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$17 Million Granted For Clean Vehicles

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Electric car chargers and other alternative fuel projects get a cash infusion in California | Photo: T.J./Flickr/Creative Commons License

 

The California Energy Commission (CEC) announced this week that it has awarded $17,223,593 in grants intended to promote cleaner-fueled vehicles in the state of California. The grants, made as part of Commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, are going to eight recipients who'll use them in projects ranging from a Fresno biodiesel plant to a cutting-edge traffic modeling software suite.

"These awards are helping to support the expansion of alternative fuels and zero-emission vehicles in California," said Energy Commission Chair Robert B. Weisenmiller in a CEC press release. "Additionally, the funded projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants to protect our environment and improve the health of all Californians."

The projects, as listed by the CEC;

Eslinger Biodiesel, Inc., will receive $6 million to build a commercial facility in Fresno that will produce 5 million gallons a year of biodiesel from food production and restaurant grease, and fat from rendering plants.

CALSTART, Inc., will receive $3,523,498 for the California CLEAN Truck Demonstration Program, which works to prove the capabilty of electric and hybrid heavy trucks at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Blue Line Transfer, Inc., will receive $2,590,929 to build a facility in South San Francisco that will digest organic waste to make biofuels for refuse collection trucks.

Aerovironment, Inc., will receive $2,150,000 to buy and install hundreds of electric vehicle charging stations at businesses and residences throughout California.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District will receive $1,819,166 to finish a demonstration project to optimize anaerobic biomethane production at the American River Packaging organic waste recycling facility in Natomas.

UC Irvine will receive $765,000 to enhance the Spatially and Temporally Resolved Energy and Environment Tool (STREET), a computer modeling tool for alternative fuels infrastructure planning.

Paso Robles Waste & Recycle will get $300,000 to build a compressed natural gas refueling station for new gas-fueled garbage trucks.

The City of Yucaipa will receive $75,000 to install eight electric vehicle charging stations in town, six of which will be available for public use.

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