Connecticut Biodiesel Laws and Incentives
State Incentives
School Bus Retrofit Program
The Connecticut Clean School Bus Program was created to: 1) establish grants for municipalities and local and regional school boards for reimbursement of the cost of retrofitting full-sized school buses that are projected to be in service on or after September 1, 2010; 2) develop and implement an outreach plan and educational materials regarding the program, and; 3) assist municipalities and local and regional boards of education and bus companies to retrofit their full-sized school buses. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 22a-21j and 22a-21k)
Biodiesel Production and Distribution Grants
The Connecticut Qualified Biodiesel Producer Incentive Account, managed by the Department of Economic and Community Development, provides grants to qualified biodiesel producers and distributors. A qualified biodiesel producer is eligible for up to 60 monthly grants from the account, up to a total grant per fiscal year equal to: 1) $0.30 per gallon for the first five million gallons of biodiesel produced; 2) $0.20 per gallon for the second five million gallons of biodiesel produced; and 3) $0.10 per gallon for the third five million gallons of biodiesel produced. Any portion of biodiesel produced by a qualified biodiesel producer in excess of 15 million gallons per fiscal year is not eligible for these grants. A one-time grant for the purchase of equipment or establishment or retrofit of production facilities is also available; grants may not exceed either $3 million dollars or 25% of the equipment or construction cost. Additional grant funding up to $50,000 per distributor/site is available for the actual costs of creating storage and distribution capacity for biodiesel. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development must report to the Governor and General Assembly on the performance of the grant program on an annual basis. (Reference Senate Bill 881, 2009, and Connecticut General Statutes 32-324a to 32-324f)
Biofuels Support
The Department of Economic and Community Development is required to administer a fuel diversification grant program to provide funding to Connecticut institutions of higher education or Connecticut institutions of agricultural research for purposes which may include research to promote biofuel production from agricultural products, algae and waste grease, as well as biofuel quality testing. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development must report to the Governor and General Assembly on the performance of the grant program on an annual basis. (Reference Senate Bill 881, 2009, and Connecticut General Statutes 32-324g)
State Laws and Regulations
Zero Emission Bus Implementation Plan
As part of a state effort to identify strategies to expand the availability and use of hydrogen fuel and renewable energy sources, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc., must develop a plan to implement zero emission buses on a state-wide basis. The plan should be completed by December 31, 2010, and include the technological, facility, and financial arrangements necessary to fully implement such a bus fleet, including identifying specific locations for hydrogen fueling stations along state highways and other locations. (Reference House Bill 6649, 2009)
Alternative Fuel and Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Acquisition and Emissions Reduction Requirements
Any state agency that purchases cars and/or light-duty trucks for their fleet must: 1) have an average U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated fuel economy of at least 40 miles per gallon; 2) comply with state fleet vehicle acquisition requirements set forth under the Energy Policy Act of 1992; and 3) obtain the best achievable fuel economy per pound of carbon dioxide emitted for the applicable vehicle classes. Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) purchased by the state to comply with these requirements must be capable of operating on an alternative fuel that is available in the state.
In addition, at least 50% of all cars and light-duty trucks purchased or leased by the state must be capable of using alternative fuel, hybrid electric vehicles, or plug-in electric vehicles. All AFVs purchased or leased must be certified to the California Air Resources Board's (ARB) Low Emission Vehicle II Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Standard, and all light-duty gasoline vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles purchased or leased by the state must be certified, at a minimum, to the California ARB Low Emission Vehicle II Ultra Low Emission Vehicle Standard. Beginning January 1, 2012, the required percentage of alternative fuel or advanced vehicles increases to 100%. The Commissioner of Administrative Services is required to report annually on the composition of the state fleet, including the volume of alternative fuels used.
Department of Public Safety vehicles that the Commissioner of Public Safety and Commissioner of Administrative Services designate as necessary for the Department of Public Safety to carry out its mission are exempt from these provisions.
(Reference Executive Order 22, 2009, and Connecticut General Statutes 4a-67d)
School Bus Emissions Reduction
Prior to September 1, 2010, each full-sized school bus with an engine model year of 1994 or newer, transporting children in the state, must be equipped with specific emissions control systems, including either: 1) a closed crankcase filtration system and a level 1 device, level 2 device or level 3 device; 2) an engine certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to meet Model Year 2007 emission standards; or 3) use compressed natural gas or other alternative fuel certified by the EPA or the California Air Resources Board to reduce particulate matter emissions by at least 85% as compared to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 14-164o)
Alternative Fuel Taxicab Regulation
In compliance with other regulations governing the use of taxicabs, any alternative fuel sedan or station wagon with a wheelbase of at least 102 inches may be used to provide taxicab service. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 13b-96)
