RSA 5O-4.001 - Natural Gas Fuel Fleet Vehicle Rebate Program
(1) Natural Gas Fuel Fleet Vehicle Rebate
Program. Pursuant to Section 377.810, F.S., this rule applies to any applicant
seeking a rebate under the Natural Gas Fuel Fleet Vehicle Rebate Program for
the cost of conversion or the incremental cost incurred by an applicant in
connection with the conversion, purchase, or lease for a minimum term of 5
years, of a natural gas fleet vehicle. An applicant may receive a maximum
rebate of $25,000 per purchased, leased, or converted vehicle, not to exceed 50
percent of eligible costs for a maximum total of $250,000 per fiscal year on a
first come, first served basis. Only owners or lessees of fleet vehicles placed
into service on or after July, 1, 2013 shall be eligible for a
rebate.
(2) Definitions. For the
purpose of this rule, the term:
(a) "Placed
into service" is the date a vehicle is purchased, leased, or
converted.
(b) "Natural gas fuel"
means any liquefied petroleum gas product, compressed natural gas product, or
combination thereof used in a motor vehicle as defined in Section
RSA 206.01(23), F.S.
This term includes, but is not limited to, all forms of fuel commonly or
commercially known or sold as natural gasoline, butane gas, propane gas, or any
other form of liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, or liquefied
natural gas. This term does not include natural gas or liquefied petroleum
placed in a separate tank of a motor vehicle for cooking, heating, water
heating, or electric generation.
(c) "Initial funding" is funding available to
applicants that have not received the program maximum of $250,000 within the
fiscal year for which the applicant is seeking a rebate.
(d) "Supplemental funding" is funding
available to applicants that have received the program maximum of $250,000
within the fiscal year for which the applicant is seeking a rebate and is
applying for additional rebate(s) within the same fiscal year.
(e) "Conversion" is a diesel or gasoline
powered motor vehicle that was retrofitted to a natural gas fuel powered motor
vehicle after the vehicle was purchased.
(f) "Purchase" is the acquisition of a
natural gas fuel powered motor vehicle, new or used, through the owner's
existing funds or credit. This includes a diesel or gasoline powered motor
vehicle that was retrofitted to a natural gas fuel powered motor vehicle as
part of the purchase price.
(g)
"Lease" is a contractual agreement requiring payment for the use of a natural
gas fuel powered motor vehicle not owned by the applicant for a minimum period
of five years.
(h) "Certified mail"
is the service provided by the United States Postal Service whereby the sender
is provided with a mailing receipt and delivery record.
(i) "Hand delivery" is any submission of an
application or applications to the Department from a representative of an
applicant, courier, or a private delivery service.
(3) Application Submission Process. An
applicant seeking a rebate under the Natural Gas Fuel Fleet Vehicle Rebate
Program must apply to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,
Office of Energy (Department) as follows:
(a)
Applicants shall complete and submit a Natural Gas Fuel Fleet Vehicle Rebate
Program Application, FDACS-08156, Rev. 03/17, for each vehicle purchase, lease,
or conversion.
(b) Applications
shall be submitted by certified mail or hand delivery to the Natural Gas Fuel
Fleet Vehicle Rebate Program, 600 South Calhoun Street, Suite B04, Tallahassee,
Florida 32399-0001.
(c) If there is
a physical first-come, first-served line, applications delivered by couriers
and private delivery services will be signed for by the Department and then
given a place in line at the time that they are received.
(4) Initial Funding Application Cycle.
(a) Initial funding applications will be
accepted according to the following schedule:
1. During Fiscal Year 2016-17 (July 1, 2016
to June 30, 2017) applications will be accepted beginning at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern
Standard Time) on July 1, 2016. Applications must be received by the Department
no later than 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on June 30, 2017. Applications
received after the due date of June 30, 2017, will be determined ineligible and
returned without review; and,
2.
During Fiscal Year 2017-18 (July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018) applications will be
accepted beginning at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on July 3, 2017.
Applications must be received by the Department no later than 5:00 p.m.
(Eastern Standard Time) on July 2, 2018. Applications received after the due
date of July 2, 2018, will be determined ineligible and returned without
review.
(5)
Supplemental Funding Application Cycle.
(a)
Supplemental funding applications will be accepted according to the following
schedule:
1. During Fiscal Year 2016-17 (July
1, 2016 to June 30, 2017) applications will be accepted beginning at 9:00 a.m.
