SACRAMENTO, CA -- The California Energy Commission approved funding of $4,963,000 to help bring natural gas-powered shuttle buses and large trucks to California's highways. 

The awards, funded from the commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, help to pay the difference between a conventional gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicle and one powered by a much cleaner alternative fuel.

"By encouraging the use of natural gas- and propane-powered vehicles, we are helping create jobs and reduce California's dependency on petroleum," said Energy Commissioner Carla Peterman. "At the same time, the use of cleaner-burning fuel helps to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduces other air pollutants, protecting the health and the environment of all Californians."

The Energy Commission already has awarded nearly $15.5 million to help public and private fleet operators as well as individual consumers afford new alternative-fueled passenger vehicles and medium- and heavy-duty buses and trucks. The on-road vehicles meet all the emission requirements of the California Air Resources Board and are fully warranted by the original equipment manufacturer. 

"We are quite pleased by the response to this program. The Energy Commission recently allocated an additional $15 million for these sorts of natural gas- and propane-powered vehicle incentives," said Peterman.

The incentive reservations are awarded in blocks to vehicle manufacturers or their designated dealers. The incentives are passed on to the individual buyers at the point of sale. Applications from manufacturers for the program are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

The incentives approved go to these companies:

• Creative Bus Sales (Chino) is awarded a total of $575,000 in incentives for 33 vehicles manufactured by Champion Bus. Creative Bus Sales will use $15,000 to buy-down five natural gas-powered vans of up to 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight, and $560,000 to help purchase 28 natural gas shuttle buses of 14,001 to 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.

• Rotolo Chevrolet (Fontana) is awarded a total of $40,000 in incentives to buy-down five natural gas-powered commuter vans of 8,500 to 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight that are manufactured by General Motors.

• Nations Bus Corp. (Inglewood) is awarded a total of $180,000 in incentives for 9 vehicles manufactured by the Diamond Coach Corp. The natural gas-powered vans will be in the 14,001 to 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight range.

• Capacity of Texas Inc. (Longview, Texas) is awarded $1,280,000 in incentives to help buy-down 40 heavy-duty natural gas-powered trucks in the 26,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight range. The company is the original equipment manufacturer of the vehicles.

• TEC of California (Oakland, La Mirada and Fontana) is awarded $1,280,000 in incentives to help buy-down 40 heavy-duty natural gas-powered trucks in the 26,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight range. Mack Truck is the manufacturer of the vehicles.

• Bridgeport Truck Manufacturing (Bridgeport, Texas) is awarded $320,000 in incentives to help buy-down 10 natural gas-powered trucks that they manufacture. The 10 trucks will be in the 26,001 pounds and greater gross vehicle weight range.

• West Coast Bus Sales Inc. (Oakland) is awarded a total of $380,000 in incentives for 25 vehicles manufactured by Tiffany Coachworks of Perris, Calif. West Coast Bus Sales will use $80,000 to buy-down 10 natural gas-powered large vans in the range of 8,501 to 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, and $300,000 to help purchase 15 natural gas shuttle buses of 14,001 to 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.

• West Coast Bus Sales Inc. (Oakland) is awarded $380,000 in incentives to help buy-down 25 vehicles manufactured by Federal Coach. West Coast Bus Sales will use $80,000 to buy-down 10 natural gas-powered vans in the range of 8,501 to 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, and $300,000 to buy-down 15 natural gas shuttle buses in the range of 14,001 to 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.

• Inland Chevrolet (Hemet) is awarded $528,000 in incentives to help buy-down 66 General Motors natural gas-powered vans in the range of 8,501 to 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.