Pennsylvania DEP Announces Grants for Alternative Fuel Transportation

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is accepting grant applications for innovative, advanced fuel and vehicle technology projects that will result in cleaner advanced alternative transportation within the state. Grant applications for DEP’s Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) Program will be accepted throughout 2017 with submission period deadlines in July and December 2017.

“Now more than ever it is important to look at ways that we can cut down greenhouse gas pollution from all sectors,” said Patrick McDonnell, DEP Secretary. “Transportation grants such as these provide support for schools and other entities to cut down on their carbon footprints and improve the air we breathe, all while saving money.”

The AFIG Program can assist school districts, municipal authorities, nonprofits, corporations, LLCs, and partnerships registered to do business in Pennsylvania in offsetting the costs of implementing alternative fuel using transportation projects. The Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program is funded by annual gross receipts tax on utilities.

DEP is offering grants in the following project categories:

• Vehicle Retrofit or Purchase – To offset the incremental cost of purchasing alternative fuel vehicles or retrofitting existing vehicles to operate on alternative fuels.
• Alternative Fuel Refueling Infrastructure – To assist in the costs to purchase and install refueling equipment for fleet and workplace, home or intermediary refueling.
• Innovative Technology – To support research, training, development, and demonstration of new alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles.

Applications for grants in the AFIG program will remain open to receive proposals throughout the 2017 calendar year. The Department will hold two submission periods. The first submission period deadline will occur on Friday, July 14, 2017, and the second submission period deadline will occur on Friday, December 15, 2017.

The AFIG program will accept applications at any time during the year and evaluate the applications received after each submission period and determine awards. Project applications received during the first submission period that do not receive an award can be resubmitted immediately for consideration during the next submission period in accordance with the AFIG Program rules.

AFIG guidelines and application instructions are available here.