Maryland Volkswagen Mitigation Plan

Notice:

Round 3 Volkswagen EVSE Funding Opportunity

1/15/25: The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has developed two frameworks for proposals under Maryland's Volkswagen Mitigation Plan. Please review the Round 3 frameworks carefully before submitting project proposals, as the frameworks were updated to reflect comments received after Round 1 and Round 2.

The first framework covers the requirements for charging infrastructure located at workplaces and government-owned facilities The second framework covers the requirements for DC Fast Charging installations along alternative fuel corridors and at charging hubs.

This is the third and final round of funding for light-duty EVSE installations using funds from the Volkswagen Mitigation Settlement. MDE will accept project proposals for the two frameworks until C.O.B. on April 18th, 2025. The proposal form and supporting documents should be submitted to mde.vw@maryland.gov.

Charge Ahead Grant Program Framework Round 3.pdf

Electric Corridors Grant Program Framework Round 3.pdf

Volkswagen EVSE Application Round 3.pdf

Volkswagen Round 2 EVSE Awards:

VW EVSE-Round 2 CAGP.pdf
VW EVSE-Round 2 ECGP.pdf

12/22/21: The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), in coordination with the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), has developed two frameworks for proposals under Maryland's Volkswagen Mitigation Plan. Please review the Round 2 frameworks carefully before submitting project proposals, as the frameworks were updated to reflect comments received after Round 1.

This is the second round of funding for light-duty EVSE installations using funds from the Volkswagen Mitigation Settlement. MDE will accept project proposals for the two frameworks until C.O.B. on April 15th, 2022. The proposal form and supporting documents should be submitted to mde.vw@maryland.gov.

Charge Ahead Grant Program Framework Round 2.pdf

Electric Corridors Grant Program Framework Round 2.pdf

*If having trouble filling out the form, please try downloading the Application first.

8/26/21:The Maryland Department of the Environment, along with the Maryland Energy Administration, has awarded Volkswagen Mitigation funds for projects submitted during the first round of funding under the Electric Corridor Grant Program (ECGP) and Charge Ahead Grant Program (CAGP). This funding, available through the VW Mitigation Program will award over $3.68M to install Level 2 electric vehicle stations and Level 3 electric vehicle DC Fast Charging stations throughout Maryland. The following sites were selected for awards in each program.

8/17/21: MDE, in partnership with the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), aims to open the second round of funding for both the Charge Ahead Grant Program (CAGP) and the Electric Corridors Grant Program (ECGP) by the end of 2021. Prior to that, MDE/MEA would like to solicit feedback regarding the first round of funding on both the application process and the Program frameworks. In particular, feedback is sought on incentive levels and technical specification requirements. This will help MDE/MEA determine if any adjustments should be instituted for the second round of the programs. The comment period will open from August 17th thru September 30th. To be considered, all comments must be submitted thru the Maryland VW email address at mde.vw@maryland.gov. When submitting, please put "(Organization Name) Comments-EVSE 2nd Round" in the subject line. The program frameworks and proposal form used in the first round are below for reference.

Charge Ahead Grant Program Framework.pdf

Electric Corridors Grant Program Framework.pdf

-PROPOSAL FORM (Do not use this form to submit Round 2 Applications)

The proposal period for the first round of EVSE funding is now closed.

MDE's Volkswagen Mitigation Plan project proposal period is now closed. Applications are being reviewed and projects selected for funding will be notified once the process is complete. Projects selected for funding and approved by the Volkswagen Trustee are detailed at the bottom of this page.

This proposal period was not applicable for projects related to zero emission vehicle infrastructure. Applications for zero emission vehicle infrastructure will continue to be accepted past the deadline while the scope and criteria for this portion of the funding is still under development. More details on this source of funding will be available at a later date.

Maryland's Mitigation Plan is available

here

Project Proposal Template is available

here

Background

On September 18, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) issued a Notice of Violation of the Clean Air Act to Volkswagen AG (VW), Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. alleging that model year 2009-2015 Volkswagen and Audi diesel cars equipped with 2.0-liter and 3.0-liter engines included software that circumvents EPA and CARB emissions standards for nitrogen oxides (NO_x). This software is considered a "defeat device" as defined by the Clean Air Act. Approximately 550,000 vehicles in the United States had "defeat devices" installed; approximately 16,000 were delivered to Maryland.

On October 25, 2016, the U.S. District Court Northern District of California approved a Partial Consent Decree between the U.S, Justice Department, and VW regarding excess emissions of NO_x due to the installation of "defeat devices" on 2.0-liter diesel engines. The use of "defeat devices" has increased vehicle emissions of NO_x, resulting in adverse effects on air quality. NO_x emissions contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone. More information on the consent decrees for VW may be found here.

