Pennsylvania DEP awards more than $4.4 million in alternative fuels grants

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that it will award more than $4.4 million in Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants to 12 projects across the state. The projects will develop the state’s natural gas and electric vehicle infrastructure and achieve emissions reductions equivalent to taking 10,000 cars off the road.

“These projects are terrific for the state’s economy and the environment,” DEP secretary Mike Krancer said. “We have an available, abundant, domestic, economical and clean-burning source of energy under our feet, and these projects put those resources to good use.”

The grants, funded by a portion of the state’s annual utilities gross receipts tax, will encourage new markets for alternative fuels, fleets and technologies across Pennsylvania. In one project, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging will receive $86,500 to convert four meal-delivery vans to reduce costs and better serve the county’s older residents while reducing emissions.

Waste Management Inc. will receive $400,000 to assist in constructing a compressed natural gas fueling station in Bristol Borough. The facility is expected to reduce the southeast region’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2,238 tons per year.

Williamsport’s River Valley Transit will also receive a $400,000 grant to construct a compressed natural gas fueling station that will provide cheaper, cleaner-burning fuel to the city and Lycoming County’s police, fire, emergency response, public transit and school bus fleets.

The Berks County Intermediate Unit will receive $100,000 to support the continued use of B20 blended biodiesel, a diesel fuel that contains 20 percent biomass, reducing the area’s emissions by nearly 633 tons of greenhouse gases per year.