The State of Pennsylvania is opening its $8 million Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) program on March 1, providing public and private fleets with incentives to purchase or convert their vehicles to alternative-fuel vehicles.

School districts, municipal authorities, political subdivisions, nonprofits, corporations, and limited liability companies or partnerships registered to do business in Pennsylvania are eligible.  

Grant funds are available for the conversion or purchase of natural gas vehicles weighing 26,000 pounds or less, as well as the conversion or purchase of electric, propane, or other alternative-fuel vehicles of any size. Applicants interested in purchasing or converting only one or two alternative fuel vehicles are encouraged to partner with other eligible applicants to aggregate vehicles into a single application, which will satisfy the grant's five vehicle minimum.

Grant applications will also be accepted for innovation technology projects that include research, training, development, and demonstration of new applications or next phase technology related to alternative transportation fuels and alternative-fuel vehicles. 

Applications are due May 30 by 4 p.m. Grants will be awarded in the fall. Potential applicants are encouraged to participate in a related webinar, scheduled for Tuesday, March 11 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Visit the state website for more information or to register for the webinar.

The AFIG fund is administered by Department of Environmental Protection. Governor Tom Corbett said this program provided more than $5 million for alternative fuel projects last year.