The following is a press release issued by Sonoma Clean Power:
Sonoma Clean Power (SCP), the public power provider for Sonoma and Mendocino counties, is working to improve access to public charging for current and prospective electric vehicle (EV) drivers.
With the recent passage of the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, more people are considering the switch to EVs than ever before. However, finding convenient locations for charging remains a concern or barrier for many, especially renters.
In 2019, SCP received a $6.75 million grant from the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) California Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (CALeVIP) to expand the local network of EV chargers by partnering with businesses, nonprofits, multi-family properties, tribal governments, and government entities.
Qualifying sites receive rebates to help cover equipment and installation costs for Level 2 connectors and direct current (DC) fast chargers. Funding for the program comes from the CEC, SCP, and the Northern Sonoma Air Pollution Control District, and is managed by the state’s CALeVIP administrator, the Center for Sustainable Energy.
Since the program’s launch, 72 new EV charging stations throughout Sonoma and Mendocino counties have been installed and are now live, including 9 DC fast chargers and 63 Level 2 chargers.
An additional 48 DC fast chargers and 61 Level 2 chargers are funded for completion in 2023. The program’s 181 chargers represent a nearly 20% increase for the region, where an estimated 954 chargers are currently available to the public.
California’s ambitious goal is to have 250,000 public EV chargers by 2025.
In July 2022, SCP dedicated an additional $800,000 in local funding to support building fast chargers in areas that were not covered or served by the sites initially funded through CALeVIP.
“We want people to have access to EV charging options near the places they live and work,” says Brant Arthur, a Program Manager at SCP. “With this funding, our focus is on filling in public charging gaps along rural highways and near multi-family housing.”
Since its launch in 2014, SCP has spearheaded several efforts aimed at electrifying local transportation. Most notably, SCP’s three-year Drive EV incentive program accelerated EV adoption by helping over 1,250 customers make the switch. SCP also offers every customer a free Level 2 EV charger for their home, with over 3,900 customers taking advantage of the incentive to date.
