Nebraska Passes Alt-Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program

To promote the use of alternative fuels in the state, Nebraska has approved legislation that will establish a new program offering rebates for the conversion of motor vehicles to alt-fuels.

State Senator Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha introduced L.B.581, officially titled the Nebraska Clean-burning Motor Fuel Development Act, in January. The state legislature passed the bill following a 41-4 vote on May 29, and Governor Pete Ricketts has signed it.

The legislation will put aside $500,000 for the rebate program, which will offer the lesser of $4,500 or 50 percent of the cost of a vehicle conversion to compressed or liquefied natural gas, propane autogas, hydrogen fuel cells, or gasoline containing fifteen percent ethanol or more. Furthermore, the program will offer a rebate of up to $2,500 for a home-based, non-commercial compressed natural gas refueling system.

Nordquist announced in late-May that he was resigning his position.