As part of its initiative to help fleets switch their vehicles to natural gas, Pennsylvania has awarded $20 million in grant money to carriers who are making the change. The money was distributed over three rounds, with the last round seeing $7.3 million dispersed to 18 companies.
The money was dispersed as part of Pennsylvania’s Act 13, a program which was started in 2012 to help gain energy independence through oil and gas development.
In order to be eligible for the grant money, carriers had to submit applications detailing how much money they would need and what they would use it for. Only 50% of the money for refitting an old vehicle or purchasing a new one could come from the grant (with a cap of $25,000 per vehicle), the rest would have to come from the carrier. Carriers could only use the money to refit or purchase CNG, LNG or bi-fuel vehicles.
In the latest round, Pennsylvania funded 18 of the 37 applicants.
“Act 13 not only strengthened oversight of the drilling industry, it allows us to continue growing jobs while cleaning the air at the same time,” said Gov. Corbett according to Truckinginfo.com. “Natural gas, particularly from the shale formations here in Pennsylvania, is an abundant, affordable, domestic fuel that is putting this country on a path to energy independence.”
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Source: gobytrucknews, truckinginfo, depweb.state.pa.us
Andrew says
Natural gas isn’t infinite either, and the energy per cubic foot doesn’t even come close to comparing to diesel. In a mountainous state like Pennsylvania and all the stop and go on hills in every congested city like Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Allentown area, and just about anywhere in between, you’ll need all the power you can get.
Natural gas is also used in millions of homes nationwide, and if we start using those resources to power vehicles, people’s household energy bills will go up too.
Government subsidies, such as the ones given for ethanol, won’t last forever, and when the introductory period ends, everyone will feel it in their pocketbooks, more than they already do.