NGVAmerica Update on Available Funding and Public Comment Opportunities

NGVAmerica tracks available funding and business opportunities that are significant to the NGV industry. Below is information on current funding and public comment opportunities.

NJ Board of Public Utilities Modifies CNG Grant Program, Extends Opportunity

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has issued a decision amending the grant program for CNG vehicles to increase the dollar amounts provided to $25,000 per vehicle and to increase the maximum allowed per application to $50,000. The program also has been extended to include all counties in the state.

This funding opportunity is open to Class 5 – 8 OEM CNG-powered vehicles.  Initially the opportunity was set to close on December 20, 2017, but is now open from January 2, 2018 to April 2, 2018, on a first come first serve basis. Information on this program and updated applications forms should be posted here. As of January 6, this information does not appear to have been updated.

Ohio Finalizes Rules and Announces Alternative Fuel Vehicle Funding Availability

The Ohio EPA has issued final regulations providing the requirements for the Alternative Fuel Transportation Fund. This program was first authorized by HB 390 and is funded at $5 million for CNG, LNG and propane projects involving vehicles that weigh 26,000 lb. or more.  OEM and conversions qualify for grants worth 50 percent of the incremental cost or $25,000 whichever is less. The program limits grants for persons to no more than $400,000.

Grants are awarded on a first come first basis and applicant must demonstrate that half the miles of vehicles will be operated in the state. This program does not require the destruction of the engine of the vehicle being replaced.

A Public Information Session about the grant opportunity will be offered on Thursday January 25, 2018 at the Ohio Department of Transportation in Columbus, Ohio. Two conference calls are scheduled on February 8 and February 27 to take questions from prospective applicants. Dial-in information for the calls is included in the Grant Application Guidelines posted below. Ohio EPA will post a summary of questions and answers from these sessions on its website.

The earliest date that grant applications may be submitted is March 6, 2018. Applications submitted prior to this time will not be considered. Applications must be submitted by e-mail to derg@epa.ohio.gov. Applications will be considered in the order received, and grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to applicants whose proposals are deemed complete and eligible, until all available funds have been allocated. More information on this funding opportunity is available here.

U.S. EIA Requests Comments on Alternative Fueled Vehicles Survey Form (EIA-886)

In December, EIA issued a notice requesting comments on proposed changes to EIA-886, Annual Survey of Alternative Fueled Vehicles (AFV).  Comments should be sent by February 20, 2018.

This form is used to collect information from manufacturers on the types and quantity of AFVs they made available in the previous year and plan to make available in the next year. It also is used to collect information from fleets operated by federal agencies, state governments, and fuel providers on the types of AFVs they operate and the quantity of alternative fuel their vehicles consume. The notice indicates the agency is interested in understanding whether EIA should expand the information that is collected and also asked whether there are other ways to identify the information that is collected.

EIA is proposing making changes to the classification of vehicles to more closely align with EPA vehicle categories used in the MOVES model. The notice is available here, and the proposed form here.