Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Jasneet Sharma, Director, Sustainability Department
Subject: Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of Grant Funds from the United States Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program for the Purchase of Zero-Emission Vehicles and Equipment
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the County of San Mateo to accept a $330,430 grant from the United States Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program to purchase zero-emission vehicles and equipment.
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BACKGROUND:
On November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was signed into law. The law authorizes $1.2 trillion for transportation and infrastructure spending with $550 billion of that figure going toward new investments and programs. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program is a $550 million grant program funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is designed to assist states, local governments, and tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency.
On January 26, 2021, the Board adopted the Government Operations Climate Action Plan (GOCAP) (Resolution No. 077960), a comprehensive strategy to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from County operations and achieve carbon neutrality by 2035. A key emissions reductions strategy is to transition light- to mid-duty County fleet vehicles to zero-emission vehicles by 2035, which is anticipated to reduce County-generated emissions by 13.6 percent. The California Air Resources Board Advanced Clean Fleet regulation and Governor’s Executive Order N-79-20 require 100 percent of new light-duty in-state vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2035 and medium- and heavy-duty sales by 2045.
The County was awarded $330,430 from the EECBG Program to implement strategies that reduce fossil fuel emissions and improve energy efficiency in the transportation sector. The County will receive the EECBG Program funds in the form of an equipment rebate and apply funds towards transportation programs.
DISCUSSION:
The EECBG Program offers equipment rebates and technical assistance vouchers as alternative options to traditional grant funding. The purpose of the rebate and voucher options is to simplify and streamline the process of accessing EECBG Program awards. These options can be used for technical assistance to access support from subject matter experts or equipment rebates to purchase and install energy-related equipment that meet EECBG Program goals to be used within two years of funding approval.
The County requested and has been awarded the equipment rebate and will purchase two new zero-emission vehicles, one electric heavy-duty compactor, and a mobile battery trailer with a Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charger for use by the Department of Public Works. The two electric vehicles will replace internal combustion engine vehicles in the County’s shared departmental fleet and the electric compactor will replace aging internal combustion engine equipment. The mobile EV charger trailer will provide charging access for vehicles and equipment that park at facilities without charging infrastructure and can serve as a source of backup battery during power outages and other emergency events.
The purchase of zero-emissions vehicles and equipment supports the GOCAP transportation emissions reduction objective of having 100 percent of all County light- to mid-duty vehicles be electric by 2035. The project will also better position the County to meet California Air Resources Board Advanced Clean Fleet regulation and Governor’s Executive Order N-79-20 requiring 100 percent of new light-duty in-state vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2035 and medium and heavy-duty sales by 2045.
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Transitioning to EVs supports community health by reducing pollution and emissions generated by County fleet vehicles. Removing internal-combustion engine vehicles, which produce higher levels of emissions and pollutants, can help reduce local rates of asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and other acute health and quality of life impacts.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total project cost is $338,950.53. Grant funding of $330,430 is included in the Sustainability Department FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget. The Department of Public Works FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget includes $8,520.53 for the remainder of the purchase price. There is no new Net County Cost associated with this project.