Maryland Idle Reduction Technology Grant Program

The Maryland Idle Reduction Grant Program provides financial assistance for the purchase and installation of idle reduction technology on trucks.

Program Contacts:

• Technical and application assistance: Lonnie Richmond
• Completion certificate and payment: Chris Rice

How to Receive an Idle Reduction Technology Grant

Under the Idle Reduction Technology Grant Program the Primary Point of Contact (PPC) is the truck dealer/distributor/installer. The PPC is responsible for ensuring all grant documentation is submitted in a timely, accurate, and complete manner.

The following is a simplified diagram of the Idle Reduction Technology Grant Program process.

Program Guidelines

Before printing and signing program forms, MEA strongly recommends filling them out electronically. When doing so, some data elements will be automatically populated, which will save time and eliminate errors. Additionally, certain fields are validated for form and content.

The Program benefits owners of Maryland-registered trucks and Maryland dealerships. Idle reduction devices covered under this Program are not for resale.

• Truck dealers and idle reduction technology distributors and installers are the primary point of contact (PPC) and are responsible for completing and submitting applications to MEA.
• Application packages will not be processed and will be returned to the PPC if:
  • Any documents are illegible
  • Application package is incomplete or missing supporting documentation.
• Application period: All applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on June 1, 2012. Ineligible applications must be corrected and returned to MEA by 4:00 p.m. on June 1, 2012.
• Program ends Sept. 30, 2012. All idle reduction devices must be installed on existing trucks and new trucks (with idle reduction technology), and must be delivered to the owner by Sept. 30, 2012.
• Eligible vehicles:
  • On-highway class 6 to class 8 trucks. Buses are not eligible.
  • Maryland-registered trucks, including new trucks which will be registered in Maryland.
  • Idle reduction devices must be installed in the State of Maryland.
  • New trucks must be purchased from a dealership in Maryland.
  • Leased vehicles are not eligible to apply.
• Eligible idle reduction technologies must be verified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or California Air Resources Board (CARB), and include:
  • Auxiliary power units (APU)
    • Applications involving APU's are limited to vehicles with sleeper berths.  Exceptions may be granted on a case by case basis at the sole discretion of MEA.  The PPC must provide a written explanation as an attachment to the application justifying the installation.
  • Fuel-operated heaters (FOH)
  • Automatic stop-start systems
  • Electric truck refrigeration units (eTRU)
  • Battery-operated air conditioning systems (BAC)
  • Thermal storage systems (TSS)
  • On-board (truck mounted) accessories, such as inverters, battery upgrades, electrical connections and electric heaters, and air conditioning units
• Ineligible costs:
  • The cost of operating and maintaining idle reduction technology
  • Self installation of the idle reduction technology
• Motor carriers are limited to five awards (trucks).
• Awards are limited to 50% of the installed cost up to $4,000.
• Applications submitted after installation or purchase will not be accepted.
• Reimbursements for eligible (approved) costs will be paid to the PPC no later than 45 days after receipt of required documentation.
• Motor carriers may be requested to submit pre-installation (baseline) and 12 month driving and idle behavior reports.
• Grants are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis across technologies.

Grant Application Package

We encourage you to fill out the Grant Application Forms electronically. Some data elements are automatically populated electronically, which will save time and eliminate potential errors. Certain fields are also validated for form and content. For this reason, MEA strongly recommends utilizing these enhancements by filling out the forms electronically before printing and signing them.

Note: Any illegible documents will be returned, unprocessed, to the PPC.

Any application package that is incomplete or is missing supporting documentation will be returned to the PPC without being processed.

Grant Application Forms

• Application form

Grant Completion Package

After MEA sends the Grant Commitment Letter to the PPC, and the project has been completed, the PPC must submit the Completion Package. As with the Application Package, the Application Reimbursement Form is designed to be filled out electronically. Some data elements are automatically populated, and certain fields are also validated for form and content. MEA strongly recommends utilizing these enhancements by filling out the forms electronically before printing and signing them.

Note: Any illegible documents will be returned, unprocessed, to the PPC.

Application Reimbursement forms contain a checklist of the documents that need to be submitted as part of the Reimbursement package.

Any Reimbursement package that is incomplete or is missing supporting documentation will be returned to the PPC without being processed.

Application Reimbursement Form

• Application reimbursement form
• Proof of sale template

Additional Information

Resources

• Idle Reduction Technology Grant Program flyer
• DOE idling worksheet
• EPA SmartWay Technology

Tax Status of Idle Reduction Grants

The Maryland Office of the Comptroller has determined that, based on IRS rules, a State grant is considered taxable income. Therefore, a Form 1099-G will be issued for grants received through the Idle Reduction Technology Grant Program. They should be reported as income on federal tax returns.