Source: The North Carolina Solar Center
The North Carolina Solar Center at NC State University has announced a call for projects for $700,000 to award to governments, business, and/or non-profit fleet and fuel providers for transportation related emission reduction projects. The Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) Project is a one million dollar initiative of the NC Solar Center (NCSC) funded in part by federal dollars from the NC Department of Transportation (DOT). In addition to providing assistance for emission reduction projects such as purchasing alternative fuel vehicles, installing refueling infrastructure for cleaner burning alternative fuels, retrofits on older diesel vehicles and idle reduction technology, the CFAT project focuses on education and outreach to the twenty-four NC counties that do not meet national ambient air quality standards. Project proposals must be submitted to the NC Solar Center by March 15, 2010.
This is the second round of DOT funding available through the CFAT project. From 2006-2009 over $1.4 million was distributed for 31 projects to a variety of entities including a national park, local governments, school systems, service station owners and a company providing electrified parking spaces at a truck stop to reduce idling in long haul trucks. The CFAT project operates in 24 counties that do not national air quality standards. More than 30% of North Carolinians live in counties that have unhealthy air and transportation related emissions are a primary contributor to the state's air quality problem. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to use federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funds for a program that offers such a wide variety of transportation technology solutions to our air quality problems," stated Secretary of Transportation Gene Conti. Project managers anticipate a wide range of applications including funding requests for neighborhood electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, alternative fuel refueling infrastructure, such as natural gas, propane and electricity, retrofits for school buses and other heavy duty diesel vehicles.
Funding assistance is allocated in the form of a reimbursement, which can cover up to 80% of the project cost. In order to by eligible, a project must reduce transportation related emissions within eligible NC Counties. In the Triangle and Charlotte regions the NC Solar Center has partnered with Triangle J and Centralina Council of Governments to provide education, outreach and technical assistance. Guidelines and applications available by clicking on Funding at: http://www.cleantransportation.org.
