The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) has approved expanding the access of the state’s alternative-fuel incentive program to local governments, Virginia Clean Cities announced. Previously, only state agencies were eligible for the program.

The Virginia Alternative Fuel Vehicles Program is supported through Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program funding provided to the state by the federal government. CMAQ funds focus on areas of Virginia that have high levels of air pollution.

Virginia's alternative-fuel incentive program provides funding to cover the incremental costs of converting public sector fleets to alternative-fuel vehicles powered by fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), propane, and electricity. This incremental incentive is now available for use in Richmond, Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg, and Tidewater, according to Virginia Clean Cities.

The incentive program is administered through the Virginia Department of Mines Minerals and Energy in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation. Annual federal funding for this program is approximately $1.13 million.