The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has opened the application process for a $16.1 million program that provides grants to buy and install electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
Funds for the eligible DC Fast Charger (DCFC) EV equipment come through New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multistate market-based carbon cap-and-invest initiative that requires fossil fuel power plants to track and pay for greenhouse gas emissions.
The NJBPU program will use the RGGI funds to provide incentives for EV charging equipment and associated make-ready costs, focusing on funding two charging models: community charging and private fleet charging.
Grants of up to $225,000 are available for the purchase and installation of publicly available, community EV charging equipment. Grants of up to $175,000 are available for private fleet EV charging. Businesses must prove participation in the New Jersey Zero-Emission Incentive Program (“NJZIP”) program to apply.
NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso said medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses make up 25% of New Jersey’s transportation sector emissions even though they are only about 4% percent of the vehicles on the road.
“Through smart and strategic programs and investments, like those featured in this charging program, we can achieve cleaner air in overburdened communities and cost savings for business owners,” Fiordaliso said in a NJBPU statement announcing the opening of the application period on Jan. 12.
The application window will remain open until 5 p.m., May 12.
The DCFC equipment funded by these grants must have a capacity of 150 kW/hr or more. Selected project locations will be allowed up to six chargers per site. Final selection of grantees and distribution of funds will also be dependent on grantees receiving project approval from their electric distribution company.
Applicants may apply for both the community charging track and the private fleet track, but if the applicant is selected for both, each location will still only be eligible for funding for six chargers.
For more information about the grants, go here.
