By: @Ophelia Szigeti
CSDA has received information about zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) funding opportunities provided through the California Energy Commission (CEC) and confirmed special districts are eligible for the EnergIIZE program. These initiatives specifically support the development of medium-duty and heavy-duty (MDHD) ZEV infrastructure by facilitating the adoption of innovative transportation technologies through grants.
Funding Overview
AB 118 (Núñez, 2007), which established the CEC’s Clean Transportation Program, provides approximately $100 million annually to fund fuel and vehicle sector projects to accelerate deployment and provide funding for ZEVs, ZEV charging infrastructure, hydrogen vehicle and refueling infrastructure, and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. AB 126 (Reyes, 2023) extended this program through July 1, 2035. This program invests in a broad portfolio of transportation and fuel transportation projects throughout the state, leveraging public and private investments. These efforts are bolstered by additional state funding from the General Fund and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
The CEC administers these funds through two primary mechanisms:
1. Solicitations:
A workshop was held on July 16, 2024, for CEC to discuss and receive feedback focusing on medium-duty and heavy-duty ZEV concepts. Though the official deadline for written comment was July 30, 2024, the docket remains open for ongoing feedback. You can access the workshop materials and submit comments via the links below:
2. EnergIIZE Commercial Vehicles:
Funded through the CEC and managed by CALSTART, the EnergIIZE program streamlines the application process for fleets transitioning to zero-emission vehicles. There are multiple funding lanes available, including EV Fast Track, EV Jump Start, and Hydrogen. Detailed fact sheets and application resources can be found at EnergIIZE. These projects commonly use the term “commercial fleets”; therefore, CSDA has confirmed that special districts are eligible to apply for this funding.
Additional Resources
The Distributed Electricity Backup Assets (DEBA) Program established through AB 205 (2022), offers incentives to support the development of cleaner, more efficient distributed energy resources. These assets are designed to serve as on-call emergency supply or load reduction for California’s electrical grid during extreme events such as climate change impacts, heat waves, wildfires, droughts, and supply chain disruptions. By enhancing grid reliability, the program looks to address challenges that threaten the state’s ability to expand its electrical infrastructure. (Public Resources Code 25790-25790.5)
Stay Connected
To learn more about upcoming workshops, solicitations, and grant opportunities, sign up for the CEC’s Opportunity and Clean Transportation Program.
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