The Department of Environmental Protection this week announced it will be accepting applications for Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants through October 3.

The Program is designed to promote and expand the use of alternative transportation fuels and fuel systems such as compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquid propane gas, ethanol (E85), methanol, hydrogen, hydrogen/CNG blends such as Hythane, electricity, biofuels such as biodiesel, coal-derived liquid fuels and fuels derived from biological materials.

Grant funds can be used to pay a portion of the added costs to purchase alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles, to convert an existing gasoline vehicle to operate on an alternative fuel, to purchase and install refueling or recharging equipment, to install idle reduction technologies on heavy duty trucks that use batteries or electricity during long periods of idling or to develop and demonstrate next phase advanced vehicle technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells.

Eligible applicants include schools and vocational school districts, municipal authorities, counties, cities, boroughs, incorporated towns, townships, county institution districts, nonprofit entities and corporations or partnerships.

Grants awarded will cover up to 50 percent of the applicants' eligible costs. Some applicants may be eligible for a higher percentage.

To stimulate the use of biofuels such as biodiesel and E85, grants to cover the added cost to purchase these fuels will be available to tax-exempt entities such as school districts, local government agencies, transit authorities, colleges and universities or nonprofits.

Request grant applications by contacting Cleo Arp, DEP, 717-772-8912, fax 717-773-2703, or by sending email to: carp@state.pa.us . Specify the project type when requesting an application package.

The application package will be available on the Alternative Fuels webpage.

7/29/2005