receive a center spread of posted prices with hundreds of postings updated each week, along with market analysis, insightful commentary, and much more not found elsewhere.