(Eastern Standard Time) on June 1, 2016, and must be received by the Department
no later than 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on June 30, 2017. Applications
received after the due date of June 30, 2017, will be determined ineligible and
returned without review; and,
2.
During Fiscal Year 2017-18 (July 1, 2017 to July 2, 2018) applications will be
accepted beginning at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on June 1, 2017, and
must be received by the Department no later than 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard
Time) on July 2, 2018. Applications received after the due date of July 2,
2018, will be determined ineligible and returned without review.
(6) Applications and
Supporting Documentation. Applications must include the information required by
the Natural Gas Fuel Fleet Vehicle Rebate Program Application, FDACS-08156,
Rev. 03/17.
(a) Applicants must select the
type of funding, either initial funding or supplemental funding, for each
vehicle for which the applicant is seeking a rebate. Applications that do not
indicate the type of funding will be determined incomplete.
(b) All fields and sections on the
application must be complete. If for any reason the information required is not
applicable, the applicant must note in the specified field either "not
applicable" or "n/a." Applications that are not fully completed or do not
include the required information, including black fields, will be determined
incomplete.
(c) Applicants must
complete the affidavit section required by the Natural Gas Fuel Fleet Vehicle
Rebate Program Application, FDACS-08156, Rev. 03/17, including an ink stamp or
embossing seal of the Notary Public notarizing the application.
(d) Applications must include the following
supporting documentation:
1. A legible
photocopy of the purchased, leased, or converted vehicle's valid and current
(as of the date the application is received by the Department) registration.
Applications for vehicles proportionally registered in Florida must also
provide a letter signed by an authorized corporate officer that includes an
affirmation that a majority of the vehicle's operation will take place in
Florida, as well as the location(s) of the facilities where the vehicles are
primarily headquartered, fueled and maintained.
2. For converted vehicles, a clear and
legible photograph of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from the
vehicle.
3. For converted vehicles,
a clear photograph of the converted vehicle.
4. For converted vehicles, a clear photograph
of the natural gas fuel tank installed on the vehicle.
5. A copy of the United States Environmental
Protection Agency Certificate of Conformity with the Clean Air Act of 1990 that
corresponds with the vehicle's engine or installed conversion kit, or
documentation that the installed conversion system is an Environmental
Protection Agency Certified Alternative Fuel Conversion System, Intermediate
Age Clean Alternative Fuel Conversion System, or Outside Useful Life Clean
Alternative Fuel Conversion System.
6. For a vehicle purchase or lease,
documentation of the cost of the equivalent diesel or gasoline vehicle, or an
itemized invoice documenting the cost for the natural gas components.
7. In the case of a conversion of a metered
taxi, a copy of a valid and current weights and measures permit pursuant to
Section
RSA
531.60, F.S.
(e) Applications must document investment in
a natural gas fuel fleet by including both an invoice and corresponding proof
of payment for all vehicle purchases, leases, or conversions for which the
applicant is seeking a Natural Gas Fuel Fleet Vehicle Rebate. An explanation
shall be included if the amount provided on the invoice and corresponding proof
of payment do not match.
1. Proofs of payment
shall redact instances of bank account and credit card numbers (except the last
4 digits) and all financial information not pertaining to the purchase, lease
or conversion of the vehicle represented on the application.
2. Acceptable forms of proof of payment
include:
a. A canceled check with proof of
deposit;
b. A copy of an electronic
funds transfer from a financial institution including the purchase amount and
to whom the payment is being made;
c. A bank statement or a screenshot of an
online bank statement reflecting the transaction (with unrelated information
redacted) showing the purchase amount and to whom the payment is being
made;
d. A signed and executed
lease contract;
e. A credit card
statement reflecting the transaction showing the cardholder's name, address,
the purchase amount, and to whom the payment is being made, or
f. A signed and executed promissory note or
signed and executed auto loan.
3. The proof of payment must contain at
least:
a. A payment amount of at least the
price of the purchased or leased vehicle or vehicle conversion; and,
b. The name of the seller from which the
vehicle was purchased or leased, or the company that completed the vehicle
conversion; and,
4. The
invoice must contain at least:
a. The name and
address of the seller from whom the vehicle was purchased or leased, or the
company that completed the vehicle conversion;
b. The price of the vehicle purchase, lease,
or conversion;
c. The Vehicle
Identification Number of the purchased, leased or converted vehicle represented
on the application; and,
d. A clear
indication on the invoice that the vehicles represented on the invoice are
natural gas fuel powered motor vehicles.
