The California Energy Commission (CEC) on Wednesday revised a $95 million alternative transportation fuels budget that emphasizes electrification and zero-carbon technologies but excludes natural gas for the second consecutive fiscal year.

The only acknowledgement of natural gas vehicles (NGV) is in funding for biomethane production, otherwise called renewable natural gas (RNG). RNG Coalition spokesperson Marcus Gillette said RNG was “among the eligible uses of those monies, as it should be.”

In Colorado, the regional air quality council has reopened bidding to replace and scrap pre-2009 medium and heavy duty fleet vehicles with initial applications due Oct. 7.

“Incentive levels have been increased significantly to encourage fleets to adopt fully electric or RNG-fueled vehicles and equipment,” according to the notice from ALT Fuels Colorado. “The proposed incentive levels will allow fleets to purchase a new EV or RNG vehicle for less than a new conventionally fueled vehicle.”

The regional air quality panel is funding 110% of the incremental cost between a new diesel and EV or RNG powered vehicle.

Some form of state-funded incentives are available for NGVs and infrastructure in all 50 states, according to NGVAmerican President Dan Gage.

“Incentives, whether for fuel, refueling infrastructure or vehicles, most definitely impact the NGV market as they help make up for increased incremental costs of moving from diesel technology to a cleaner fuel,” Gage told NGI recently.

“As the total share of NGVs in transportation grows, more fleets, both public and private, are increasingly interested in fueling with RNG given its dramatic greenhouse gas emissions benefits on top of geologic natural gas’ already strong clean air improvements.”

Gage said during the past five years the on-road use of RNG as a percentage of total natural gas use in transportation has increased 577%. From 2017 to 2018, it increased from 24% to 32% of the fuel used in on-road NGVs.

Meanwhile, in Southern California Landi Renzo USA is collaborating with Los Angeles International Airport and Los Angeles World Airport, to deploy compressed natural gas vehicles for fleet operations.