The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded more than $1.9 million to Pennsylvania schools and businesses for projects using alternative fuels and infrastructure. The Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) provides funding for projects to improve air quality through alternative fuel use. The awards were granted for both vehicle purchase/retrofits and refueling infrastructure.
“The buses, cars, and trucks purchased and rebuilt with these grants will reduce air pollution and improve the air we breathe,” said Acting DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “These types of projects pay economic and environmental dividends for communities and Pennsylvania at large.” The following are some of the AFIG program’s recipients.
Tri-County Industries, a waste hauler subsidiary of Vogel Holding, Inc., was awarded $500,000 and seeks to construct an on-site CNG fueling station in Mercer County. This station will be owned by Tri-County Industries and will be available to the general public. This station will be used daily by a minimum of 10 fleet vehicles and potentially 10 waste collection vehicles.
This project will help UPS to continue the conversion of its Willow Grove vehicle operations to run on natural gas. It seeks $200,000 in AFIG funds to replace 20 Class 8 tractors that run on diesel with 20 Class 8 tractors that run on natural gas. The vehicles are estimated to save 462,963 gallons of diesel per year.
The City of Philadelphia was awarded $200,000 and seeks to purchase of 10 new CNG refuse haulers. This effort is in coordination with CMAQ award received earlier this year supporting the purchase of 25 new CNG refuse haulers along with the construction of a new CNG filling station by PGW.
Xpress Natural Gas has been awarded $200,000 to purchase 10 CNG vehicles. XNG will use these vehicles to collect stranded gas from gathering systems in Susquehanna County, compress and transport that gas to CNG public fueling stations for residents. The project includes a new station that will be owned by Xpress Natural Gas.
Source: Pennsylvania DEP/NGV.com
