The Department of Environmental Protection invites fleet managers to a Natural Gas Vehicle Grant workshop from 10 a.m. until noon on December 19, at the Clinton County Conservation District office, 45 Cooperation Lane, Mill Hall, Pa.

An estimated $11 million is available to help pay for the incremental purchase or conversion costs of heavy-duty natural gas fleet vehicles with gross vehicle weight ratings of 14,000 pounds or greater. Pennsylvania’s Act 13 Natural Gas Vehicle Grants are financed by impact fees paid by natural gas operators.

Fifty percent of this funding is allocated exclusively for local transportation organizations, including non-profit agencies providing public transportation services and public transportation, port and redevelopment authorities, and school bus projects.

Others eligible to apply include incorporated non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, state-owned or state-related universities, commonwealth or municipal authorities, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

The department is hosting the workshop to assist potential applicants. The workshop will consist of a review of the Act 13 grant program requirements, followed by a live demonstration and walkthrough of the online application.

Department staff will then be available to provide one-on-one assistance to applicants and answer questions about the application process.

The deadline to submit grant applications is 4 p.m. on January 10.  Grants will be awarded in the spring.

The workshop is free of charge and open to eligible applicants only. Seating is limited and the registration deadline is December 16.

Fleet owners and managers can register for the workshop by contacting Michelle Ferguson in DEP’s Northcentral Regional Office of Pollution Prevention and Energy Assistance, by sending email to: miferguson@pa.gov, or by calling 570-327-3783. Please include the attendee’s name and organization.

For more information, visit the DEP Natural Gas Vehicle Program webpage.

11/25/2013