The California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) are pleased to announce that the application period for the “Zero-Emission Drayage Truck and Infrastructure Pilot Project” has been extended to February 15, 2021.
Eligible applicants to this competitive solicitation include local air districts, California-based public entities, and California-based non-profit organizations. The total funding available for this project is up to $44.1 million. Funds provided through this proposed solicitation include $24 million for projects eligible under CARB’s Fiscal Year 2019-20 Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives for Low Carbon Transportation Investments and the Air Quality Improvement Program, and $20.1 million from the CEC’s Clean Transportation Program (formerly known as the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program). CARB funding will be allocated towards the purchase of on-road zero-emission Class 8 trucks. CEC funding will support zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and installation, and workforce training and development. Other costs associated with administrative and data collection tasks will be supported by either CARB or CEC.
The only method of delivery for this solicitation is the CEC’s Grant Solicitation System. Applications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time), February 15, 2021.
The grant solicitation and all associated documents along with the questions and answers document are posted on the CEC website. Additionally, CARB’s website contains the questions and answers document and provides a link to the CEC website.
All communication must be directed in writing to the CEC’s Commission Agreement Officer (CAO), Kevyn Piper.
Background
California Climate Investments Low Carbon Transportation Funding: The Low Carbon Transportation program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment, particularly in disadvantaged communities. CARB and the CEC are soliciting Grantees to implement and administer projects to support large-scale deployments of on-road, zero-emission Class 8 drayage and regional haul trucks as well as the necessary zero-emission vehicle fueling infrastructure needed for service operation. Funding for this project was allocated under the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives (FY 2019-20 Funding Plan). CARB approved the current funding plan in October 2019, which included funding for a project to demonstrate the large deployment of zero-emission Class 8 on-road drayage trucks, along with the needed infrastructure. CARB and the CEC joined forces on this solicitation in order to increase the scope of this project by doubling the available funding. Funding from CEC for this project was allocated under the CEC’s Clean Transportation Program.
The goals under this competitive solicitation are to: (1) advance zero-emission technology for Class 8 on-road trucks with a focus on regional haul or drayage service; (2) understand fleet dynamics when deploying a large number of zero-emission trucks and supporting infrastructure, including assessing the ability of fleets to recharge or refuel large numbers of trucks on a daily basis – sometimes multiple times per day; (3) support zero-emission, on-road heavy-duty truck manufacturers to realize economies of scale that come with larger production volumes; (4) holistically reduce greenhouse gas (GHG), criteria pollutant, and toxic air contaminant emissions in and around ports and freight facilities; and (5) provide economic, environmental, and public health benefits to disadvantaged and low-income communities. Additionally, this solicitation will help meet the goals of Executive Order B-32-15, which directed the development of the California Sustainable Freight Action Plan, Executive Order N-19-19, contribute to the state’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change while building a sustainable, inclusive economy, and Executive Order N-79-20, contributing to the objective of all new on-road passenger and commercial vehicles and all applicable new off-road vehicles shall be zero-emission by 2045.
More Information Here
Press courtesy of The California Air Resources Board
Top image: Class 8 electric truck courtesy BYD