CNG Station at Parachute, Colorado
The U.S. State of Colorado Energy Office (CEO) in partnership with the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC), and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) have released a Request for Applications (RFA) through the “ALT Fuels Colorado” grant program for the construction of new, publicly accessible compressed natural gas (CNG) stations, and optional co-located electric charging and propane (liquid petroleum gas, or LPG) fueling stations, along major transportation corridors throughout Colorado.
Funding allocations will go exclusively toward the purchase of station equipment for developing CNG stations with up to $500,000, or 80% of the total equipment cost (whichever is lower), awarded to each successful application.
Only station operators are eligible to submit applications for station funding through the ALT Fuels Colorado program.
The ALT Fuels Colorado grant program is designed to remove barriers to the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) by addressing the lack of fueling infrastructure. The program also addresses the initial costs of AFVs by providing incentives to offset incremental costs. ALT Fuels Colorado will provide $30 million over a 4 year period (2014 to 2017) through the Federal Highway Administration’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program to advance Colorado’s adoption of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs).
Under the Colorado Energy Office’s stewardship, $15 million of the CMAQ funds will be used to target investments in alternative fueling stations along major statewide transportation corridors with the goal of developing an intrastate system for AFV travel. The remaining $15 million will be distributed by the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) under a separate application and awarded to successful applicants for the purchase of natural gas, electric, and propane-powered fleet vehicles within the State’s air quality non-attainment and maintenance areas. Collectively, these grants will provide funding to advance the adoption of alternative fuels in the transportation sector.
Colorado ranks sixth among US states for natural gas production. CEO is seeking to enhance the role of natural gas in our transportation sector by engaging with local governments and the private sector to promote public-private partnerships and practical actions that will seek to maximize the benefits of a clean affordable, Colorado produced fuel.
RFA information is available from www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/GovEnergyOffice/CBON/1251599979576
(Source: Colorado Energy Office)
