Maryland announced a new program to help drive the fight against climate change.
The Maryland Energy Administration unveiled the new Fiscal Year 2024 Medium-Duty and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Grant Program. The plan provides grants to Maryland communities, organizations, and fleet companies that will help offset the cost of purchasing zero-emission medium- or heavy-duty fleet vehicles, and zero-emission off-road heavy equipment.
A medium-duty vehicle might be a conventional van, a landscaping or utility truck, or a school bus. Examples of a heavy-duty vehicle include a city or transit bus, a fire engine, or a dump truck.
The program’s focus is on commercial and industrial uses because progress in these sectors is critical for Maryland to reach its climate goals. Zero-emission vehicles are powered by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells. This helps improve public health because they give off reduced direct vehicle emissions. An added benefit is that these vehicles improve competitiveness since their operating costs are more predictable.
In February 2024, Gov. Wes Moore announced plans to spend $90 million to reduce carbon pollution in Maryland to fight environmental injustice. He planned to direct the largest portion of that money, $50 million, towards decarbonizing community buildings like hospitals, multifamily housing, and schools.
Maryland state officials passed a law in 2022 to decrease greenhouse gas emissions with the goal or reaching net-zero emissions by 2045.
“Moving forward in our pushback against carbon pollution requires that we advance a number of solutions across a number of sectors, including transportation,” said Paul G. Pinsky, director of the Maryland Energy Administration, in a statement. “Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and equipment are essential to public transportation and moving goods and services around our communities. This new program helps ensure that these essential functions get served, while we emit lower levels of climate-degrading carbon pollution.”
The Medium-Duty and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Grant Program offers to provide funding for 75 percent of the incremental cost of qualifying vehicles and heavy equipment.
Applications for program grants are due by April 11, 2024, at 2 p.m.
For ore information, including instructions on how to apply, visit the FY24 Medium-Duty and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicle Grant Program.
