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Maryland Cle​an​ Diesel Vehicle In​itiative + Baltimore Port Clean Diesel Initiative

Maryland plans to use its DERA State Grants for two projects: first, for both FY2023 and FY2024, to continue its successful Maryland Clean Vehicle Initiative, with an updated goal of replacing older diesel school buses with new electric buses, providing financial assistance of up to 45 percent, with the owner providing the remainder of the purchase price. Charging infrastructure for this is allowed to be funded under DERA for the first time and may be considered as proposed by grantees to power their new vehicles. The second part, for the FY2023 grant only, is to fund the Baltimore Port Clean Diesel Initiative with VW Mitigation Trust Funds using the DERA option, which will continue to provide financial assistance for the replacement of older drayage trucks operating at the Port of Baltimore with newer trucks. The prog​ram will pay for up to half the price of a truck with a MY2017 or newer EPA compliant engine, to a maximum of $35,000.

Replacing older, higher emission school buses with zero-emission electric school buses enhances children’s health by reducing their exposure to in-cabin diesel emissions. Newer buses also decrease emissions on the school grounds, in the immediate vicinity, and in neighborhoods and roads where the buses travel. The dray truck replacement project helps address emissions reductions and air quality goals at the Port of Baltimore and in its surrounding communities.

Maryland used the State Clean Diesel FY2019 and 2020 funds to replace aging diesel vehicles in the state--16 school buses for FY2019, and 15 school buses plus two diesel zoo shuttles for FY2020. This project was developed to address emissions reduction and air quality goals for the State of Maryland for areas having poor air quality, such as the Baltimore and Washington DC ozone nonattainment areas, and the surrounding regions. 

​The Maryland Clean Diesel Vehicle Initiative provided financial assistance of 25%, up to $20,000, for the replacement of older diesel public school buses with new diesel buses. Counties and school districts that had previously applied unsuccessfully for federal or state grants were considered first. The Initiative also contributed toward the replacement of older diesel passenger trams serving the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore with new battery-powered electric models. These vehicles have onboard charging technology and are eligible for 45% DERA funding.

Port of Baltimore Dray Truck Replacement Program

During the Port of Baltimore Dray Truck Replacement Program, MDE partnered with Maryland Environmental Service (MES), working for the Maryland Port Administration (MPA), to continue a dray truck replacement program at the Port of Baltimore. The program paid for up to half the price of a newer truck with an EPA 2010 compliant engine, to a maximum of $30,000. In FY2014, $88,946 was made available and three older trucks were replaced. In FY2015, with $136,886, five trucks were replaced. In FY2016 with $217,788, eight trucks were replaced. The total for the grant was the replacement of 16 older trucks which had less-efficient emissions control systems for the same number of cleaner newer ones. All the replaced trucks were destroyed, and any scrappage income received was used by the owner toward their share of purchase price.

A Voluntary Agreement between the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland Port Administration, and the Maryland Department of Transportation was signed in December 2015 to continue to reduce emissions from cargo handling equipment, drayage trucks, locomotives, and marine vessels. The signing was conducted as a press event at the Port to promote to the public the partnership and the work being done. The partners meet regularly with community groups to keep residents up to date with the latest actions and conditions at the port.

Maryland Truck Idle Reduction Program

For additional information, call Tim Shepherd at (410) 537-3270 or email tim.shepherd@maryland.gov.