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SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	12/09/2019
Subject: RECEIVE REPORT on potential participation in California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project and RECOMMEND same to the Board of Supervisors.
Submitted For:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Department:	Conservation & Development
Referral No.:	N/A
Referral Name:	N/A
Presenter:	Jody London, DCD	Contact:	Jody London (925)674-7871

Information

Referral History:

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 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.

Referral Update:

The CEC adminsters the CALeVIP program, which is focused on building out electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure across the state. To date the CEC has authorized active projects with incentives totaling $73.5 million. (See Attachment A.) In 2020, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties will begin receiving $60 million over four years through the CALeVIP program. (See Attachment B.) Sonoma and Mendocino Counties in 2020 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 the CALeVIP program. The CALeVIP program 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%); County staff are preparing an ordinance to comply with AB 1236 and will bring that to the Board in this month. 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 the CALeVIP program, and their ability to provide matching funds. These potential partners include transit agencies, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and local jurisdictions. The MCE Board on November 21 agreed to provide $5.5 million in matching funds over four years. $2.8 million of that amount would be directed to EV charger installations in Contra Costa County. MCE is asking other potential partners to contribute an additional $5.4 total over this time period for the entire MCE service territory. MCE has informally suggested that the County and CCTA contribute a total of $2.8 million as well, to match the MCE contribution. It is possible that funds the County has already identified for EV infrastructure might be able to count toward CALeVIP, if those chargers are accessible to the general public.

MCE also is asking potential partners to sign a letter of intent that it will submit to the CEC in January.

Staff recommends that the County participate in CALeVIP. The total amount of funding that would become available for EV infrastructure in Contra Costa County would be $11.5 million over four years. Staff requests direction from the Board on issues including: signing the Letter of Intent that will be submitted in January and the amount of funding the County might contribute. DCD staff is working with County Counsel to review the implementation services agreement that is part of the program implementation.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

RECEIVE REPORT on potential participation in California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP), and RECOMMEND to the Board of Supervisors that the County participate in same.

Fiscal Impact (if any):

The County is being asked to contribute matching funds for the CALeVIP program, in an amount that is still being negotiated with MCE, the community choice aggregator that serves Contra Costa County. The amount could be $1.4 million over four years.

It is possible that funds the County has already identified for EV infrastructure might be able to count toward CALeVIP, if those chargers are accessible to the general public.

Attachments
Attachment A: CALeVIP Projects Funded Through 2019
Attachment B: CALeVIP Project in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties
Attachment C: Presentation re CALeVIP to MCE Board