Connecticut Incentives and Laws for Natural Gas

The list below contains summaries of all Connecticut incentives and laws related to Natural Gas.

State Incentives

Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicle Grants

The Connecticut Clean Fuel Program (Program) provides funding to municipalities and public agencies that purchase, operate, and maintain alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles, including those that operate on compressed natural gas, propane, hydrogen, and electricity. The Program also provides funding to install diesel retrofit technologies, including diesel particulate filters, diesel oxidation catalysts, and closed crankcase filtration systems. Diesel retrofit technologies must be certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the California Air Resources Board to be eligible for funding.

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, and; 3) assist municipalities and local and regional boards of education and bus companies in retrofitting their full-sized school buses. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 22a-21j through 22a-21k)

Utility/Private Incentives

Natural Gas Infrastructure and Technical Assistance - SCG and CNG

The Southern Connecticut Gas Company and Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation provide technical and advisory assistance for alternative fueling station construction, fleet management, and vehicle conversions. Both utilities will assist fleet operators with natural gas vehicle planning, purchases, converting vehicles to operate on natural gas, and fueling station construction on a project-specific basis.

Natural Gas Technical Assistance - Yankee Gas Services Company

Yankee Gas Services Company provides information and technical assistance related to natural gas infrastructure and vehicles on a case-by-case basis.

Laws and Regulations

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Procurement Preference

In determining the lowest responsible qualified bidder for the award of state contracts, the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services may give a price preference of up to 10% for the purchase of AFVs or for the purchase of vehicles powered by fuel other than a clean alternative fuel plus the conversion equipment to convert the vehicles to dual or dedicated alternative fuel use. For these purposes, alternative fuels include natural gas or electricity used to operate a motor vehicle. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 4a-59)

Alternative Fuel and Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Acquisition and Emissions Reduction Requirements

Cars and light-duty trucks that a state agency purchases 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) that the state purchases 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 that the state purchases or leases must be hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or capable of using alternative fuel. All AFVs purchased or leased must be certified to the California Air Resources Board's (ARB) Ultra Low Emission Vehicle II (ULEV II) standard, and all light-duty gasoline vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles the state purchases or leases must be certified, at a minimum, to the California ARB ULEV II standard. Beginning January 1, 2012, the required percentage of alternative fuel or advanced vehicles increases to 100%. The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services must report annually on the composition of the state fleet, including the volume of alternative fuels used.

Vehicles that the Connecticut Department of Public Safety designates 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

Each full-sized school bus with an engine model year of 1994 or newer that transports children in the state must be equipped with specific emissions control systems, including either: 1) a closed crankcase filtration system and a level 1, level 2, or level 3 device; 2) an engine that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has certified as meeting Model Year 2007 emissions standards; or 3) use of compressed natural gas or other alternative fuel that EPA or the California Air Resources Board has certified to reduce particulate matter emissions by at least 85% as compared to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. (Reference Connecticut General Statutes 14-164o)

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