SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Energy Commission approved funding of $505,329 for alternative-fuel vehicles and related infrastructure. Two school districts received funds for natural gas fueling facilities, and the rest of the funds go toward “buy-down” incentives to pay the difference between a conventional vehicle and an alternative-fuel model.

Arcadia Unified School District, in Los Angeles County, will receive $300,000 to install a new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station, which will allow the district to expand its fleet to a total of 15 CNG vehicles. Next, Calexico Unified School District, in Imperial County, Calif., will receive an award of $83,329 to upgrade its publicly accessible CNG station.

Lastly, buy-down incentives of $122,000 will be awarded for a total of 15 alternative-fuel vehicles. Three dealers in California received those funds. Bob Stall Chevrolet in La Mesa will receive $32,000 for the buy-down of four natural gas vehicles of 8,501 to 14,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight. Rancho Motor Company, Inc. in Victorville will receive $18,000; $8,000 of the award will go to the buy-down of one natural gas vehicle of 8,501 to 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, and $10,000 will go to the buy-down of one propane gas vehicle of 14,001 to 26,000 pounds gross weight. The third dealer is Rotolo Chevrolet, Inc. in Fontana, which will receive $72,000 for the buy-down of nine natural gas vehicles of 8,501 to 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.