The Consent Decree established an Environmental Mitigation Trust of $2.925 billion to fully remediate the excess NO_x emissions from the affected 2.0 and 3.0-liter vehicles. The State of Maryland is eligible to receive over $71 million from the VW Trust for the 2.0-liter vehicles. A settlement for the affected 3.0-liter vehicles was reached on December 20, 2016, and Maryland is eligible to receive an additional $4.6 million from the VW Trust for these vehicles. The State of Maryland is eligible to receive a total of over $75.7 million from the VW Trust to use for specifically defined eligible mitigation projects. To guide the use of funds over the Trust's 10-year lifetime, Maryland has developed a Mitigation Plan that outlines the eligible projects Maryland will use to reduce excess NOx emissions.

For more information on eligible mitigation projects, please click here.

Maryland Mitigation Plan

Maryland's Mitigation Plan is available here: Maryland Volkswagen Mitigation Plan.pdf.

MDE accepted comments on the proposed Mitigation Plan until August 31, 2018.

Maryland held two public listening sessions to provide an overview of Maryland's Mitigation Plan as well as to field questions from citizens.

MDE accepted proposals for eligible mitigation projects through May 6th, 2019. MDE continues to review these projects for eligibility and funding potential. As projects are funded all relevant information will be added to this webpage as part of MDE's publicly available information requirements.

Maryland Volkswagen Project Proposal.pdf.

Projects approved for funding by the Volkswagen Trustee:

MDE Mitigation Plan Category	Funded Project Description	Funds Distributed
Dray Truck Replacement Program	$571,676 for the purchase of 15 newer, cleaner drayage trucks at the Port of Baltimore.	$558,019.50
Alternative Fuel School Bus Grant	$2,544,421 for the purchase of 28 new, alternative fuel school buses. The project will replace 22 old diesel school buses with new ultra-low NOx propane school buses, and replace 6 old diesel school buses with new zero-emission electric school buses.	$1,643,410.98
	$1,267,550 for the purchase of 22 new, alternative fuel heavy-duty trucks. The project will replace 20 diesel trucks with near-zero CNG heavy-duty trucks, and two heavy-duty diesel yard trucks with new zero-emission electric trucks.	$572,600.39
	$524,641.97 for the purchase of 3 new all-electric shuttle buses.	$178,299
	$327,270 for the purchase of 2 pieces of all-electric airport ground support equipment.	$0
	$3,274,339 for the purchase of 19 new heavy-duty diesel trucks owned by the Maryland Department of Transportation	$840,101.35
	$10,413,356 for the purchase of 12 new electric transit buses owned by the Maryland Department of Transportation	$8,431,572.04
	$522,675 for the repower of two older diesel marine vessels with new Tier 4 diesel engines	$576,220.00
	$1,197,450 for the purchase of five new all-electric powered forklifts and port cargo handling equipment to replace seven older diesel-powered pieces of equipment.	$0
	$3,838,000 to replace two diesel freight switchers built in 1952 with new near-zero Tier 4 emission standards diesel freight switchers.	$3,838,000
	$5,519,804 for the purchase of 17 new transit buses. The project will replace 8 diesel buses with zero-emission electric buses, 5 diesel buses with CNG powered buses, and replace 8 diesel buses with 6 new, cleaner diesel buses.	$3,839,326.54
	$546,612 for the replacement of 5 unregulated marine engines with new Tier 3 marine engines.	$96,644.88
	$12,120,000 for the replacement of 6 diesel-powered Rubber Tire Gantry (RTG) cranes at Seagirt Marine Terminal with electric Rubber Tire Gantry cranes.	$0
	$1,332,450 for the replacement of 64 older heavy-duty diesel trucks with new, cleaner heavy-duty diesel trucks.	$527,694.00
	$5,729,662.55 for the replacement of 153 older heavy-duty diesel trucks with new, cleaner heavy-duty diesel trucks and alternative-fueled trucks. The project will replace 2 diesel trucks with new zero-emission electric trucks, 7 diesel trucks with new propane trucks, and 144 diesel trucks with new diesel trucks.	$2,017,766.00
	$5,343,945 for the replacement of 39 older heavy-duty diesel buses with new, diesel and alternative-fueled buses. The project will replace 2 diesel buses with new zero-emission electric buses and 37 diesel buses with new diesel buses.	$4,460,856.40
ZEV Infrastructure D-4 signed.pdf	$11,657,135 for the purchase and installation of Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure. Funding is available for Level 2 charging at workplaces and Level 3-DC Fast Charging along alternative fuel corridors and at charging hubs.	$2,371,680.60