Oklahoma Incentives and Laws for Natural Gas

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

State Incentives

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Tax Credit

For tax years beginning before January 1, 2015, a one-time income tax credit is available for 50% of the incremental cost of purchasing a new original equipment manufacturer AFV or converting a vehicle to operate on an alternative fuel. The state also provides a tax credit for 10% of the total vehicle cost, up to $1,500, if the incremental cost of a new AFV cannot be determined or when an AFV is resold, as long as a tax credit has not been previously taken on the vehicle. Equipment used for conversions must be new and must not have been previously used to modify or retrofit any vehicle. The alternative fuels eligible for the credit are compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gas (propane), and electricity. Tax credits may be carried forward for up to five years. (Reference Oklahoma Statutes 68-2357.22)

Alternative Fueling Infrastructure Tax Credit

For tax years beginning before January 1, 2015, a tax credit is available for up to 75% of the cost of alternative fueling infrastructure. Eligible alternative fuels include compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (propane), and electricity. The infrastructure must be new and must not have been previously installed or used to fuel alternative fuel vehicles. A tax credit is also available for up to 50% of the cost of installing a residential CNG fueling system, for up to $2,500. The tax credit may be carried forward for up to five years. (Reference Oklahoma Statutes 68-2357.22)

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) and Fueling Infrastructure Loans

The Oklahoma Department of Central Services' Alternative Fuels Conversion Loan program provides 0% interest loans to government fleets for converting vehicles to operate on alternative fuels, the construction of AFV fueling infrastructure, and the incremental cost associated with the purchase of an original equipment manufacturer AFV. The program provides up to $10,000 per converted or newly purchased AFV and up to $150,000 for the development or installation of fueling infrastructure. The borrower must repay the loan within a seven-year period. Repayment is collected through a surcharge on alternative fuel the borrower purchased in the amount equivalent to the per gallon fuel cost savings from using an alternative fuel. If the price of the alternative fuel does not remain below the price of the conventional fuel that it replaced, repayment is suspended. Eligible applicants include state and county agencies and divisions, municipalities, school districts, mass transit authorities, and public trust authorities. (Reference Oklahoma Statutes 74-130.4 and 74-130.5)

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Loans

Oklahoma has a private loan program with a 3% interest rate for the cost of converting private fleets to operate on alternative fuels, for the incremental cost of purchasing an original equipment manufacturer AFV, and for the installation of AFV fueling infrastructure. The repayment of the loan has a maximum six-year period.

Utility/Private Incentives

Natural Gas Fuel Rate Reduction and Infrastructure Maintenance - Clean Energy

Clean Energy Fuels offers services to the natural gas vehicle industry that include compressed natural gas fueling station equipment maintenance and competitive fuel pricing for larger fleet customers, as well as alternative fuel vehicle financing.

Natural Gas Infrastructure Technical Assistance - CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy offers preliminary feasibility studies for compressed natural gas fueling stations and may assist with vendor selection on a case-by-case basis within the CenterPoint Energy service area.

Laws and Regulations

Access to State Alternative Fueling Stations

The Oklahoma Department of Central Services Fleet Management Division may construct, install, acquire, operate, and provide alternative fueling infrastructure for state agencies and local government use as well as the public in areas of the state where public access to alternative fuel infrastructure is not readily available. The Department of Central Services must discontinue public access to their fueling stations if a privately owned alternative fueling station opens within a five-mile radius. Alternative fuels include natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (propane), ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, electricity, and hydrogen. (Reference Oklahoma Statutes 74-78)

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fueling Infrastructure Development

The Oklahoma Legislature intends to increase the CNG fueling infrastructure in the state, with the overall goal of having one public fueling station located every 100 miles along the interstate highway system by 2015, and one public fueling station every 50 miles by 2025. The Department of Central Services Fleet Management Division may take steps to reach this goal by collaborating with private entities to build CNG fueling infrastructure. (Reference Oklahoma Statutes 74-78f)

State Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plans

Each state agency must develop and implement an energy efficiency and conservation plan. As part of its plan, each agency should make every effort to include purchasing preferences for vehicles that use alternative fuel sources, including compressed natural gas, hybrid technology, and biofuels. (Reference Oklahoma Statutes 27A-3-4-106)

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Acquisition Requirements

All school and government fleets may convert their vehicles to operate on alternative fuels, and all school districts should consider purchasing only vehicles able to operate on alternative fuels. School and government vehicles capable of operating on an alternative fuel must use the fuel whenever a fueling station is located within a five-mile radius of the respective department or district and the price of the alternative fuel is cost competitive. If school and government vehicles must be fueled outside the five-mile radius and no fueling station is reasonably available, the school and government vehicles are exempt from this requirement. (Reference Oklahoma Statutes 74-130.3)

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Tax

In lieu of the motor fuel excise tax, owners are subject to an annual flat fee on motor vehicles including passenger automobiles, pickup trucks, vans and heavy-duty vehicles using liquefied petroleum gas (propane), compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, or blends of 85% methanol and 15% gasoline (M85). Propane vehicles with a payload capacity of less than 2,000 pounds (lbs) are taxed at a rate of $50 per vehicle per year. CNG, LNG, methanol, and M85 vehicles with a payload capacity of less than 2,000 lbs are taxed at a rate of $100 per vehicle per year. Propane, CNG, LNG, methanol, and M85 vehicles with a payload capacity greater than 2,000 lbs are taxed at a rate of $150 per vehicle per year. If the owner acquires the vehicle or converts it to run on the alternative fuel after July 1 of the tax year, the flat fee is half of the above mentioned amount. Vehicles must display a decal that the Oklahoma Tax Commission issues on an annual basis.

Beginning January 1, 2012, the annual flat fee will no longer be used for CNG vehicles. State motor fuel tax will instead be imposed as a direct tax paid at the pump per gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) of CNG purchased. The tax rate will be $0.05 per GGE until January 1, 2015, and $0.13 per GGE thereafter.

(Reference House Bill 1815, 2011, and Oklahoma Statutes 68-723 and 68-500.4)

Alternative Fuel Technician Training

The Alternative Fuels Technician Certification Act (Act) regulates the training, testing, and certification of technicians who install, modify, repair, or renovate equipment used in fueling alternative fuel vehicles and in the conversion of any engine to operate on an alternative fuel. This includes original equipment manufacturer engines dedicated to operate on an alternative fuel. Electric vehicles (EVs), EV charging infrastructure, and EV technicians must also comply with the rules and regulations of this Act. (Reference Oklahoma Statutes 74-130.11 through 74-130.24)