At its July 31, 2017 meeting, the Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability received a report from the County Sustainability Coordinator on electric vehicle (EV) readiness in Contra Costa County. The Committee discussed the Departments of Public Works and Conservation and Development (DCD), developing a Contra Costa County Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan, which at that time staff believed could be completed by February 2018.  
  
Shortly after the July 2017 meeting, DCD staff began collaborating with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), which is also interested in developing an EV Readiness Plan. CCTA is responsible for maintaining and improving the County’s transportation system by planning, funding, and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs. DCD staff are working closely with CCTA staff to develop a need statement and scope of work for an EV Readiness Plan (see attached). CCTA staff have presented on this project to the Planning Directors meeting that CCTA hosts and to the City/County Engineering Advisory Committee, which both responded favorably to the project.  
  
While staff originally believed a Readiness Plan could be prepared in-house, the expanded scope of the project and participation of other agencies makes this a project that will be most successful if developed with the assistance of outside experts. County staff are working with CCTA to identify funding sources.  
  
On December 14, the California Energy Commission (CEC) announced a competitive grant solicitation from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program for grants of up to $200,000 each for communities to develop planning blueprints to identify the actions and milestones needed to proceed towards implementation of an EV ready community. The CEC anticipates awarding three grants in Northern California. Receiving a grant in this first phase makes the applicant team eligible to compete in a Phase 2 solicitation for implementation funds. One of the goals for the grant is to develop EV blueprints that can be easily replicated in other communities. The deadline for this grant is February 9, 2018. CCTA will be the lead on the application; the County anticipates having a supporting role in developing the grant and developing the EV blueprint, should the application be successful.  
  
On January 5, 2018, the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) announced the 2018-2019 Sustainable Communities, Strategic Partnerships grant. This grant will fund local and regional multimodal transportation and land use projects that further a region’s regional transportation plan sustainable communities strategy and help achieve California’s greenhouse gas reduction targets. The deadline for this grant is February 23. Staff will collaborate with CCTA in developing this grant application and supporting the work, should the application be successful. Staff is considering pursuing this funding opportunity for two other projects, the Marsh Creek Multiuse Corridor Feasibility Study and the Accessible Transit Feasibility Study (also being prepared in collaboration with CCTA).  
  
Updated information on EV Readiness Plan and on these grant opportunities were discussed at the January 22, 2018 meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability and referred to the Board for its authorization to proceed.

If the Board does not approve the recommended action it will be more difficult for the County to plan for and take advantage of funding opportunities for electric vehicles and supporting infrastructure.