$750,000 Available to New York Municipalities Under Zero-emission Vehicle Rebate Program

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Applications Now Open

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced the next round of DEC’s Municipal Zero-emission Vehicle (ZEV) Rebate Program, which will provide $750,000 to municipalities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission light- and medium-duty fleet vehicles. These municipal zero-emission vehicles will help New York achieve the greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements as part of the State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act).

A total of $750,000 is available from DEC for municipalities to apply for funding on a first-come, first-served basis starting April 25, 2024, DEC is accepting applications on a rolling basis through Sept. 27, 2024, or until funds are exhausted, whichever occurs first. Rebates are available to municipalities across the State that purchase – or lease for a minimum of 36 months—an eligible vehicle placed into municipal service at a dealership in New York State between Sept. 30, 2022, and Sept. 27, 2024. All electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are eligible for rebates.

More details can be found in the Request for Applications (RFA) posted on the DEC website. Applications are available through the NYS Statewide Financial System Grants Management System.

Enacted 2024-25 New York State Budget Highlights
Under Governor Hochul’s leadership as part of the 2024-25 Enacted State Budget, $12.5 million was included for the Climate Smart Communities Grant Program as part of the $400 million Environmental Protection Fund, in addition to $2 million for the regional Climate Smart Communities Coordinators.

As part of the Climate Smart Communities Grant Program, this year’s budget authorizes DEC to provide up to 80 percent of the cost of projects to municipalities that meet the criteria for financial hardship and for projects located in disadvantaged communities. State funding will continue to be complemented with support from the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, including $5 million for Climate Smart Communities grants.

For more information on the Enacted 2024-25 State Budget, including accelerating the clean energy transition, read the full press release.