California Energy Commission releases $17.3M funding opportunity for H2 stations
08 April 2016
The California Energy Commission has released a $17.3-million solicitation (GFO-15-605) for publicly accessible hydrogen refueling stations that serve California’s light duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
The Energy Commission will make available two categories of Capital Expense (Cap-X) funding. Operation and Maintenance (O&M) funding is also available for stations whose capital expenses are funded under this solicitation. This solicitation places a preference on hydrogen refueling stations that fill hydrogen refueling station coverage gaps and hydrogen refueling capacity gaps in California.
The Cap-X funding categories are:
I-5 Connector Station Competition (includes new construction and upgrades to existing fueling equipment).
Main Station Competition (includes new construction and upgrades to existing fueling equipment).
The O&M support grant category is a first-come, first-served grant category. Applicants/projects meeting the minimum eligibility criteria for operation and maintenance support grants will be recommended for funding. Only stations receiving a Capital Expense (Cap-X) grant award under this solicitation are eligible for an O&M Support Grant under this solicitation. The Energy Commission expects to recommend funding for all O&M support grants supporting funded stations under this solicitation.
The Cap-X grants are competitive grant competitions. Applicants passing administrative and technical screening will compete based on evaluation criteria, and will be scored based on those criteria. The highest ranked, eligible applications will be recommended for funding.
The Energy Commission strongly prefers and encourages Applicants to expedite stations becoming operational to the greatest extent possible. Stations becoming operational within 20 months after approval will earn full funding incentives.
An open retail hydrogen refueling station has all of the following characteristics and meets all of the following requirements:
The SAE J2601 H70-T40 open retail station shall conform to all applicable codes, regulations, and approved interface standards (fueling protocols, fuel quality, metrology, and permits).
The SAE J2601 H70-T40 open retail station shall use a public point of sale terminal that accepts major credit, debit, and fleet cards.
The SAE J2601 H70-T40 open retail station shall be open to the public, meaning no access cards or personal identification (PIN) codes are required for the station to dispense fuel, and no formal or registered station training shall be required for individuals to use the hydrogen refueling station.
The SAE J2601 H70-T40 open retail station shall meet all of the minimum technical requirements.
The open retail hydrogen refueling station funded under this solicitation shall remain functioning for a minimum of five years after becoming open retail.
This is a good essential step to promote the use of lower cost H2 and FCEVs.
It is not enough and should be repeated on a yearly basis.
Funding could come from extra fossil and bio-fuel GHG tax and/or a distance travelled fee based on GHG and pollution created.
Posted by: HarveyD | 08 April 2016 at 09:05 AM