New Round of Grant Funds Available Through Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) Project DEADLINE: March 13, 2020

(North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center) Over $1,400,000 to be awarded for transportation-related emission reductions -- The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NCCETC) at North Carolina State University announces the following request for proposals (RFP) through the 2020 Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) project. The 2020 initiative will offer $1.4 million, focused on reducing transportation-related emissions, and supported with federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funding from the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT). The primary purpose of the CFAT project is to reduce transportation-related emissions in 24 eligible North Carolina counties.

Project proposals will be limited, none higher than $400,000 and none lower than $5,000. Applications will be due Friday, March 13, 2020. This will likely be the only solicitation for 2020. Learn more here.

Projects located in the following counties are eligible for CFAT funding: Cabarrus, Catawba, *Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Granville, Guilford, *Haywood, *Iredell, Johnston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Nash, Orange, Person, Rowan, *Swain, Union, Wake, (*Represents partial counties). Projects for electric vehicle charging stations (EVSE) will be accepted within all 100 counties.

A tax incentive is now available for alternative fuel that is sold for use or used as a fuel to operate a motor vehicle, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. A tax credit in the amount of $0.50 per gallon is available for the following alternative fuels: natural gas, liquefied hydrogen, propane, P-Series fuel, liquid fuel derived from coal through the Fischer-Tropsch process, and compressed or liquefied gas derived from biomass. Click here for more information.

NCCETC will host a CFAT 2020 Round 1 Informational Webinar from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, January 13, 2020. The free webinar will present an overview of eligible projects and have Q&A to assist with application submission. Learn more and register for the webinar here.

ABOUT THE N.C. CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CENTER

The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center, as part of the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University, advances a sustainable energy economy by educating, demonstrating and providing support for clean energy technologies, practices and policies. It serves as a resource for innovative, sustainable energy technologies through technology demonstration, technical assistance, outreach and training. For more information about the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center, visit: http://www.nccleantech.ncsu.edu. Twitter: @NCCleanTech READ MORE

Excerpt from FAQ: The RFP is structured to be flexible and accommodating to various types of technologies or projects that will help reduce mobile pollution emissions. The basic criteria for eligibility are that the project:

• is transportation related - including on-road vehicle projects and rail projects,
• reduces criteria pollutant emissions - including nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) or hydrocarbons (HC) and particulate matter (PM), AND
• is located within OR benefits a CMAQ non-attainment or maintenance area.

The specific eligible technologies depend on the ability of the project to deliver emission reductions, which requires
current commercial availability. Also, eligibility is limited by the grant restrictions (see RFP for details) and is subject to Review Committee approval.

However, we are aware of some technologies that are more likely to be approved under the new, more stringent rules including
• Alternative Fuel & Advanced Technology Vehicles (AFV) Purchases Leases and Conversions (i.e., Compressed
Natural Gas (CNG) - dedicated and bi-fuel; Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) / propane / Autogas - dedicated and
bi-fuel; Electric hybridization - with or without plug-in capability; and Hydraulic hybridization)
• Mobile Idle Reduction Technologies (MIRTs),
• Diesel Retrofit Technologies, and
• Certain Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVSE) without ground disturbance or digging. READ MORE