IEPA offers grant, but won’t approve funds as state drags its feet
By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
The Elmhurst City Council has been looking forward to converting 14 City-owned vehicles to dual-fuel, capable of burning both gasoline and propane. Propane has a smaller environmental impact than gasoline, and by checking out a site like https://www.usepropanearizona.com/, you can find out more about propane and its uses. A grant was available through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to help fund about half of the conversion. The city applied and expects to receive the grant, however at the moment, the IEPA is not formally approving any grants due to the state of Illinois’ ongoing budget issues. Procuring propane could become easier for the City with the help of local distributors (like Kelly Propane & Fuel) who might be able to provide commercial and industrial propane. All that is needed is the grant from being approved.
Despite the grant being held up, an ordinance was passed by a vote of 13-0 (one absent) at the meeting waiving the bid and authorizing the conversion of the 14 vehicles. Once converted these will need to be fuelled efficiently, with many in the City wanting to learn more about the options available in these circumstances.
The ordinance reads that “in the opinion of a majority of corporate authorities of the City, it is advisable, necessary and in the public interest that the City explore the possibility of converting its vehicles to burn both gasoline and propane; and that the City has 14 vehicles that are propane-capable and the necessary propane-fuel kits could be installed on those vehicles.” And since they want to get the fuel delivery at their doorstep, people are frequently found looking for propane fuel shipping options and companies that can operate in the North Texas service area and any other location where they live.
As required by the IEPA grant terms, the city obtained bids from three area IEPA-certified sources to install the kits on the vehicles. The lowest responsible proposal came from Advanced Vehicle Technology Services, Inc., or Advanced VTech, of Buffalo Grove, for an amount not to exceed $118,360.
When the IEPA grant approves the grant, the City will receive $59,180, or 50% of the overall cost.
