Charge Where You Are

The Washington State Volkswagen (VW) Federal Settlement Grant Program is administered by the Air Quality Program of the Washington State Department of Ecology. This grant initiative arises from the federal Volkswagen settlement, in which Washington State was allocated $112.7 million through an environmental mitigation trust. The funds are designed to compensate for environmental damage caused by excess nitrogen oxide emissions from violating VW diesel vehicles. The Department of Ecology has developed a Beneficiary Mitigation Plan to distribute these funds strategically across projects that align with state objectives such as emission reduction, electrification of transportation, and environmental justice. The current funding opportunity, titled "Air Quality VW Electric Vehicle Charging Level 2: Charge Where You Are," focuses on expanding access to Level 2 electric vehicle charging infrastructure across Washington. The program prioritizes locations where vehicles are parked for one to four hours and aims to increase charging availability for residents, commuters, and fleet operators. Specific goals include reducing diesel emissions, improving air quality in overburdened communities, and supporting state clean energy and transportation goals. The Department of Ecology emphasizes cost-effectiveness and seeks to leverage additional matching funds where possible. Approximately $3.52 million is available through multiple funding rounds scheduled between 2023 and 2025. Awards are capped at $10,000 per charging plug, with reimbursement percentages varying by project type. Public access projects on government or non-government property are eligible for 80% reimbursement, while multi-unit residential, workplace, and other non-public access projects receive 60%. Reduced match options are available for government-owned, public-access projects located in disadvantaged or rural areas. Funding distribution is also subject to county-level caps to ensure geographic diversity. Eligible applicants include businesses licensed in Washington, nonprofits, utilities, tribal governments, municipalities, and special districts. Applicants must either own the property or provide a site-host agreement valid for five years. Projects must include a minimum of four and a maximum of ten Level 2 plugs, each capable of delivering at least 9.0 kW per vehicle. All equipment must meet technical standards, including SAE J-1772 compatibility and Open Charge Point Protocol compliance. Procurement must follow Washington’s competitive bidding requirements. The application process is administered through the Ecology Administration of Grants and Loans (EAGL) system. Each project location requires a separate application, including details like site-use case, community engagement plans, and site-host agreements. Applicants must not make any purchases before receiving an executed grant agreement. Applications are scored based on environmental health disparities, proximity to existing chargers, income levels, rurality, and alignment with overburdened community definitions. Tie-breaking procedures favor projects in high-disparity census tracts or areas farthest from existing chargers. Recipients must complete projects within one year of grant execution. Reporting requirements include quarterly progress reports, equipment purchase documentation, photos, and a final closeout report. For accessibility and compliance, all sites must meet local EV parking and signage requirements, as well as complete cultural resources reviews prior to construction. Ecology maintains the discretion to reallocate unspent or returned funds and may partially fund selected projects depending on demand.

Do not order equipment before grant execution. Cultural resource review takes 60 days. Follow state procurement laws.