Title
a. Receive a presentation on the Sustainability Program’s successful grant application with
FreeWire Technologies for an award of $1 million to install Level 3 Electric Vehicle Fast Chargers at the County libraries in Castroville, Greenfield, and San Lucas; and
b. Recommend staff advance this project to the Board of Supervisors for implementation
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Capital Improvement Committee:
a. Receive a presentation on the Sustainability Program’s successful grant application with
FreeWire Technologies for an award of $1 million to install Level 3 Electric Vehicle Fast Chargers at the County libraries in Castroville, Greenfield, and San Lucas; and
b. Recommend staff advance this project to the Board of Supervisors for implementation.
SUMMARY:
Sustainability Program Staff partnered with FreeWire Technologies as a site-host in an application to the California Energy Commission’s Rural Electric Vehicle Charging Program, which successfully secured funding to install level 3 fast chargers at the County libraries in Castroville, Greenfield, and San Lucas. The County may elect FreeWire Technologies to own and operate the chargers for no cost but must grant permission to use County land via a site-host agreement or land easement. The County may also choose to own the chargers for an estimated cost of $215,393, which would allow the County greater flexibility for charging County vehicles or offering residents reduced cost charging.
DISCUSSION:
The California Energy Commission (CEC) issued a notice of funding opportunity for the Rural Electric Vehicle Charging Program on December 14, 2021. Sustainability Program staff partnered with FreeWire Technologies to participate in their application as a site-host to install their “Boost Charger,” a level 3 fast charger, in rural jurisdictions. Staff recognized this grant as an opportunity to increase rural access to electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) and to increase public use of County Libraries by investing in public amenities. In coordination with Monterey County Free Library staff, the Sustainability Program gathered application data to submit three eligible sites for the grant application: the Castroville Library, Greenfield Library, and San Lucas Library. On August 3, 2022, the County was notified that all three sites were awarded funding.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Administrative Office and Monterey County Free Libraries. Public Works Parks and Facilities staff expressed interest in this as an opportunity for training on EVCS maintenance. FreeWire Technologies prepared this grant application.
FINANCING:
Given current budget constraints, staff identified the alternative where FreeWire owns and operates the chargers at no cost to the County as the most viable option. The County may choose to own these chargers for an estimated cost of $215,393; this estimate includes equipment, maintenance, installation, and a 5-year warranty. If the County pursues ownership, the chargers are estimated to have a simple payback period of 5 years based on the estimated revenue generated from the chargers. The County will have increased autonomy to decide the price to charge residents and County vehicles.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
_X_Economic Development
_X_Administration
_X_Health & Human Services
_X_Infrastructure
_X_Public Safety
Prepared by: Cora Panturad, Sustainable Infrastructure Analyst
Approved by: Nick Chiulos, Assistant County Administrative Officer, ext. 5145
Attachments:
FreeWire Draft Site-Host Agreement
FreeWire Monterey County Ownership Proposal