Keystone State awards alternative-fuel grants

Earlier this week, Pennsylvania’s environmental secretary, Kathleen A. McGinty, acting on behalf of governor Edward G. Rendell, awarded more than $1 million in Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants to companies, counties and private citizens for a variety of programs and purchases intended to help reduce air pollution and contribute to U.S. energy independence and security.

The grants leveraged more than $4.2 million in private funds to purchase hybrid vehicles, install a propane refueling station for vehicles and install IdleAire AC power systems at truck stops in multiple counties, among other projects. The IdleAire grant was reported to be $540,000.

Pennsylvania’s current Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant program reimburses approved applicants’ eligible alternative fuel project by costs up to 20%. However, an act recently signed into law (Act 178 of 2004) is intended to permit project funding at higher levels.

The new law also allows the state’s Dept. of Environmental Protection to offer rebates rather than grants to Pennsylvania residents who purchase hybrid electric and alternative fuel vehicles, as long as funding is available and the state government receives the required information within six months of the purchase.