Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett has awarded $7.7m in funding under Act 13 for 25 companies and organizations that are switching to natural gas for their heavy-duty fleet vehicles.
This funding is a part of the Natural Gas Energy Development program, which is developed and implemented by Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under Act 13 and is funded by impact fees paid by natural gas operators.
The program offers up to $20m in grants to help pay for the incremental purchase and conversion costs of heavy-duty natural gas fleet vehicles over three years. Grant requests cannot go beyond 50% of the incremental purchase or retrofit cost per vehicle or a maximum total of $25,000 per vehicle.
Corbett said that Act 13 not only strengthened oversight of the drilling industry, it allows them to continue growing jobs while cleaning the air at the same time.
"Natural gas, particularly from the shale formations here in Pennsylvania, is an abundant, affordable, domestic fuel that is putting this country on a path to energy independence," Corbett added.
