Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett awarded $6.7 million in funding for 18 companies and organizations who are switching to natural gas for their heavy-duty fleet vehicles.

“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 said.

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been authorized to distribute up to $20 million in grants over three years to help pay for the incremental purchase and conversion costs of heavy-duty natural gas fleet vehicles. The DEP has thus far received 49 applications requesting nearly $13 million in grants. Act 13 of 2012 is the Oil and Gas law, mandating approval of the DEP to distribute the funds, which are intended to increase protections of private water supplies, allow the DEP to issue larger fines, and includes a hydraulic fracturing fluid disclosure laws in the nation.

Eligible vehicles for all three rounds of the Natural Gas Energy Development program include those fueled with compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) or bi-fuel vehicles weighing 14,000 pounds or more.

In the first round of distribution, $5 million was reserved for local transportation organizations, as obligated by the Act. The second grant of $11 million will be distributed in August. Fifty percent of the $11 million is slated for local transportation organizations. The third and final grant is slated to open in 2014.

The 18 companies and organizations that were awarded grants are listed below alphabeticall by county with a brief description and funding amount.

Allegheny
Giant Eagle, purchase 20 CNG vehicles - $500,000
Waste Management of Pennsylvania, purchase 25 CNG solid waste collection vehicles - $491,444

Berks
Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., purchase 20 CNG trucks - $500,000

Blair
Burgmeiers Hauling Inc., purchase 12 CNG refuse trucks - $287,980
Smith Transport Inc., purchase 12 LNG vehicles - $300,000

Cambria
W.C. McQuaide Inc., purchase 25 CNG trucks - $500,000

Centre
Centre County Commissioners, purchase 10 CNG vehicles - $140,359

Delaware
Rose Tree Media School District, convert 14 buses to CNG; and purchase of eight CNG buses - $499,994

Erie
Birkmire Trailer Company, convert 15 trucks to dual fuel (CNG/diesel); and purchase of six CNG trucks - $500,000
Erie Metropolitan Transport Authority, purchase 12 CNG buses - $300,000

Franklin
Borough of Chambersburg, working with IESI and Shippensburg Borough, purchase and/or retrofit 19 CNG vehicles - $472,500

Huntingdon
Park's Garbage Service Inc., purchase 15 CNG refuse trucks - $335,840

Lancaster
Lancaster Co. Solid Waste Management Authority, convert 14 CNG vehicles - $350,000

Philadelphia
Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities, convert 35 partner company vehicles to CNG - $492,216

Potter
Hoopes Turf Farm, purchase 10 LNG trucks - $250,000

Venango
McKissick Trucking Inc., purchase five LNG tankers - $100,000

Warren
Crossett, Inc., convert 25 tractor trailers to CNG - $500,000

York
Shipley Fuels Marketing LLC, convert three tractors to bi-fuel; one City of York street sweeper to CNG; and purchase five CNG vehicles - $224,178

Information courtesty of the Pennsylvania Office of the Governor