Lehigh Valley counties receive grants to aid business, environment

• $3.47M awarded by DEP for alternative fuel projects

• Grants support Berks, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Bucks counties

• Projects include EV buses, waste haulers, and charging stations

To support business, clean transportation, fund alternative fuel vehicles, new infrastructure, and improve air quality, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded more than $3.47 million through the Alternative Fuel Incentive Grant program. 

Grants are designed to aid businesses, school districts, local governments, and nonprofit organizations in 17 counties. In the Lehigh Valley, Berks, Lehigh, and Montgomery counties are among the recipients. In addition, Bucks County received a grant award. 

“We are committed to increasing sustainable and renewable energy and these grants will help local governments, businesses, school districts, and nonprofit organizations invest in alternative fuel solutions that are reliable, efficient, and often cheaper to operate,” DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley said in a statement. “AFIG aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality for many Pennsylvania communities with the use of electric school buses, Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) trucks, electric charging stations, and other clean transportation alternatives.” 

The grant awarded funding to 27 recipients. The selected projects will result in the deployment of 94 alternative fuel vehicles, including seven new fueling stations. Fifteen projects are also located in or serve Environmental Justice (EJ) areas. 

The 2024 second round AFIG projects in the Lehigh Valley include the following: 

In Berks County, Jerome H. Rhoads, Inc.: $45,098 for the purchase of two propane trucks. This project also involves Lancaster County. 

In Lehigh County, City of Allentown: $60,423 for the installation of eight Level 2 chargers for use by city inspection vehicles.  

In Montgomery County, Bryn Mawr College: $75,000 for the purchase of an electric school bus; and BFI Waste Services of Pennsylvania, LLC: $300,000 for the purchase of four electric waste hauler vehicles. 

Bucks County recipients include Friends Boarding Home of Bucks Quarterly Meeting (Friends Village): $7,500 for the purchase of one EV passenger vehicle. Solebury Township of Pennsylvania: $5,625 for the purchase of one EV passenger vehicle. 

According to a release, the DEP AFIG program supports projects to replace older gasoline or diesel fueled vehicles with cleaner fuel vehicles – like electric and natural gas – and install infrastructure to improve air quality in Pennsylvania. This program builds on Governor Shapiro’s agenda to create a climate and energy plan that will grow the commonwealth’s economy, protect and create jobs, and address climate change, per the release. 

In Pennsylvania, 47% of nitrogen oxide emissions come from gasoline and diesel vehicles, and transportation contributes up to 22% of Pennsylvania’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. The awards will save an estimated 1,262,825 gallons of gasoline per year. 

For this second-round of 2024 funding, AFIG priorities include zero emission vehicle projects; medium-duty and light-duty fleet refueling infrastructure projects; renewable natural gas vehicle and infrastructure projects; projects predominantly serving Environmental Justice areas; and minority, veteran, or woman-owned businesses. 

The AFIG Program is accepting grant applications until 11:59 PM on Oct. 10, 2025.