AUSTIN, TX – The Railroad Commission of Texas expanded a propane-fuel vehicle grant to include natural gas vehicles. The Commission has about $700,000 available in grants to help public fleets purchase natural gas vehicles.

The grant funding, which the Commission originally received to use for propane-fueled vehicles, was expanded to natural gas vehicles and can be used to offset some or all of the incremental costs of a natural gas fuel system on a new or retrofitted vehicle. Matching funds for the purchase of the vehicles must come from non-federal sources. Public fleets statewide are eligible to apply for these grants, regardless of the fleet location’s air-quality classification.

Chairman Barry Smitherman said, “Natural gas costs about $1.50 per gallon equivalent. That means a pretty quick payback for your initial investment. I suggest that fleet operators use the cost calculator on the Commission’s website to see if natural gas pencils out for them.”

More information can be found here.