$34 million in VW funding now available for zero-emission freight and marine projects in California

Funding is available for the following types of projects:

• Scrap-and-replace airport ground support equipment, port cargo handling equipment and forklifts with new zero-emission technologies
• Scrap-and-repower marine engines for ferries, tugboats, and towboats with new zero-emission, all-electric or fuel-cell, technologies
• Installation of shore power at berths that serve ocean-going vessels 

Applications are being accepted online at www.CaliforniaVWTrust.org and the application deadline is 5 PM PDT, September 22, 2021.

The funding is being offered statewide through a first-come, first-served solicitation. Applications will be evaluated for eligible equipment based on ability to reduce NOx emissions. All funded equipment and vehicles must operate in California. At least 75 percent of the $34 million is expected to benefit disadvantaged and low-income communities.

A separate solicitation for this category offering an additional $35 million is expected to be released in fall 2022.

For more information, visit the program website Zero-Emission Freight and Marine Projects (californiavwtrust.org). The program solicitation describes eligible projects and funding requirements, lists webinars being offered to describe this funding opportunity, and answers frequently asked questions.

The VW Environmental Mitigation Trust is a nationwide program that provides funding for states to fully mitigate the excess NOx emissions caused by VW’s use of illegal emissions testing defeat devices in VW diesel vehicles. In California, the Zero-Emission Freight and Marine along with four other categories will provide VW Environmental Mitigation Trust funding to eligible projects. The four other categories and the regional air quality agency assigned to administer the funds statewide on behalf of the California Air Resources Board include:

• Zero-emission transit, school and shuttle bus projects, administered statewide by San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
• Zero-emission class 8 freight and port drayage trucks, administered statewide by South Coast Air Quality Management District
• Light-duty zero-emission vehicle infrastructure (charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations), administered statewide by Bay Area Air Quality Management District
• Combustion freight and marine projects, administered statewide by South Coast Air Quality Management District

CARB expects that the funding for all five categories will fully mitigate the NOx impacts caused by the VW defeat devices.

For more information on the VW Environmental Mitigation Trust, visit www.californiavwtrust.org.

View press release(230 Kb PDF, 2 pgs, posted 04/06/2021)( English | Tagalog | Español | 中文 ).