Agenda

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C. 46

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator
Date:	February 11, 2020

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

AUTHORIZE the Director, Conservation and Development, to sign Letter of Intent for County participation in the CALeVIP program.

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 02/11/2020

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

ABSENT:

Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor

Contact:

Jody London, 925-674-7871

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: February 11, 2020
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director to sign Letter of Intent for County participation with MCE, Contra Costa Transportation Authority, and other partners in the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP).

FISCAL IMPACT:

BACKGROUND:

In 2018, the County worked with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) to receive a grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop an Electric Vehicle Readiness Blueprint. The Blueprint was completed in July 2019 and adopted by the CCTA Board. The Blueprint provides CCTA, County departments, and jurisdictions within the County data, best practices, and strategies to bring about a broad transition to electric vehicles across the County. It also includes reports on workforce development opportunities for mechanics and electricians to service, install, and maintain electric vehicles and associated infrastructure.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The CEC administers CALeVIP, which is focused on building out electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure across the state. The CEC matches local contributions, at a ratio of a minimum of one-to-one. CALeVIP funds can be used to install infrastructure for Level 2 chargers and Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC). The program provides incentives for chargers located in disadvantaged communities. Level 2 chargers can serve private fleets or the general public. DCFCs must be available to the public. Up to 7 percent of funds can be used for customer outreach and education. The CEC estimates that $11.5 million would fund 50% of the gap in Level 2 charging facilities in Contra Costa County and 30% of the gap in DCFCs.

To date the CEC has authorized active projects with incentives totaling $73.5 million. (See Attachment A.) This year San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties will begin receiving $60 million over four years through CALeVIP. (See Attachment B.) Sonoma and Mendocino Counties this year will launch a program that will receive $6.75 million over three years. The CEC expects to have up to $200 million in future funding for CALeVIP. CALeVIP requires each participating group to provide matching funds.

MCE is interested in pursuing CALeVIP for its jurisdiction (cities and county governments in the counties of Marin, Napa, Solano, and Contra Costa). In a report to the MCE Board of Directors on November 21, 2019, MCE reported that $30 million is expected to be available through CALeVIP for program year 2021, and that 3-4 proposals will be accepted. The three factors that will influence which proposals are selected will be a technical analysis of infrastructure needs (50%), partnerships and funding match (25%), and compliance with AB 1236, a streamlined EV permitting requirement (25%). The Board of Supervisors in December 2019 approved an ordinance to comply with AB 1236. The MCE staff report is included as Attachment C.

MCE is approaching potential partners across its service territory to ascertain their interest in participating in CALeVIP, and their ability to provide matching funds. These potential partners include transit agencies, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and countywide government entities. The MCE Board on November 21 agreed to provide $5.5 million in matching funds over four years for its entire service territory. $2.8 million of that amount would be directed to EV charger installations in Contra Costa County.

CCTA has authorized participation in the program and has made a commitment of $300,000 over four years in matching funds. The CCTA staff report to the CCTA Planning Committee is included as Attachment D.

MCE is asking potential partners to sign a letter of intent that it will submit to the CEC before February 14.

The Sustainability Committee discussed its interest in participating in CALeVIP at its December 9, 2019 meeting. A key topic of discussion was the requested financial commitment. The Committee voted to recommend the Board of Supervisors endorse County participation with MCE in the CALeVIP application, acknowledging that a funding source for a County match is not immediately available. Since that time, MCE has dropped a request for the County to provide matching funds.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Failure to authorize County participation in the Letter of Intent removes the option for the County to bring in resources that can help build out infrastructure to support more electric vehicles.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

Replacing internal combustion engines with electric vehicles will improve air quality in Contra Costa County, thereby improving health outcomes for all residents, particularly children, who are more vulnerable to asthma and other impacts of air pollution.