The California Energy Commission will spend $176 million over the next two years on the Alternative and Renewable Fuels and Vehicle Technology Program. Come and get it!

The ultimate goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, decrease petroleum fuel use to 15 percent below 2003 levels by 2020, and increase alternative fuel use to 20 percent by 2020. Since transportation is responsible for about 38 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, hitting those goals will require plug-in vehicles, electric cars, and possibly even fuel cells.

The funding breaks down as follows: The Energy Commission will invest $46 million for electric vehicles, public charging stations and manufacturing plants; $40 million for hydrogen fueling stations; $12 million for advanced ethanol fuel production facilities and E-85 fueling stations; $43 million for natural gas vehicles, fueling stations and biomethane production facilities; $6 million for advanced renewable diesel and biodiesel facilities; and $2 million for propane vehicles. The Investment Plan also directs $27 million to fund workforce training programs, research, public education and technical assistance programs.