The Clean Vehicle Project will further promote the adoption of electric vehicles in Massachusetts through publicly accessible charging stations and replace or convert more than 200 public and private fleet vehicles currently powered by gasoline and diesel with vehicles fueled by natural gas, propane, electricity, solar electric and hybrid technologies.

The grant program, available to public and private fleets, will be administered by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and funded with $11.7 million in Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. DOER will solicit project proposals in the coming months.

Working in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative’s ongoing EV V2G School Bus Demonstration, DOER will provide $1.8 million in grants for eight electric school buses with vehicle-to-grid capability. Electric school buses have energy storage capability and can serve as back-up energy resources during natural disasters and similar events. While priority will be given to designated Green Communities, all communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Patrick Administration is also investing $2 million in additional funding to the Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (MassEVIP), operated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), for a second round of incentives for municipalities to acquire electric vehicles and install charging stations.

Under MassEVIP Phase 2, eligible applicants will include municipalities, state agencies, car-share companies, and public universities and colleges. Up to $7,500 per electric vehicle and up to $15,000 per publicly accessible charging station will be available to eligible entities. The deadline for submitting applications is 14 February 2014.

The first phase of MassEVIP grants, totaling $555,000, were awarded in December to 20 municipalities across the Commonwealth for the acquisition of 47 electric vehicles and the installation of 17 duel-head electric charging stations. The grants are listed below.

The Clean Energy and Climate Plan goal, created under the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA), aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050.