Rendell gives close to $8 million in alternative energy grants

Gov. Rendell has just announced nearly $8 million in state grants for 21 projects that would promote biofuels and technologies to foster electric cars and vehicles that run on natural gas.

He said the projects also would create 221 jobs and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 14.5 million pounds.

"These are exciting projects because they pave the way for consumers to adopt these new technologies," Rendell said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

Recipients include the city of Philadelphia, which will get $140,000 for an overall $500,000 project to add ten charging stations and 18 electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids to two local car-sharing businesses.

Momentum Dynamics of Chester County will receive nearly $587,000 grant to equip two Berks County paratransit electric vehicles with a technology that will allow them to be charged wirelessly.

Other local recipients include a Bucks County company that will build a compressed natural gas fueling station, West Chester University, Bryn Mawr College, the Lower Merion School District, the Energy Cooperative Association of Philadelphia, PHL Taxi Management LLC and the Philadelphia city treasurer, to offset the purchase of biodiesel for the city fleet.