The California Energy Commission has approved more than $20 million to promote and expand use of alternative fuels.

This funding includes $3.8 million in grants from last year's investment in electric and natural gas fueling stations, alternative-fuel readiness plans, fuel cell delivery vans, the establishment of a sustainable transportation center, and more than $16 million in natural gas vehicle incentives.

The $20 million investment, which was approved in late April, includes outlays such as:

• $16.6 million in incentives to 30 OEMS and dealerships for 2,572 natural gas vehicles; these incentives are expected to be passed on to consumers.

• $1.1 million grant to the Center for Transportation and the Environment to develop and deploy fuel cell hybrid electric walk-in delivery vans.

• $1.1 million grant to the University of California, Davis, to establish a National Center for Sustainable Transportation.

• $300,000 grant to the San Diego Association of Governments to develop an Alternative Fuel Readiness Plan.

• $300,000 grant to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to install a compressed natural gas fueling station.

• $300,000 grant to the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District to develop an Alternative Fuel Readiness Plan.

• $299,910 grant to Santa Barbara County to develop an Alternative Fuels Readiness Plan.

• $275,810 grant to the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County to develop an Alternative Fuel Readiness Plan.

• $200,000 grant to the City of Davis to develop a plan for additional plug-in electric charging stations.