Indiana Propane School Bus (PSB) Grant

1. Indiana Propane School Bus (PSB) Grant Applications due Oct 16, 2015 Megan Ottesen mottesen@oed.in.gov 317-232-8944 www.in.gov/oed

2. Grant Program Background and Goal • This is the first time OED has offered grants specifically for propane school buses • The funds come from the US Dept of Energy and from the State • OED seeks to increase IN school’s access to affordable and reliable energy • Propane tends to be cheaper than diesel or gasoline • Fuel diversification protects schools long-term from fuel price shocks • Propane burns more cleanly than diesel, which lowers maintenance costs and reduces children’s exposure to harmful emissions

3. Funding Parameters • Max $300,000 available for the PSB program • Max amount per school: $50,000  • Will fund the incremental cost between buying a new propane bus instead of buying a new diesel or gasoline bus • Max amount per bus is $10,000 • If your incremental is $9k, OED will fund up to $9k • If your incremental is $11k, OED will fund $10k • Minimum of two buses being purchased is needed to submit application

4. Scoring Criteria • Vehicle miles driven annually per bus: • For example, 2000 miles/year • Diesel gallons or gasoline gallons displaced annually: • Example: 7 mpg • 2000 miles/7 mpg = 285.7 gallons annually • Level of cost-share (match) provided by the grantee. OED will fund between 50% and 100% of the incremental costs • Demonstrated need for this project and how this project will impact the applicant’s school corporation • Applicant’s plan to educate its community and peers on its experience with the propane buses • Quality and clarity of application

5. Matching Funds • You can apply for 100% incremental of the incremental costs, but match is encouraged. Extra points will be given to grants who provide some level of match, because this allows OED to spread its funds farther. • Match can be the school corporation’s own funding, or it can be another grant • If providing match, include a commitment letter indicating amount of match per bus/total and the source of that match.

6. Benefits to School • Explain why you chose to purchase propane school buses. • What need will the buses meet and how will they benefit the school, versus a more traditional diesel or gasoline powered bus? • reduced fuel cost; longer bus life, cleaner emissions, etc.

7. Education/Promotion • Explain how will the school corporation will promote the project to its community and other school corporations. • Examples include the following: • Community • Website page highlighting bus project • School newsletters • Other school corporations • Speak on panels • Work with Clean Cities and/or OED to do a case study • Motorweek segments

8. Requirements • Bids • NFPA 58 • EPA certification: http://www3.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/fuels/altfuels/altfuels.htm#4 • Propane Infrastructure

9. Bids • Provide bid on new propane school buses, including equivalent petroleum based bus cost • Show the cost differential between a propane bus and a diesel or gasoline powered bus • The bids must show the bus specifications, price, and vendor contact information

10. EPA certified and NFPA 58 Guidelines • Proof that the engine of the new propane school bus is EPA certified • Download certification from EPA Site or request included in bid • http://www3.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/fuels/altfuels/altfuels.htm#4 • Proof that the propane system is installed according to NFPA 58 guideline • Letter from fuel system installer stating that all applicable LPG fuel system codes for installation are met. Diagrams of fuel system can also help

11. Propane Access • Proof that the applicant will have access to propane fueling infrastructure • letter from propane dealer providing infrastructure, or • letter from school stating they own propane infrastructure, • or copy of a bid for purchase or lease of infrastructure, with a date indicating installation date

12. Timeline • Applications are due October 16th at 5:00 ET. Email them and all supporting documents to grants@oed.in.gov • OED will announce the grant awards late Oct – early Nov. OED both email and snail mail the applicants • OED will send a contract to the chosen grantees. Grantees have 3 days to notify OED that they intend to accept the award. • Grantees can begin work on their projects immediately after receiving their contracts, which means they can order their buses in November. • However, the state’s contracting process can take 45 days once the grantee returns the contracts to OED, so grantees do bear the risk that their contracts will not be approved by the state. Since schools don’t pay taxes, they should have their contracts approved. • Invoices are due to OED by April 15, 2016. • Quarterly reports to OED will start in January and last one year: money spent, fuel savings, educational efforts, etc.

13. Resources • Applicants can contact their local Clean Cities Coalition for technical assistance. Clean Cities Coalitions are supported by the US Department of Energy and serve as a resource for fleets that seek to deploy alternative fuels and technologies. • Greater Indiana Clean Cities Kellie Walsh 317.834.3754 Kellie@greaterindiana.com www.greaterindiana.com • South Shore Clean Cities Carl Lisek, Executive Director 219-644-3690 info@southshorecleancities.org www.southshorecleancities.org

14. Questions? Megan Ottesen OED Deputy Director grants@oed.in.gov 317-232-8944 Grant Webpage: http://www.in.gov/oed/2733.htm