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Oct. 15, 2024

DEQ Accepting Applications for EV Charger Grants and Diesel
Emission Reduction Grants
RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air
Quality (DAQ) today is releasing requests for proposals (RFPs) for two grant programs
aimed at reducing air pollution from the transportation sector: One for electric vehicle
chargers and another for clean vehicle replacements.
Applications for the 2024 Mobile Sources Emissions Reductions Grant will be accepted
through Dec. 31, 2024. More than $1.1 million is available to fund projects that will
reduce emissions from diesel engines, including the replacement or repowering of
school buses, nonroad construction and agricultural equipment, heavy-duty on-road
vehicles, and locomotives with new, clean equipment and vehicles.
Additionally, DAQ is making available $1.8 million from unspent N.C. Volkswagen
Settlement funds for a new Community and Destination Zero-Emission Vehicle
Infrastructure Program. These grants will help install DC Fast and Level 2 EV charging
stations across the state. Applications are due Jan. 31, 2025.
Both of these grants will fund projects that will reduce harmful air pollution from the
transportation sector, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and
greenhouse gases.
Projects in western North Carolina counties impacted by Hurricane Helene are
encouraged to apply, and bonus points are available to applications for projects located
in an area covered by a federal disaster declaration.
Mobile Sources Emissions Reductions Grant
DAQ administers the Mobile Sources Emissions Reductions Grant each year to fund the
replacement of older diesel vehicles with cleaner alternatives. Any business or
organization in the public or private sector operating in North Carolina is eligible to
apply.
Projects to replace diesel vehicles with electric vehicles receive bonus points during the
scoring process. Bonus points are also available to projects in environmental justice
communities or historically under-resourced counties, as well as to projects submitted
by minority-owned or woman-owned businesses.
DAQ will hold two information webinars to assist applicants. Registration is required.
Learn more on DAQ’s website.
This grant program is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Diesel
Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program. The purpose of DERA funding is to support
projects designed to achieve significant diesel emissions reductions. These include
emissions of NOx and PM.
Community & Destination Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program
DAQ is leveraging unspent funding from the N.C. Volkswagen Settlement to enhance
community and destination electric vehicle charging options across the state. This grant
aims to increase the use of clean zero-emission vehicles in place of gas-powered cars
and improve air quality.
Awards will be made to charging sites for the installation of one to four new DC Fast
charging ports. Sites optionally may include up to eight Level 2 charging ports. All
funded chargers must be accessible to the public.
Maximum funding amounts are based on the capacity of the chargers and location.
While both public and private entities may apply, projects on non-government-owned
property require a cost share of at least 20%.
Applications that use Renewable Energy Certificates and projects in historically under-
resourced counties receive bonus points during application scoring. Projects will also be
scored based on environmental justice, cost effectiveness, and the distance from North
Carolina’s designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. Projects in rural counties also score
higher than those in suburban or urban counties.
While the RFP is available now, applications will be accepted from Nov. 15, 2024,
through Jan. 31, 2025. DAQ will hold two information webinars to assist applicants.
Registration is required. Learn more on DAQ’s website.
This grant program is funded by the state’s share of the national Volkswagen
settlement. The N.C. Volkswagen Settlement Program across two phases has
distributed more than $92 million for clean vehicle replacements and EV charging
infrastructure. DAQ has allocated the full 15% allowed in the Volkswagen State Trust
Agreement for zero-emission vehicle charging infrastructure projects, including Level 2
and DC Fast chargers.

For More Information
Contact: Shawn Taylor
Phone: [phone]