HB 2118

Abstract

Electric Vehicle Grant Fund and Program; creation; workgroup report. Establishes the Electric Vehicle Grant Fund and Program for the purpose of (i) awarding grants on a competitive basis to public school divisions for (a) assisting with costs of replacing diesel school buses with electric school buses; (b) the implementation of recharging infrastructure or other infrastructure needed to charge or maintain such electric school buses; and (c) workforce development and training to support the maintenance, charging, and operation of such electric school buses and (ii) projects by public, private, and non-profit Virginia entities to assist with replacing diesel-fueled vehicles and machinery with electric vehicles.  No allocation of funds shall be made to the Fund or the Program unless federal or nonstate funds are available to cover the entire cost of such allocation. The bill contains provisions relating to grant applications, priority, awards, and uses.  The Department of Environmental Quality shall convene a stakeholder workgroup to develop recommendations for establishing and administering the Fund and Program and shall report the workgroup findings to the General Assembly.

Electric Vehicle Grant Fund and Program; creation;report. Requires the Department of Environmental Quality to establishthe Electric Vehicle Grant Program (the Program) for the purposeof (i) awarding grants on a competitive basis to school boards for(a) assisting with the complete replacement of existing diesel schoolbuses with electric school buses no later than 2031; (b) the implementationof recharging infrastructure or other infrastructure needed to chargeor maintain such electric school buses; and (c) workforce developmentand training to support the maintenance, charging, and operationof such electric school buses and (ii) developing education outreachto promote the Program. The bill contains provisions relating togrant applications, priority, awards, and uses. The grants wouldbe funded from a $0.05 per gallon tax on dyed diesel fuel. Farmers would be eligible for a refund of the tax for dyed diesel fuel usedfor agricultural or horticultural purposes. The bill has an expirationdate of July 1, 2031.