On paper, it may seem like Alfred Braunecker doesn’t have much area to cover as a marshall for the Gentryville Police Department. The rural, southwestern Indiana town is less than one-half of a square mile. It’s home to about 300 people.

But the department’s two-vehicle fleet is responsible for transporting officers to calls throughout Spencer County, which means they serve an estimated 2,000 people. It also means a lot of additional mileage.

The department responds to the same types of calls most departments field, but due to its proximity to the childhood home of President Abraham Lincoln, the department’s need for emergency response increases during seasons of higher tourism. Gentryville is also near Holiday World, an amusement park located in Santa Claus, Indiana. In addition, Gentryville has more elderly residents than average, which can also put an increased demand on emergency services.

“Our town itself isn’t that big, but with the patrol area, we end up covering more than just Gentryville.”

Data analysis included in the department’s grant application estimated that the cost of its outdated fleet over the next five years would exceed $8,200 for fuel and repairs, while the savings created by an updated fleet would reach $5,500 this year. Fuel costs alone for the department’s current vehicles were at least $300 per month.

Fuel savings, coupled with the costs of upcoming repairs on the department’s 2010 Crown Victoria and 2013 Ford Explorer, prompted the department to search for grant opportunities to secure an electric vehicle. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program seemed like the perfect fit. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Energy and funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

With free grant writing assistance from the Indiana Resilience Funding Hub at Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute, the department submitted a proposal for two new vehicles to the Indiana Office of Energy Development, which administers the state’s EECBG formula funds. The proposal would cut the cost to operate its fleet by more than half, in addition to reducing carbon emissions and gasoline consumption. 

The department submitted the application in February. The successful grant led to delivery of a new vehicle and charging station in May. 

“It seems to charge better than I thought it would, honestly,” Braunecker said, mentioning that the Ford Lightning XLT has about a 320-mile range on one charge. “I normally use 50 miles or so when I work. Before the weekend, I’ll plug it in when I get done to make sure it’s full for the weekend.”

And sometimes weekends can get busy. 

“We have thousands of people come through the county on the weekends,” Braunecker said.

Data analysis included in the department’s grant application estimated that the cost of its outdated fleet over the next five years would exceed $8,200 for fuel and repairs, while the savings created by an updated fleet would reach $5,500 this year. Fuel costs alone for the department’s current vehicles were at least $300 per month.

“We were willing to go to green energy just so we could be a demo,” Braunecker said. “I mean, it’s practical for us because there’s no way we could ever afford to get a new vehicle and it’s served its purpose so far.”

Since receiving its new vehicle, the Gentryville Police Department has become an example for surrounding communities facing similar budgetary constraints. Not only was the grant funding beneficial, Braunecker said, but the free grant writing to prepare the application was invaluable as well. And nearby police and fire departments are asking how they can duplicate that success.

“It didn’t cost us anything, and other grant writing companies would have cost us. I don’t think we could afford that,” Braunecker said. “Rockport PD and Crisney Fire have actually asked who they need to contact for this kind of scenario. There are other departments that want to get on board.”

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commonly called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in 2021. The law will invest billions of dollars in federal funding into rural infrastructure, disaster assistance, high-speed internet, and more.