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Commissioner Chad Brown - Public Works - To Accept and Appropriate Grant Funding through the 2017-2018 Clean Fuel Advanced Technology Project for the Purpose of Converting Ten (10) Additional County Vehicles to Burn LPG Utilizing a Bi-fuel System (Grant Funds - $50,400; Required Local Match of $19,600 is included in the Approved Budget)
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STAFF CONTACT
Ray Maxwell, PE - Director - Public Works - 704-862-7551
BUDGET IMPACT
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Appropriate Grant Revenues. Local Government Match Required.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
Increase Revenues by $50,400 and appropriate $50,400 into Project Account.
BACKGROUND
Gaston County has previously partnered with the NC Clean Energy Technology Center to complete Liquid Propane Gas (LPG) conversions on forty (40) County-owned vehicles resulting in emissions reduction and significant fuel cost savings estimated over $400,000 since starting the project in 2012. Thirty-seven (37) of the converted vehicles were still in service in January 2018. In February 2018, Gaston County Public Works submitted a grant application to the NC Clean Energy Technology Center in an effort to secure funding through the 2017-2018 Clean Fuel Advanced Technology Project to convert ten (10) additional County-owned vehicles to burn LPG in a bi-fuel system setup. The budget for this project is $70,000.00 and vehicles selected for conversion include one (1) Ford F-150 for Building Inspections, one (1) Ford F-150 for Public Works, five (5) Ford E-450 units for ACCESS (public transportation) and three (3) Ford Explorers operated by the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office. Based on historical fuel usage, it is anticipated that these ten (10) County-owned vehicles will drive approximately 180,000 miles per year consuming approximately 21,000 gallons of LPG.
Gaston County has been awarded a grant from the Clean Fuel Advanced Technology Project to convert ten (10) County-owned vehicles to bi-fuel (LPG/gasoline) use in an effort to reduce harmful emissions in North Carolina’s non-attainment and maintenance counties for National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Per the grant proposal, Gaston County intends to convert ten (10) County-owned vehicles to the LPG bi-fuel system with a total project cost of $70,000.00. The grant is administered by North Carolina State University and provides reimbursement equal to 72% of the total project costs not to exceed $50,400.00. Gaston County will be required to provide a local organizational match equal to 28% of the total project cost or $19,600.00.
Approval of this Board Action accepts the Clean Fuel Advanced Technology Project grant funding, appropriates grant funding to the project account and authorizes the County Manager, or his designee, to sign the grant agreement. This Board Action also authorizes moving $19,600.00 in currently budgeted funding to the project account to satisfy the local match.
POLICY IMPACT
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ATTACHMENTS
Budget Change Request and Agreement