Consent Item 9
Consent Item 9
To: Ava Community Energy Authority
From: Heidy Ramirez, Local Programs Reporting Analyst
Subject: Approving Resolutions to Award Two Community Investment Grants for Electric Vehicle Charging
Date: September 18, 2024
__________________________________________________________________ Summary/Recommendation
Approve two Resolutions authorizing the CEO to negotiate and execute two (2) Grant Agreements each up to $300,000 over three years, for the purposes of installing community-owned Electric Vehicle (“EV”) charging sites. Grants awarded to California Interfaith Power and Light (“CIPL”) and Green The Church (“GTC”).
Financial Impact
The two grants will be for up to $300,000 each, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $600,000 from the previously approved Local Development-Community Investment grant budget.
Analysis and Context
The Local Development Business Plan identified the opportunity for Ava, then EBCE, to create a Community Investment Fund as a multi-faceted grant program to accelerate innovative products, services, or programs.
Ava staff completed a community workshop in June of 2023 to solicit ideas for community grants that foster program enrollment, education and awareness and workforce development. One outcome of the workshop was the need to develop early career pathways into the clean energy sector.
Consent Item 9
Ava staff developed a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for local organizations to install EV charging stations within the service territory. The RFP was issued in May and intent to award notifications were sent in August.
Respondents were asked to submit proposals to identify sites and install Level 2 EV chargers that will be available to the public along with maintenance plans to ensure that chargers will continue to be operable. The sites will provide the electricity for the charges and can decide how they choose to recover payment from customers that use the equipment. All sites are required to be in Ava service area and receive electricity service from Ava.
Ava received four proposals which were evaluated by staff using the following criteria:
• Organizational Capacity: Budget & History of Meeting Grant Deliverables (22.5%) • Quality of Proposed Plan: Meeting Grant Program Goals (25%) • Project Budget (20%)
• Demonstrated Capacity of Delivering: Local Community Benefits (20%) • Ava Energy Special Procurement Preferences (12.5%)
The two proposals from California Interfaith Power and Light and Green the Church were very strong and serve different regions and constituencies within the Ava service territory. Considering the need for this important work and the current funding in the Community Investment Grant budget, staff recommends issuing two grants from this solicitation to the following organizations:
CA Interfaith Power and Light engages faith communities in climate action, focusing on sustainability and energy issues. They promote the adoption of EVs and help places of worship install EV charging stations, offering resources and support to reduce their carbon footprint.
CIPL's work highlights the moral responsibility of faith communities to care for the environment.
CIPL has identified 16 potential church sites for EV chargers. This grant would deliver 12 chargers across 4 different sites.
Green The Church is a national initiative that empowers Black churches to lead in environmental and economic sustainability efforts within their communities. They focus on educating and mobilizing congregations to address climate justice issues, with a particular emphasis on renewable energy and sustainable practices. In partnership with other organizations, Green the Church promotes the installation of EV charging stations at churches, helping to increase access to clean transportation options in underserved areas while fostering environmental stewardship among faith communities.
Green The Church has identified 14 potential church sites for EV chargers. This grant would deliver 11 chargers across 3 different sites.
Attachments
A. Resolution Awarding California Interfaith Power and Light an EV Charging Community Investment Grant
B. Resolution Awarding Green The Church an EV Charging Community Investment Grant Attachment Consent Item 9A
RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF AVA COMMUNITY ENERGY AUTHORITY
AWARDING CALIFORNIA INTERFAITH POWER AND LIGHT AN EV
CHARGING COMMUNITY INVESTMENT GRANT
WHEREAS Ava Community Energy Authority (“Ava”) was formed as a community choice aggregation agency (“CCA”) on December 1, 2016, under the Joint Exercise of Powers Act, California Government Code sections 6500 et seq., among the County of Alameda, and the Cities of Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Piedmont, Oakland, San Leandro, and Union City to study, promote, develop, conduct, operate, and manage energy-related climate change programs in all of the member jurisdictions. The cities of Newark and Pleasanton, located in Alameda County, along with the City of Tracy, located in San Joaquin County, were added as members of Ava and parties to the Joint Powers Agreement (“JPA”) in March of 2020.
