2016
DEP Alternative Fuel Incentive
Grant Program - Update
May 17, 2016
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Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant
• AFIG was originally created in 1992 and administered by the
Pennsylvania Energy Office through Chapter 72 of the Vehicle
Code.
– The Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) Program was expanded in
2004 and 2008.
– In addition, an Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Rebate Program was
created
• The primary goals of the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant
(AFIG) program are to improve Pennsylvania’s air quality and
reduce consumption of imported oil through the use of
domestic alternative fuels that will help the state’s economy
and environment.
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Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant
• AFIG Project Portfolio:
– 43 Active Grant Projects – Approximately $7.3 million
• 36 Vehicle purchase/retrofit projects
o CNG, Propane, Electric
• 7 Innovative Technology Projects
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2 Electric Vehicle Infrastructure – charging
2 Vehicle Battery Projects
Hydrogen Fueling Station
LNG Locomotive
Pilot/micro liquefied natural gas (LNG) production plant
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Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant
• Since 2013, the Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant Program has
provided:
– Grant funds to 66 awardees to support the purchase or conversion for
light and medium duty natural gas vehicles as well as propane and
electric fleet vehicles of any size.
– DEP has reimbursed grantees for the purchase or conversion of
• 314 vehicles totaling just over $1.75 million in program funds
disbursed.
• 314 vehicles are estimated to be displacing approximately 754,473
gasoline gallon equivalents per year.
• $3.6 million in additional incremental costs have been expended
on alternative fuel vehicles due to this program.
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AFV Rebate Program
• Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) offers an
opportunity to Pennsylvania residents to apply for a rebate
when they purchase a new alternative fuel vehicle (AFV).
• 2005 to 2009 AFIG approved over 9,000 rebates for hybrid
electric vehicle purchases
– Total funding disbursed in excess of $4.5 million ($500 per rebate)
• From September 1, 2011 to current; over 2,000 rebates for EV,
and PHEV, & CNG vehicle purchases,
– Totaling funding disbursed in excess of $5 million (varying rebate
amounts)
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AFV Rebate Program
• An alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) must be a new vehicle
purchased by PA residents and registered in PA to be eligible
for a rebate.
• Current rebate amounts:
– $2,000 rebate for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) (battery
system capacity equal/greater than 10 kWh) and battery electric
vehicle (EV) (battery system capacity equal/greater than 10 kWh)
– $1000 rebate for a PHEV or EV (battery system capacity less than 10
kWh)
– $1000 rebate for a compressed natural gas fueled vehicle (CNG)
– $1,000 rebate for a propane fueled vehicle (LPG)
– $1,000 rebate for a hydrogen and/or fuel cell vehicle (FC)
– $500 rebate for an electric motorcycle/scooter (EMC)
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AFIG 2016 Funding Availability
• Competitive AFIG Grant Program
• DEP is seeking applications for innovative, advanced fuel and
vehicle technology projects resulting in cleaner transportation
within the state.
• Applications for grant funding will be accepted throughout
calendar year 2016
• DEP staff will competitively evaluate all completed
applications (submitted to eGrants) after the deadlines of
April 29, 2016, August 26, 2016, and December 30, 2016.
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Eligibility
Eligible Applicants Include:
School districts, municipal authorities, political subdivisions,
incorporated non-profit entities, corporations, and limited
liability companies or partnerships registered to do business in
PA
Eligible Alternative Fuels:
Any transportation fuel other than conventional fuels: gasoline
and diesel. This includes, but is not limited to: compressed
natural gas (CNG), liquified natural gas (LNG), propane,
hydrogen, hythane, electricity, biodiesel, ethanol, methanol, and
other advanced biofuels.
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Eligible Project Categories
• Vehicle Retrofit and/or New Purchase: This category
provides funding to cover a portion (50%) of the incremental
costs to those applicants purchasing new alternative fuel
vehicles or retrofitting vehicles to use alternative fuels.
• Alternative Fuel Refueling Infrastructure Projects: This
category provides funding to purchase and install refueling
equipment for alternative fuel fleet vehicles. There are two
distinct sub-categories:
– Fleet Refueling Projects
– Home-Based Refueling Projects
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Eligible Project Categories
• Biofuel Use Projects - AFIG will provide incremental cost
funds to support the purchase of high-content biofuels. High –
content biofuel use projects include the purchase and use of
transportation fuels which contain at least 5% biodiesel (or
greater blend amounts) and/or 85% ethanol.
• Innovative Technology – Under this project category, AFIG is
seeking to fund projects that develop or demonstrate next
phase technologies within the alternative fuels transportation
sector. The project must be the first deployment of the
technology in Pennsylvania.
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Award Process
• DEP intends to make grant awards prior to the next
application deadline, so any applicant not awarded has time
to resubmit, if desired.
• Any unsuccessful applicants will be provided an opportunity
to review their application with AFIG staff and resubmit their
application during upcoming submission periods.
• Opportunities for identifying technical assistance?
– Other successful applicants
– DOE technical assistance programs
– Universities
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First Acceptance Period
• The first AFIG application acceptance period ended April 29,
2016
• 30 applications were submitted out of 54 started in DEP’s
eGrants system
– 24 unsubmitted applications remain in eGrants system for
applicants to complete in second acceptance period
• 21 are potential applications for next submission period
• $7.8 million total grant funds applied for.
• Application scoring has begun
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First Application Period – What Did We Get?
• 15 Vehicle Retrofit and/or Purchase Applications
– 183 vehicles
– $1.55 million in grant funds applied for
• 15 Refueling Infrastructure Applications
– All fleet refueling projects
– $4.9 million in grant funds applied for
• 4 Innovative Technology Applications
– $1.3 million in grant funds applied for
• Additional data to be compiled during scoring process
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First Application Period – What Didn’t We Get?
• No Biofuel Use applications
– 1 biofuel use application was started and is a potential
submission next period
• No Home-Based Refueling Infrastructure applications
– At least 1 potential home-based refueling infrastructure
application was started and is a potential submission next
period
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What’s Next?
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Anticipated award of grants in late June or early July
Begin grant agreement process
Debrief of those applicants not awarded
Ongoing outreach
Improve, manage, and learn
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How to Apply
• For specific program requirements and application
requirements, please refer to the AFIG Guidelines, which can
be found online at:
www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/GrantsLoansRebates/AlternativeFuels-Incentive-Grant.
• All applications must be submitted via eGrants, which can be
accessed at
www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/eGrants/index.aspx.
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Contact
Office of Pollution Prevention & Energy Assistance
Dave Althoff (717-783.0542) [email protected]
Josh Dziubek (717-783.8411) [email protected]
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