The California Energy Commission has approved new funding totaling about $2.6 million to support the advancement of alternative and renewable fuels in the transportation sector. The awards, which were made through the state Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, include the following:
- Environ Strategy Consultants Inc. will receive approximately $1.2 million to design and install a new system to pre-process solid food waste for use in two existing anaerobic digesters at a solid waste facility in Chino. The digesters will use the waste to produce biomethane to be converted into renewable compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel. In this pilot project, enough CNG will be generated to displace 750 to 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel, and to power heavy-duty garbage collection trucks and an on-site generator producing renewable electricity for the facility. This fuel has 88% lower carbon intensity than ultra-low-sulfur diesel.
- The City of Monterey Park in Los Angeles County is receiving $300,000 to upgrade the city's outdated CNG refueling station. The station will become a public-access site, as well as fuel the city's transit and public works vehicles. Monterey Park is contributing $475,000 in matching funds for this project.
- North Hills-based Galpin Ford will receive $86,000 in alt-fuel vehicle buy-down incentives, which help to cover these vehicles' incremental acquisition costs. Of its total award, $66,000 is reserved for Galpin Ford's buy-down of 11 propane autogas vehicles of 8,501 to 14,000 lbs. GVW, and $20,000 is reserved for two propane vehicles in the 14,001 to 26,000 lbs. GVW range.
- Nations Bus Corp., Inglewood, has been awarded $280,000 for the buy-down of 28 propane vehicles (14,001 to 26,000 lbs. GVW).
- Big Valley Ford Inc. in Stockton will receive $48,000 for the buy-down of eight propane vehicles (8,501 to 14,000 lbs. GVW).
- Oakland-based West Coast Bus Sales Inc. has been awarded a total of $680,000: $600,000 for the buy-down of 30 natural gas vehicles (14,001 to 26,000 lbs. GVW) and $80,000 for the buy-down of 10 natural gas vehicles in the 8,501 to 14,000 lbs. GVW range.
