City of Sacramento
City Council - 5PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2024-00657 3/19/2024 Consent Item 9.
Charging Infrastructure for Government Fleets Grant Application - California Energy Commission Clean Transportation Program
File ID: 2024-00657
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee: 1) to apply for funding from the Charging Infrastructure for Government Fleets grant through the California Energy Commission’s’ Clean Transportation program;and 2) if awarded, to sign, enter into, and execute the grant agreement with the California Energy Commission, and execute and submit any related documents necessary to support the grant application and award.
Contact: Saurabh Harohalli, Climate Action Graduate Student Intern, (916) 808-1419, [email protected]; Rachel Patten, Sustainability Specialist, (916) 808-5016, [email protected]; Lucinda Willcox, Assistant Director, (916) 808-5052, [email protected]; Department of Public Works Presenter: None.
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
Additional Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The City is a leader in green fleet and the Fleet Sustainability Resolution (Resolution 2017-0478) directs the purchase of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) for new vehicle purchases where there is a technologically appropriate option. The City has nearly 2,000 light-duty vehicles in its fleet that support work across the organization, and ZEV models are largely available. As a result, significant new light duty electric vehicles are being added to the City’s fleet and adequate charging infrastructure for the City fleet is necessary to support this transition.
In anticipation of these needs, in 2023, the City was awarded nearly $4.3 million in federal funds to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure at City facilities that are primarily dedicated for the City’s
File ID: 2024-00657 3/19/2024 Consent Item 9.
fleet. City staff have been working to identify steps necessary to access that funding, including meeting all federal funding requirements and providing the necessary state or local match requirements.
While funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure has been a priority for federal and state funding programs, most of this is for publicly available charging with limited resources available for fleet infrastructure. In response to local government requests, as part of its Clean Transportation Program, the California Energy Commission (CEC) is offering $30 million statewide through the Charging Infrastructure for Local Government Fleets grant. Jurisdictions can request funds covering up to 70% of project costs, with a cap of $6 million. This application is due on April 5th, 2024.
Policy Considerations: Adoption of zero emission vehicles is a critical element of actions needed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 as identified in the 2040 General Plan and Climate Action and Adaption Plan (CAAP). The Climate Action and Adaptation Plan’s (CAAP) Municipal Measure 2 specifies that the City’s light-duty fleet reach 100% ZEVs by 2035, which will require significant investment in charging infrastructure to support that transition.
Actions to support electric vehicle fleets are also consistent with Sacramento’s Electric Vehicle Strategy and Sustainable Fleet Policy (Resolution No. 2017-0478).
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): The pursuit of grant funds is not subject to the provisions of the CEQA. Under Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Applying for funding is an administrative action which will have no effect on the environment and is therefore not subject to CEQA review. Appropriate CEQA review for individual projects will take place as part of project development.
Sustainability: Transportation is responsible for 57% of Sacramento’s local greenhouse gas emissions, the single largest sector. As a subset of communitywide emissions, looking at City operations, as of 2016, the City’s fleet accounted for 28% of municipal emissions. Decarbonizing the fleet is important to meet policy goals and to lead by example, and charging infrastructure is critical for the City to continue to expand its electric fleet. With vehicles travelling across the city, air quality, noise, and EV visibility will be experienced by communities across the city. In particular, communities near facilities that house City vehicles would see benefits.
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: The City relies primarily on federal and state funding and rebates to fund the charging infrastructure necessary for the City’s electric fleet vehicles. This grant funding
File ID: 2024-00657 3/19/2024 Consent Item 9.
would provide funding to support the federal funding project and provide adequate charging for vehicles planned for purchase over the next few years.
Financial Considerations: State or local funding is needed in order to utilize funding through the federal earmark provided by the Highway Infrastructure Program (HIP). This state program could provide sufficient funding to meet these requirements and fully fund this phase of fleet electric vehicle charging. The actual amount of state grant funded needed to complete the project is being analyzed but will not exceed $2 million.
If grant funding is awarded, staff will return to the City Council to complete necessary budget adjustments.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
Background: The California Energy Commission’s (CEC’s) Clean Transportation Program is a competitive grant program for up to $30 million in grant funds for projects that will provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure for light-duty government fleets. The purpose of the Charging Infrastructure for Government Fleets Solicitation is to:
· Support electrification of government fleets in California by providing reliable and readily accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure dedicated for these fleets. · Support local government goals of sustainability and/or climate action plans. · Reduce vehicle emissions in disadvantaged and/or low-income communities.
RESOLUTION NO.
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
APPROVING APPLICATION FOR CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR
GOVERNMENT FLEETS GRANT APPLICATION – CALIFORNIA ENERGY
COMMISSION CLEAN TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM
BACKGROUND:
A. The California Energy Commission (CEC) is accepting applications for the Charging Infrastructure for Local Government grant through its Clean Transportation program.
B. This grant program is intended to support local governments in installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
C. The City has been awarded federal funding to install electric vehicle charging equipment but needs additional funding to fully fund the project and meet matching requirements.
D. The CEC requires a resolution certifying the governing authority to enter into an agreement with CEC and designating an authorized representative to sign.
E. If the City’s grant application is selected, the City will enter into an agreement with the State of California to carry out the project.
BASED ON THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE BACKGROUND, THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Manager, or the City Manager’s designee, is authorized to submit a Charging Infrastructure for Local Governments grant application with a funding request up to $2,000,000.
Section 2. Upon award, the City Manager, or the City Manager’s designee, is authorized to sign, enter into, and execute the grant agreement with the California Energy Commission, and execute and submit any related documents necessary to support the grant application and award.