The California Air Resources Board has announced that the first installment of $35 million in VW Environmental Mitigation Trust funding for Zero-Emission Freight and Marine Projects throughout California is now available via a competitive solicitation.

A second solicitation offering an additional $35 million is expected to be released in mid-2022.

Eligible projects:

• Scrap and replace forklifts (with >8,000 lbs lift capacity), airport ground support equipment (GSE) and port cargo handling equipment (CHE) with new zero-emission technologies.

• Scrap and repower marine engines for ferries, tugboats and towboats with new zero-emission battery-electric or fuel cell technologies.

• Install shore power at berths that serve ocean-going vessels.

Key project requirements include:

• For replacement and repower projects, the old equipment must be scrapped (destroyed).

• Funded equipment must be certified, verified or otherwise approved by the US EPA or CARB for operation in California.

• Funded equipment must be domiciled in and operate in the state of California for the duration of its project life.

• Funding recipients must report annually on operations for at least three years.

Source: California VW Mitigation Trust