WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu announced up to $10 million is available this year to demonstrate and deploy electric transportation technologies for cargo vehicles, such as trucks and forklifts.

Eligibility is restricted to local governments, ports, metropolitan transportation authorities, air pollution control districts, or combinations thereof operating in and/or governing either the Los Angeles South Coast Air basin (8-hour ozone) nonattainment area or the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria nonattainment area. These areas fit both categories of severe or extreme ozone nonattainment and severe traffic congestion.

Applicants must apply in partnership with a major electric transportation technologies (ETT) OEM or major supplier of ETT vehicles, systems, or energy technologies.

The cost share must be at least 50 percent and must come from non-federal sources.

The DOE anticipates up to two awards in fiscal year 2012, with the potential for additional selections in fiscal year 2013 if additional funding is recommended through the appropriations process.

The deadline to apply is May 15. The DOE anticipates notifying selected applicants by the end of July and making at least one award by Sept. 30. Detailed information can be found at the DOE's Funding Opportunity Exchange website under Reference Number DE-FOA-0000669.