Available Funding

The following list of resources, grants, funding, and incentives support alternative fuel and advanced transportation technology.

Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE)

CARE is a U.S. EPA grant program that offers an innovative way for a community to organize and take action to reduce toxic pollution in its local environment. Through CARE, community created partnerships implement solutions to reduce releases of toxic pollutants and minimize people’s exposure to them. By providing financial and technical assistance, EPA helps CARE communities get on the path to a renewed environment. http://www.epa.gov/care/

DSIRE

The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) is a comprehensive, user-friendly source of information on state, local, utility and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. DSIRE provides users with a list of renewable-energy incentives and energy-efficiency incentives available in any U.S. state. Visit the North Carolina incentives section.

Incentives for Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles

Federal tax credits for purchase of hybrids are available from 2006-2010 for hybrid electric vehicles and vehicles with cleaner burning diesel engines (advanced lean-burn engines). Consumers can earn a tax credit of up to $3,400 for light duty vehicles (under 8,500 lbs) if they are one of the first 60,000 sold by that particular automaker. See the Tax Incentives Assistance Project or American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy sites for further information and the Diesel Technology Forum has information for the advanced lean-burn technology.

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Tax Credits, available from 2006-2010, provide a 50% tax credit based on the incremental cost of a new, dedicated alternative fuel vehicle, plus an additional 30 percent if the vehicle meets certain tighter emission standards. The amount of the credit is limited ranging from $2,500 to $32,000 depending on the size of the vehicle.

Complete details and information on these incentives can be found on the Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicle Consumer Incentive Fact Sheet.

Incentives to Distribute Alternative Fuels

A tax refund on each gallon of ethanol blended with gasoline will be paid within 20-28 days of blending gasoline with ethanol is established with the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) available from 2005-2010. The 2005 Energy Bill included a Refueling Infrastructure Tax Credit of 30% up to $50,000 for refueling equipment for E85 ethanol, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen, and biodiesel blends containing at least 20 percent biodiesel. A 15% tax credit is available for facilities that dispense biodiesel and ethanol/gasoline mixtures consisting of at least 70% ethanol is available under the NC Tax Credit for Alternative Fuel Refueling Infrastructure.

Complete details and information on these incentives can be found on the Alternative Fuel Distributor Incentive Fact Sheet.

Incentives to Produce Alternative Fuels

Alternative fuel producers may utilize the Renewable Energy Property Tax Credit of 35 percent up to $250,000 for the construction, purchase, or lease of a renewable energy property. A 25 percent tax credit is available to producers that construct and place in service a commercial facility for processing renewable fuel under the Tax Credit for Alternative Fuel Production Facilities. The expanded production of alternative fuels will be supported by the renewable fuel standard (RFS). See the Alternative Fuel Production Incentive Fact Sheet for more information.

Mobile Source Emission Reduction Grants

Pending funding-availability, annual solicitations are accepted for NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Division of Air Quality’s Mobile Source Emissions Reduction (MSERG) Grant. The purpose of the MSERG is to achieve actual reductions from on- and off- road mobile source related emissions in North Carolina and to assist the State in maintaining the National Air Quality Standards for primarily ozone and carbon monoxide.

Annual application period is Oct 1-Dec 31. Awards are announced in March of the following year.

More information and application available at DENR’s DAQ website.

North Carolina Green Business Fund

The North Carolina Green Business Fund is a grant award program authorized by the N.C. General Assembly. Under this program, grant awards may be made to North Carolina organizations in support of competitively assessed projects focused on the following three priority areas: 1) Development of the biofuels industry in the State. Grants made in this category may target projects that maximize the development, production, distribution, retail infrastructure, and consumer purchase of biofuels and workforce development in these areas. 2) Development of the green building industry in the State, and 3) Attraction and leverage of private sector investments and entrepreneurial growth in environmentally conscious clean technology and renewable energy products and businesses. http://www.ncscitech.com/gbf/.

Southeast Diesel Collaborative – EPA Diesel Program

In conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Southeast Diesel Collaborative offers funding assistance for projects to reduce diesel emissions from diesel powered vehicles in EPA Region 4 states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and/or Tennessee. This includes both on-road and off-road applications.For updates on SEDC funding look here.

State Energy Program (SEP) Special Projects

Provides funding for AFVs, AFV refueling infrastructure, anti-idling and other transportation related projects. For more information about the program and past recipients of the grants visit DOE’s State Enegy Program’s website. Those interested in applying for these grants should contact the Clean Transportation Program at the North Carolina Solar Center or contact your local Clean Cities Program, of which North Carolina has the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition, the Centralina (Charlotte Area) Clean Fuels Coalition, and the Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition.

U.S. DOE listing of Incentives and Laws Concerning Alternative Fuels

The DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office website provides the latest developments and news for alternative fuels along with a listing of incentives and laws that apply to the technology. Check on Federal Incentives and Laws and North Carolina Incentives and Laws to find a complete up-to-date listing.

State of North Carolina Energy Office Grants to Support Alternative Fuel/Advanced Transportation Technology

Two calls for projects to support alternative fuel /advanced transportation technology have been released by the State Energy Office.

• Energy Efficient Transportation grant solicitation – open to local governments, public schools and community college that have not received Energy Efficiency Community Block Grants ( EECBG). (Applications are due August 27, 2010.)
• Alt-Fuel grant solicitation – open to public and private entities. (Applications are due August 11, 2010.)

The N.C. Solar Center is considering applying to administer a CFAT-style subaward project through the alt fuel solicitation. We are also available to serve as consultants for EECBG Transportation applicants (an allowable expense). Please let us know if you are interested in either and help spread the word about these opportunities.