Lehighton Ford has received nearly $300,000 from the state Department of Environmental Protection for the installation of three DC Fast EV chargers and six Level 2 chargers.

The $296,814 grant is for chargers that will serve both public customers and the dealership’s EV service vehicles, and is part of $1.28 million DEP awarded to municipalities for Cleaner Fuel Transportation Infrastructure.

The 2023 Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant funding to municipalities and businesses is to improve air quality in communities through cleaner fuel transportation infrastructure.

“Communities are investing in zero- and low- emission transportation because they recognize this is a pathway to cleaner air and better health,” said DEP Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “This round of awarded projects to be deployed all across Pennsylvania includes a range of electric delivery trucks, passenger vehicles, tractors, and more - with three new electric vehicle charging stations. DEP is committed to providing opportunities to deploy cleaner transportation alternatives which improve air quality and results in healthier communities.”

In Pennsylvania, 47% of nitrogen oxide emissions come from gasoline and diesel vehicles, and transportation contributes up to 22 percent of Pennsylvania’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. The?AFIG program?provides funding to help school districts, municipalities, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania replace these older gasoline- or diesel-fueled vehicles with electric, renewable natural gas, compressed natural gas, ethanol, biodiesel, or propane gas fueled vehicles. It also funds installation of fueling equipment for these vehicles.?The funding program engages a diverse range of stakeholders in advancing sustainable transportation. This includes Environmental Justice Areas (EJ Areas), which DEP defines as a geographic area characterized by increased pollution burden, and sensitive or vulnerable populations based on demographic and environmental data.

The grant awarded funding to 13 projects. Eleven projects will provide 25 electric and 23 CNG vehicles, and two infrastructure projects will enable EV chargers at three locations. These projects are estimated to save 95,555 gasoline gallon equivalents per year. Eight projects are located in or serve EJ Areas.

In December, Lehighton Borough Council said the plan was to wait until the new council came in on whether an ordinance for a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance program is adopted in the borough this year.

Borough Manager Dane DeWire said that Adam Brobst, Lehighton Ford general manager, told him that he is thankful the borough is still considering it.

DeWire added that Brobst said this was probably the only way he is able to stay afloat with Ford’s policy to upgrade its facility for electric vehicles.

Brobst said Lehighton Ford is supposed to have the building done by March 31.

In November, Councilman Ryan Saunders said that he and Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky researched many local boroughs in the commonwealth.

Abelovsky said at that time they were checking as to how LERTA would work best in the borough.

At that time, council agreed to have borough solicitor Jim Nanovic draw up an ordinance for a LERTA program.

The tax incentive program encourages property owners to renovate or update a building.

Under the program, new commercial or industrial business ventures are eligible for a 10-year phase-in exemption schedule of property taxes.