The Propane Vehicle Council (PVC) and the Propane Education & Research Council announced May 10 during the 6th National Clean Cities Conference and Expo in San Diego, its second incentive program to provide funding to fleet managers for the purchase of propane vehicles and/or refueling infrastructure. About $1.3 to $1.5 billion is available through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ) Programn appropriated for air quality improvement projects. The CMAQ program will provide up to 80 percent of the overall project costs. The announcement is the first offer by the propane industry to provide an additional $200,000 in matching funds for the CMAQ Program. The propane CMAQ Program was established to identify and promote the air quality benefits of propane, expand awareness of propane as an alternative transportation fuel, and demonstrate the many benefits of propane vehicles. Applicants must have an active CMAQ vehicle program application under review to apply for these funds, which will be used to supply part or the entire non-federal match in a CMAQ reimbursement program. "By making these additional funds available through the propane industry,we hope fleet managers and industry members will be motivated to apply for CMAQ funding," said Joseph Colaneri, executive director, Propane Vehicle Council, Washington, D.C. "The program gives fleet managers an opportunity to make a difference in their communities by using clean-burning propane." The Propane Education & Research Council is dedicated to promoting the safe use of propane gas as a preferred energy source through consumer education, safety and research projects. The 21-member Council was authorized by the Propane Education and Research Act of 1996 and created by industry referendum in 1997. Programs and projects are funded by an assessment or check-off on every gallon of odorized propane -- one-tenth of one cent per gallon. Collections amounted to $10 million in 1999.