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Air Quality Management District (AQMD) recommending the Board, acting as the AQMD Board of Director's, approve and authorize the Chair to sign Funding Agreement 212-F1611 with Crystal View Enterprises, Inc. for a not-to-exceed amount of $20,000 for a two (2) year term following execution by both parties, to purchase and install four (4) Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations.
FUNDING: Air Quality Management District Funds.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
A primary goal of the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) is to reduce emissions from motor vehicles in El Dorado County. One third of AQMD's operating revenue is derived from the AB 2766 motor vehicle emission reduction program, which is to be used to fund activities supporting this goal. Electric vehicle operation produces no emissions. Plug in hybrid emissions are significantly less than emissions from internal combustion engine vehicles. The proposed project will expand the network of charging stations or Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) in El Dorado County (EDC). The expanded EVSE network will further enable residents and visitors to operate plug in vehicles. The AQMD recommends the Board approve and authorize the chair to sign the agreement.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Western EDC is in serious non-attainment of the State 1-hour ozone Ambient Air Quality Standard (AAQS) and severe non-attainment of the federal 8-hour ozone AAQS. The Lake Tahoe area is in transitional non-attainment of the federal 8-hour ozone AAQS.
Ozone is created by reactions between ozone precursor pollutants (Volatile Organic Compounds and Nitrogen Oxides) in the presence of sunlight. Petroleum combustion emissions are a major source of ozone precursor and green house gas pollutants. Motor vehicle operation is the greatest source of petroleum combustion emissions in EDC. Increased plug in vehicle usage will help EDC reach ozone AAQS attainment, thereby improving public health.
In early 2014, there were eight public Level 2 (240 volt) and zero Level 3 fast charge (480 volt DC) EVSE in EDC. AQMD was subsequently awarded grant funding from the California Energy Commission and the California Indian Gaming Commission. Those funds and AQMD operations funds have been used to purchase and install 26 additional EVSE. Several EDC businesses have also recently installed EVSE. There are now 44 Level 2 EVSE and 2 Level 3 EVSE in EDC. The majority of these EVSE are located along the Highway 50 corridor. The Level 3 EVSE fast chargers are located in Pollock Pines and in South Lake Tahoe. Several EDC business and residents are now offering Level 1 (120 volt) wall outlets for public use.
Participation requests in the current process to increase EVSE was solicited by directly contacting commercial property owners in the Pollock Pines and Meyers areas, and via an AQMD webpage that encouraged all interested EDC business owners to contact AQMD. Crystal View Enterprises was the only Pollock Pines area business to express interest at this time. An agreement with an interested Meyers area business owner is being developed and will be presented to the Board for consideration during a subsequent meeting. Pollock Pines Safeway representatives stated they may consider an EVSE installation project in 2017 or 2018.
This agreement will fund the purchase and installation of four Level 2 EVSE. Two will be located at Wine Country Market in Camino and two will be located at Crystal View Station in Pollock Pines. Crystal View Enterprises will provide electricity on a 24/7 basis at no cost to public users for a minimum of two years after installation.
ALTERNATIVES
Alternatives the Board may take in lieu of approving the AQMD's recommendation include:
• Not approving the agreement with Crystal View Enterprises.
• Directing AQMD to modify the agreement to change the number of EVSE.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Chief Administrative Office concurs with staff's recommendations.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The estimated cost of the proposed project is $20,000, which is a budgeted expense in AQMD's adopted Fiscal Year 2015/16 operations budget. Approximately $60,000 of additional allocated funding is available in the AQMD 15/16 budget and subsequent allocations are likely to be available, should other businesses express interest in the future. The California Energy Commission recently released a grant funding opportunity (GFO-15-603) for the installation of Level 3 EVSE in highway corridor target areas. Under that solicitation, $700,000 has been designated for the Placerville to South Lake Tahoe Highway 50 corridor target area.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk to provide AQMD with two (2) signed copies of the agreement.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
These charging stations will contribute to achieving the Infrastructure and Healthy Communities strategic plan goals.
CONTACT
Dave Johnston
Air Pollution Control Officer