Section 275.240  Rebate Priorities and Rebate Amounts

a)         The Agency shall review and approve applications that meet the requirements of Section 275.230 of this Subpart, consistent with fund availability and prioritization as set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of this Section.

b)         In the event of insufficient fund availability, the Agency may establish priority classes for rebate applications in the following order:

1)         Vehicles of small fleet owners located in the covered area that refuel at a public fueling operation;

2)         Vehicles of small fleet owners located outside of the covered area that refuel at a public fueling operation;

3)         Other vehicles located in the covered area that refuel at a public fueling operation;

4)         Other vehicles located outside of the covered area that refuel at a public fueling operation;

5)         Vehicles of small fleet owners located in the covered area that refuel at a private fueling operation;

6)         Vehicles of small fleet owners located outside of the covered area that refuel at a private fueling operation;

7)         Other vehicles located in the covered area that refuel at a private fueling operation;

8)         Other vehicles located outside of the covered area that refuel at a private fueling operation and all other vehicles.

c)         In addition to the priorities in subsection (b) of this Section, the Agency may further prioritize applications within a priority class as determined by subsection (b) of this Section by giving applications priority in the order in which the application was received.

d)         Rebate amounts shall be calculated as follows:

1)         The amount of the OEM differential cost rebate shall be determined as follows; however, the rebate amount is limited to a maximum of $4,000 per vehicle:

A)        The rebate amount shall be 80% of the incremental cost of the engine and fuel system in the alternate fuel vehicle as compared to the cost of the conventional counterpart engine and fuel system in the same make, model, and model year vehicle.

B)        For alternate fuel vehicles other than those covered by subsection (d)(1)(A) of this Section, the amount of the rebate shall be 10% of the base retail price of the alternate fuel vehicle.

2)         The amount of the conversion cost rebate shall be 80% of the cost of converting a conventional vehicle to an alternate fuel vehicle, excluding applicable taxes and miscellaneous charges such as shipping and handling.  The rebate amount is limited to a maximum of $4,000 per vehicle. 

3)         The amount of the fuel cost differential rebate shall be determined as follows:

A)        For vehicles using E85 blend fuel or minimum 80% ethanol, the rebate amount shall be:

i)          If the vehicle travels more than 17,500 miles in the calendar year, $450; or

ii)         If the vehicle travels 17,500 miles or less in the calendar year, $340.

B)        For vehicles using minimum 80% bio-based methanol fuel, the rebate amount shall be:

i)          If the vehicle travels more than 17,500 miles in the calendar year, $525; or

ii)         If the vehicle travels 17,500 miles or less in the calendar year, $390.

C)        For vehicles using alternate fuels or domestic renewable fuels other than those listed in subsection (d)(3)(A) or (d)(3)(B) of this Section, the rebate amount shall be calculated using the following equation (factoring in the average incremental cost per gallon (or per gallon-equivalent) of using the fuel versus a conventional fuel, the number of gallons used in the eligible vehicle during the calendar year, and the reduction in energy content for the fuel):

where:

D)        Alternate fuel and domestic renewable fuel rebate amounts are limited to a maximum of $4,000 over a consecutive three-year period.

e)         Rebates in any period will be limited to the funds available in the Alternate Fuel Fund for the applicable period.

f)          The Agency shall notify owners if their application for a rebate has been held over to the next rebate issuance period due to insufficient funds in the Alternate Fuel Fund. Applications held over retain their priority as determined by subsections (b) and (c) of this Section.

(Source:  Amended at 34 Ill. Reg. 16841, effective October 18, 2010)