Gov. Rendell announced this week that applications are now being accepted for $31.5 million worth of grants and loans to support clean energy and alternative fuels projects under three separate programs.

The deadline for applications is June 15. The programs include:

Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants (AFIG): Up to $16.4 million is available through the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants program to finance the production and use of clean-burning fuels.

Grant funds awarded through AFIG can cover the added cost to purchase E85 ethanol-blended fuels or biodiesel and to install related refueling equipment. Pennsylvania producers of ethanol or biodiesel are eligible for a reimbursement of 5 cents a gallon for up to 12.5 million gallons covering a 12-month period. (See notice of priorities)

Since its inception in 1992, Pennsylvania has awarded almost $32 million through AFIG for 1,000 projects in almost every county in the commonwealth. AFIG funds have leveraged more than $118 million from public and private fleet operators, fuel providers and the federal government.

Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA): $10 million are available from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority for grants and loans.

Applicants for PEDA financing can seek grant assistance for capital costs for a variety of innovative, advanced energy projects including: solar energy; wind; low-impact hydropower; geothermal; biologically derived methane gas, including landfill gas; biomass; fuel cells; coal-mine methane; waste coal; integrated gasification combined cycle; demand management measures, including recycled energy and energy recovery, energy efficiency and load management; and clean, alternative fuels for transportation.

PEDA particularly encourages applicants with projects related to distributed generation for critical public infrastructure to apply. (See notice of priorities)

PEDA financing is available to organizations operating in Pennsylvania and to those businesses interested in locating their advanced energy operations in Pennsylvania.

Over the last few years, PEDA has directed $21 million in grants and loans for 57 clean energy projects that are leveraging another $240 million in private investment. The projects will create 975 permanent and construction jobs.

Energy Harvest: Up to $5 million in grants are available under the Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant program.

Grants fund projects that promote awareness and build markets for cleaner or renewable energy technologies.

Eligible proposals include: renewable energy deployment, including biomass energy; waste coal reclamation for energy; deployment of innovative energy efficiency technologies; and distributed generation projects.

Since 2003, Energy Harvest has awarded $21 million and leveraged another $51.9 million in private funds.

4/13/2007