Search Federal and State Laws and Incentives

Alternative Fuel and Idle Reduction Grants

The Small Business Advantage Grant Program provides matching grants of 50% of project costs, up to $5,000, to enable a Pennsylvania small business to adopt or acquire energy-efficient or pollution prevention processes or equipment. Pennsylvania trucking companies and independent truckers may use the funding to purchase U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay verified anti-idling technologies. Projects may not begin until after applications are approved. Grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, refer to the Small Business Advantage Grant Program website.

Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Funding

The Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) Program provides reimbursement grants for the installation of new or existing alternative fuel infrastructure for fleet, workplace, residential, or public refueling sites. Grants are available for reimbursement of 50% of the cost, up to $600,000, to install electric, hydrogen, propane, and compressed natural gas fueling infrastructure. Eligible applicants include Pennsylvania school districts, municipal authorities, political subdivisions, non-profit entities, corporations, and limited liability companies or partnerships incorporated or registered in the Commonwealth. For more information, including grant guidelines and current application periods, see the AFIG Program website.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Infrastructure Grants

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection offers competitive grants for the acquisition, installation, operation, and maintenance of publicly available direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations and hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Grant reimbursements are awarded after project completion in the following amounts:

Eligible project locations are transportation corridors, destination locations, and locations that serve as community charging or fueling hubs. This program is funded by Pennsylvania’s portion of the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. For more information, including program guidelines, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and instructions, see the Driving Pennsylvania Forward website.

Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) Program

The AFIG Program provides financial assistance for innovative, advanced fuel and vehicle technology projects. Projects that result in product commercialization and the expansion of Pennsylvania companies are favored in the selection process. Eligible applicants include school districts, municipal authorities, political subdivisions, non-profits, corporations, limited liability companies or partnerships incorporated or registered in the Commonwealth. Projects must support:

• Incremental cost expenses relative to retrofitting vehicles to operate on alternative fuels as a bi-fuel, dual-fuel, or dedicated vehicle
• Incremental cost expenses to purchase bi-fuel, dual-fuel, or dedicated vehicles
• The cost to purchase and install the necessary fleet refueling or home-refueling equipment for bi-fuel, dual-fuel, or dedicated vehicles
• The cost to perform research, training, development and demonstration of new applications or next-phase technology related to alternative fuel vehicles.

(Reference Title 73 Pennsylvania Statutes, Chapter 18E, Section 1647.3)

Alternative Fuel Infrastructure and Energy Production Grant Program

The Alternative and Clean Energy (ACE) Program provides grants and loans to eligible applicants for the utilization, development, and construction of compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueling stations. Funds are also available for facilities that manufacture or produce alternative fuels, including, but not limited to, ethanol, biodiesel, CNG, and LNG. For more information, see the ACE Program website.

Pennsylvania's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Planning

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) NEVI Formula Program requires the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to submit an EV Infrastructure Deployment Plan (Plan) to the DOT and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Office by August 1, 2022, describing how the state intends to distribute NEVI funds. Plans must be established according to NEVI guidance.

For more information about Pennsylvania’s NEVI planning process, see the PennDOT Plan website.