(f) The Vehicle Identification Number listed
on any of the supporting documentation, invoice, proof of payment explanation,
or photograph shall match the Vehicle Identification Number provided on the
application.
(g) Copies of
documentation in place of originals will be accepted; however, if the
Department determines the application or supporting documentation is illegible,
the application will be determined incomplete.
(h) The applicant shall complete a sworn
statement for each vehicle which the applicant is seeking a rebate affirming
the following:
1. The vehicle is in
compliance with applicable Unites States Environmental Protection Agency
emission standards;
2. The
information contained in the application and supporting documentation is true
and correct;
3. The vehicle
purchase/lease or conversion has not previously received a Natural Gas Fuel
Fleet Vehicle Rebate;
4. The
vehicle is part of vehicle fleet with three or more motor vehicles registered
in this state and used for commercial business or governmental purposes;
and,
5. The requirements of Section
377.810, F.S., and Rule 5O-4.001, F.A.C. have been met.
(i) Economic Impact Data. Applicants must
complete the Economic Impact Data section required by the Natural Gas Fuel
Fleet Rebate Program Application, FDACS-08156, Rev. 03/17. If requested by the
Department at a later date, additional economic data consisting of actual
gasoline/diesel and money saved shall be provided by the applicant.
(7) Application Review and
Approval Process. The Department will review applications as follows:
(a) The Department will evaluate the
application to verify that the applicant has met the qualifying statutory and
rule criteria. If the Department determines that the applicant is eligible for
rebate, the Department will retain the original application and issue a written
notification that the application is complete. The Department shall issue each
rebate after it is determined that all required information has been provided
to make that application complete and after that application has been reviewed
and approved, provided funds are available to do so.
(b) If the Department determines that the
application is incomplete or ineligible, the Department will issue a written
notification to the applicant that the application was determined to be
incomplete or ineligible and will include a description of the application's
deficiencies. If the Department determines that an application is incomplete,
the applicant will be allowed to submit a corrected application. The corrected
application will be treated as a new application and reviewed in the order that
it is received.
(c) Initial funding
applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, based upon
the date and time applications are received by the Department.
(d) In each fiscal year, after all initial
funding applications have been reviewed; if funding is available, supplemental
funding applications will be reviewed as follows:
1. Government supplemental funding
applications shall be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, based upon
the date and time applications are received by the Department.
2. If funding is available after all
government supplemental funding applications are reviewed, commercial
supplemental funding applications shall be reviewed on a first-come,
first-served basis, until all appropriated funds for the fiscal year are
expended.
(e) The
Department is responsible for ensuring that the total amount of rebates issued
does not exceed the limits specified in Section
RSA
377.810, F.S. Once an application is
determined eligible for a rebate, the approved amount will be applied to the
fiscal year in which the application is received by the Department.
(f) The Department will not return original
versions of reviewed applications, supporting documentation, invoices, or proof
of payments.
(g) Applications
received after funding has been exhausted will be returned without review to
the applicant with a notice that funding has been exhausted for that program
year.
(8) Onsite
Inspection. Upon request of the Department, the applicant shall make the
vehicles for which the applicant has applied for a rebate available for onsite
inspection by the department to verify the VIN number, the conversion kit ID
number, and other information contained in the Natural Gas Fuel Fleet Vehicle
Rebate Program Application, Form FDACS-08156, Rev. 03/17, submitted by the
applicant.
(9) Registered Vendors.
In order to receive a rebate, approved applicants must complete a Substitute
W-9 and be a registered vendor with MyFloridaMarketPlace.
(10) Materials Incorporated by Reference. The
Natural Gas Fuel Fleet Vehicle Rebate Program Application, Form FDACS-08156,
Rev. 03/17, is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference. The form may be
obtained by contacting the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services, Office of Energy, at 600 South Calhoun Street, Suite B04,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001, or emailing Energy@FreshFromFlorida.com, and
is available online at:
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08156.
Notes
Rulemaking Authority RSA 377.810 (5) FS. Law Implemented RSA 377.810 FS.
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