The city of Stockton was added as a member to Ava in September of 2022. The city of Lathrop was added as a member to Ava in October of 2023. San Joaquin County was added as a member to Ava in July 2024. On October 24, 2023, Ava legally adopted the name Ava Community Energy Authority, where it had previously used the name East Bay Community Energy Authority since its inception.
WHEREAS The Ava Board has approved funding for Community Investment Grants for local Community Based Organizations working on local initiatives that support community development; and
WHEREAS Community Investment Grants are intended to re-invest Local Development funds and empower communities within Ava’s service area; and WHEREAS Ava Community Energy issued a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for projects that foster Electric Vehicle charging and received a strong, conforming proposal from California Interfaith Power and Light (“CIPL”) for the purposes of developing community-owned and operated Electric Vehicle (“EV”) charging sites, particularly in equity-priority communities. The grant aims to support the creation of level 2 EV chargers across three or more sites, encouraging local innovation, community engagement, and sustainable practices in the transition to electric mobility; and WHEREAS Ava staff and California Interfaith Power and Light have agreed upon the major terms of the grant and are preparing a Grant Agreement for execution.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AVA COMMUNITY ENERGY AUTHORITY DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Authorizes the CEO, in coordination with Ava staff and General Counsel, to negotiate and execute a Grant Agreement and award for an EV Charging Community Investment Grant of up to $300,000 over three years to CIPL.
Attachment Consent Item 9A
ADOPTED AND APPROVED this 18th day of September 2024.
Jack Balch, Chair
ATTEST:
Adrian Bankhead, Clerk of the Board
Attachment Consent Item 9B
RESOLUTION NO. R-2024-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF AVA COMMUNITY ENERGY AUTHORITY
AWARDING GREEN THE CHURCH AN EV CHARGING COMMUNITY
INVESTMENT GRANT
WHEREAS Ava Community Energy Authority (“Ava”) was formed as a community choice aggregation agency (“CCA”) on December 1, 2016, under the Joint Exercise of Powers Act, California Government Code sections 6500 et seq., among the County of Alameda, and the Cities of Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Piedmont, Oakland, San Leandro, and Union City to study, promote, develop, conduct, operate, and manage energy-related climate change programs in all of the member jurisdictions. The cities of Newark and Pleasanton, located in Alameda County, along with the City of Tracy, located in San Joaquin County, were added as members of Ava and parties to the Joint Powers Agreement (“JPA”) in March of 2020.
The city of Stockton was added as a member to Ava in September of 2022. The city of Lathrop was added as a member to Ava in October of 2023. San Joaquin County was added as a member to Ava in July 2024. On October 24, 2023, Ava legally adopted the name Ava Community Energy Authority, where it had previously used the name East Bay Community Energy Authority since its inception.
WHEREAS The Ava Board has approved funding for Community Investment Grants for local Community Based Organizations working on local initiatives that support community development; and
WHEREAS Community Investment Grants are intended to re-invest Local Development funds and empower communities within Ava’s service area; and WHEREAS Ava Community Energy issued a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for projects that foster Electric Vehicle (“EV”) charging and received a strong, conforming proposal from Green the Church (“GTC”) for the purposes of developing community-owned and operated EV charging sites, particularly in equity-priority communities. The grant aims to support the creation of level 2 EV chargers across three or more sites, encouraging local innovation, community engagement, and sustainable practices in the transition to electric mobility; and
WHEREAS Ava staff and GTC have agreed upon the major terms of the grant and are preparing a Grant Agreement for execution.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AVA COMMUNITY ENERGY AUTHORITY DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Authorizes the CEO, in coordination with Ava staff and General Counsel, to negotiate and execute a Grant Agreement and award for an EV Charging Community Investment Grant of up to $300,000 over three years to GTC.
Attachment Consent Item 9B
ADOPTED AND APPROVED this 18th day of September 2024.
Jack Balch, Chair
ATTEST:
Adrian Bankhead, Clerk of the Board