TORONTO — The Ontario government says so far 150 companies have submitted more than 1,300 applications under the Green Commercial Vehicle Program and is encouraging more carriers to get involved.

Under the four-year, $15-million Green Commercial Vehicle Program, companies are able to apply for grants to purchase hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles as well as retrofit heavy-duty vehicles with anti-idling technologies (which is only about one fifth of the program).

Up to one-third of the cost of the capital cost of eligible environmentally friendly technologies that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and fuel consumption could be reimbursed.

Fuel savings data collected by the program will help encourage more businesses to go green. Applications for the program were available November 28, 2008. The program is retroactive to August 2007, the launch date of the Go Green Action Plan.

The government says it will hand out about $2.3 million under the program this year.