An ambitious launch to place electric vehicle charging stations throughout the tri-counties area was announced in July, intended to rapidly expand the infrastructure. It is funded through grants and local partners as incentives for businesses and nonprofit groups to install the chargers.
“These funding opportunities are going to put this region on the map of EV friendly communities,” said Kent Bullard, our chapter’s Transportation Chair who is also active the EV Advocates groups and is a county advisor. “There are many opportunities and lots of work coming our way, and we’ll get involved in making sure the charging infrastructure benefits the right communities across the board.”
Called the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP), a working relationship is occurring between air pollution control districts, Electric Drive 805 coalition, Community Environmental Council and agencies from each county. At least $12 million is available over the next two years for businesses, nonprofit groups and others to accomplish the task.
“CALeVIP is an exciting opportunity to bring more EV infrastructure to the region and help Ventura County meet California’s statewide goal of 5 million ZEVs on the roads by 2030,” said County Supervisor Matt LaVere, Chair of the VCREA Board of Directors. “We are excited to work with our regional partners to make EVs accessible to all communities.”
Ventura County is slated to receive $4.7 million, San Luis Obispo will receive $2.3 million, and Santa Barbara will receive $4.5 million.
There’s even more money beyond that, Bullard noted, such as another $4 million to implement the EV Readiness Program and more from other programs.
The program offers rebates for the purchase and installation of both Level 2 and DC fast chargers with increased funding for multi-unit dwellings, disadvantaged communities, and low-income communities. Funds are available on a first come, first-served basis.
“This is sorely needed,” said Ventura resident John Hankins who owns an electric car. While he can easily find chargers within the city of Ventura, a vacation to the Morro Bay area was not friendly to EVs, so he and his wife drove their hybrid instead.
For more information, go to: https://calevip.org
