Pennsylvania Ag Connection - Grants to Schools to Support Clean Energy Vehicles

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Grants to Schools to Support Clean Energy Vehicles
Pennsylvania Ag Connection - 11/15/2018

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Tuesday awarded over $610,000 in grant funding to four school districts for clean energy vehicle projects that will help improve air quality and public health and save the schools thousands in costs.

"With every school district that moves to alternative fuel vehicles, we incrementally improve air quality in Pennsylvania for our students and communities," said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. "In addition, we save costs, reduce dependence on oil, and help reduce the greenhouse gases that are driving climate change. Supporting schools' clean energy efforts is instrumental in helping protect quality of life in Pennsylvania."

The funding, which comes from the commonwealth's Alternative Fuels Incentive Grants (AFIG) Program, will enable the school districts to replace older school buses with 44 propane buses and the installation of a fast-fill propane fueling system

"In addition to educating commonwealth students, Pennsylvania's school districts are complex business enterprises," said Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera. "By embracing the use of clean energy vehicles, school districts can play a part in helping to improve environmental conditions."

These projects will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 316 tons annually and save the school districts more than 67,000 gallons of diesel per year.

Dauphin County

- Derry Township School District: $68,000 to purchase eight propane school buses, saving 3,998 diesel gallons per year.

Delaware County

- Haverford Township School District: $68,000 to purchase eight propane school buses, saving 11,913 diesel gallons per year.

McKean County

- Bradford Area School District: $19,000 for this first-time AFIG recipient to purchase of two propane school buses, saving 5,028 diesel gallons per year.

Montgomery County

- North Penn School District: $300,000 for this first-time AFIG recipient to purchase 10 propane school buses and convert 16 buses to propane, saving 46,419 diesel gallons per year; $155,302 to construct a fast-fill propane fueling station for their fleet.

The AFIG program supports markets for advanced, renewable, and alternative energy transportation technologies as a stimulus for opportunities that better manage Pennsylvania's fuel resources to improve the environment, support economic development, and enhance quality of life.

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