WM of Pennsylvania awarded RNG vehicle funding

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded more than $2.55 million to fund alternative fuel transportation infrastructure throughout the state. Of those recipients, Waste Management of Pennsylvania Inc., an operating unit of Houston-based WM, was awarded $300,000 to purchase 15 renewable natural gas (RNG) waste vehicles.

Through the 2024 Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant (AFIG), municipalities and businesses will receive funding to finance alternative fuel projects, including school bus fleets and electric vehicle chargers, with the goal of lowering air emissions.

“Communities are investing in zero- and low-emission transportation because they recognize this is a pathway to cleaner air and better health,” DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley says. “This round of awarded projects will help with the robust deployment of electric delivery trucks, passenger vehicles, semitrailer trucks and more across Pennsylvania, along with the installation of three new electric vehicle [EV] charging stations.”

In Pennsylvania, 47 percent of nitrogen oxide emissions come from gasoline and diesel vehicles and transportation contributes up to 22 percent of Pennsylvania's overall greenhouse gas emissions, DEP says. The AFIG program provides funding to help school districts, municipalities, businesses and nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania replace these older gasoline- or diesel-fueled vehicles with electric, RNG, compressed natural gas- (CNG), ethanol-, biodiesel- or propane gas-fueled vehicles while also funding installation of fueling equipment for these vehicles.

The funding program engages a range of stakeholders, including Environmental Justice (EJ) Areas, which DEP defines as a geographic area characterized by increased pollution burden and sensitive or vulnerable populations based on demographic and environmental data. 

The grant program awarded funding to 14 recipients for 16 projects. Thirteen vehicle projects will provide 26 electric, 15 RNG, 48 propane and 11 CNG vehicles, while three infrastructure projects will enable EV chargers at five locations. These projects are estimated to save 575,241 gasoline gallon equivalents (GGE) per year, DEP says.