CACC Selected for Recovery Act Grant Award

Nearly $15 million dollars awarded for alternative-fuel vehicles and infrastructure
Details at US DOE Recovery-Act website

Energy Secretary Steven Chu with Vice President Joe Biden on August 26, 2009, announced a number of awards under the US Department of Energy 2009 Clean Cities Petroleum Reduction Technologies grant program. The City of Chicago, in collaboration with Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition and Gas Technology Institute, was selected for an award of $14,999,658 -- equal to the entire amount of its proposal. The Recovery-Act-funded program includes 16 projects in the Chicago area.

The combined benefits of these projects will reduce harmful vehicle emissions by 448 metric tons per year, reduce CO2 equivalent emissions by 7,647 metric tons per year, displace 3.08 million gasoline gallon equivalents of petroleum per year, and result in 77 created and/or retained jobs. Petroleum displacement by this project over the course of the ownership period of the proposed vehicles, and fuel sales from the infrastructure, over a reasonably assumed lifecycle, exceed 21 million gas gallon equivalents.

Marketing and outreach activities disseminating information and benefits of the project will catalyze similar efforts by public and private fleets throughout the region. The collective, practical experience of the project partners’ in the deployment of alternative-fuel projects and advanced vehicle technologies ensures the achievement of the following goals:

This project proposes to deploy 554 alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles and install 149 alternative-fuel fueling and electric vehicle charging stations throughout the Chicago region.

More information on the awards announced under this grant program nationally, along with brief descriptions of each project and a map of awardee locations can be found on the US DOE website at www.energy.gov/recovery/cleancities.htm.

Illinois Alternative Fuels Rebate Program

The Illinois Alternate Fuels Rebate Program started in 1998 and over $2.3 million in rebates have been issued through 2004. All businesses, local governments, organizations, and individuals in Illinois are eligible to apply for a rebate. Rebates may be issued to any applicant for up to 300 vehicles. The only entity excluded from the program is the federal government.

There are three types of rebates from which applicants may choose one type of rebate per vehicle: (1) A rebate for the incremental cost of an alternate fuel vehicle purchased from a dealership or similar vendor (Vehicle Rebate), (2) a rebate for the cost of the conversion of an existing vehicle to operate with an alternate fuel (Conversion Rebate), and (3) a rebate for the incremental cost of purchasing alternate fuels (Fuel Rebate). For all rebates, the alternate fuel vehicle, conversion system, or alternate fuel must be purchased from an Illinois company or vendor.

Eligible fuels for the program include E-85, Biodiesel (at least 20 percent blend or B-20), natural gas, propane, electricity, and hydrogen. To be eligible, a vehicle must be a licensed, on-road vehicle and be able to be legally driven on public roads. Gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles (i.e., Toyota Prius, Toyota Highlander, Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner) are not defined as an alternate fuel vehicle and are not eligible for a rebate since these vehicles are refueled with gasoline.

See the rebate website at www.illinoisgreenfleets.org for more information, including rebate application forms.

IL Clean Diesel and IL Clean School Bus Programs

For more information on the Illinois Clean Diesel and Illinois Clean School Bus Programs please visit www.illinoisgreenfleets.org. There you will information on both programs including Guidelines, Application Forms, as well as information on current funding.

Federal and State Incentives

For information on Federal and State Incentives related to alternative fuels and vehicles, air quality, fuel efficiency, and other transportation-related topics, visit www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/laws/. The Alternative Fuels & Advanced Vehicles Data Center allows you to search all incentives and laws, view tables on incentives and laws and, read key legislation related to alternative fuels and advanced transportation technologies.