Here's more detail on the grant you can get if you are a
Pennsylvania resident and IF YOU HAVE NOT YET BOUGHT THE CAR.
It's called an Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant.

1)
You must apply for the grant before expending any money
on the Hybrid Electric Vehicle. (You can order one but
not expend money on it.)

2)
You must wait until the next Open Window time period
before applying. Cycle 9 ended on April 19, 2002 (I just
missed it!!) and Cycle 10 will begin in summer 2002, probably
sometime in July.

3)
After you apply, you are allowed to buy the car whenever
you want, without waiting to find out whether you're getting
the money or not. (For Cycle 10, you won't find out until
about December.)

4)
You are not allowed to sell the car to someone else for 3
years.

5)
In each cycle, there is a fixed amount of money that Hybrid
Electric Vehicle buyers receive, and I believe that amount
recently has been $1,500. I believe the amount is revealed
each time a new Open Window is announced. Grant money is not
considered income and is not taxed.

6)
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/aq/afv/afvafig1.htm
is the site for announcements, information, downloadable
applications, etc.

7)
The information contact person, Karen Miller, tells me
that she herself does not make decisions about who gets
the grant, so you can ask her any questions freely.
However, all applications for HEVs are regarded equally.
So you don't have to worry about "grant application
politics," where you are pitting your persuasion skills
against those of other applicants. In fact, "Historically,
all eligible applications received during an open
opportunity for the purchase of HEVs were selected to
receive grants." Note that there is a special form just
for individuals purchasing HEVs. So, you don't have to
get bogged down in all the information for organizations
buying fleets, inventing technology, etc. Unfortunately,
right now during the time between Open Window periods, the
site does not let you download a sample application form,
and I have not seen the form myself. Karen says the HEV
application is three pages long--much shorter than the
general application.

8)
If you are approved for a grant, you will then get the
money after you show proof of purchase of the vehicle
and a current PA registration for the vehicle.

9)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/toyota-prius/message/11802
is the Yahoo Groups message where I learned about this
program (via the Bookmarks section). Below are a few
lines from that message:
______________________

Message 11802 of 32242

From: surfcruiser58@a...
Date: Fri May 25, 2001 5:22 pm
Subject: Contact info for === Re: PA Grant

Tell your sister to contact:

Karen Miller
Grant Officer
Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program
Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Air Quality
P.O. Box 8468
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8468

This woman is a gem. She has answered every
question I had concerning my AFIG application.

Karen's Telephone number is 717-772-3359
Her email is karemiller@...
[That's state.pa.us]

As a courtesy, please ask your sister to mention
my name when she contacts Karen.

Peter Morrison
Walnutport, PA
______________________

My sympathies in advance to the Pennsylvanians who didn't
know about the grant before they got a car.

Dan Williams