U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation will award $122.9 million for six California projects to build zero-emission vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure, including over $55 million for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles. The funding comes through the Federal Highway Administration鈥檚 Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program, which was created by the聽Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program aims to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and other alternative fueling infrastructure projects in publicly accessible locations in urban and rural communities, including downtown areas and local neighborhoods.
The California Energy Commission will receive nearly $55.9 million to install 21 public charging stations and one hydrogen refueling station to support zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty semi-trailer trucks. The project will deploy at least 130 high-powered zero-emission vehicle charger ports across the heavily trafficked routes within California and between California and Nevada, supporting zero-emission freight transportation. Senator Padilla led a letter with 36 of his colleagues in the California congressional delegation in support of the California Energy Commission鈥檚 application.
鈥淩educing emissions from our transportation sector is a key component in reaching California鈥檚 ambitious climate and clean air goals,鈥� said Senator Padilla. 鈥淏ut to facilitate the zero-emissions transition, we must rapidly deploy charging and clean-fueling infrastructure to keep our supply chain moving and improve the daily commute for millions of Californians. Thanks to the聽Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these investments will decarbonize our freight sector, protect public health, and help low-income communities save on their energy costs.鈥�
Additional California recipients include:
- City and County of San Francisco Environment Department 鈥� $15 million: This funding will be used to install up to 300 EV charging ports in publicly accessible garages, lots, and curbside locations, primarily serving disadvantaged and other underserved communities. The project deploys both Level 2 and DC Fast Chargers to increase the total number of charging ports in the city by 30 percent. San Francisco will have 1,275 publicly available EV charging ports by the conclusion of this project.
- City of Santa Cruz 鈥� $14.35 million: This funding will be used to install EV charging ports at 44 local government-owned sites, primarily public parking lots. The project is equity-focused with sites in disadvantaged and low- and moderate-income communities lacking electric vehicle chargers. These sites will be designed to ensure charger reliability, and 13 percent of the sites will include energy resilience features.
- City of San Bernardino 鈥� $14.06 million: In partnership with Uplift San Bernardino, this funding will be used to create San Bernardino鈥檚 first public charging network by installing 101 EV chargers at 15 municipally-owned locations, including parks, community centers, a library, City Hall, the Police Department, and several downtown core parking locations. All sites will include Level 2 and DC fast chargers, in addition to chargers for micro-mobility, like e-bikes and e-scooters.
- City of San Jose 鈥� $12 million: This funding will be used to install electric vehicle charging stations in underserved communities throughout Santa Clara County. The project will install 237 EV charging ports across San Jose and neighboring cities within the Silicon Valley Clean Energy service area. In San Jose, 120 EV charging ports will be installed at 12 city-owned public libraries, community centers, and parks. The project will serve many locations throughout the region, including parks, a public health clinic, community centers, public parking lots, and municipal fleet facilities.
- Sacramento Municipal Utility District 鈥� $11.63 million: This funding will be used to install electric vehicle charging stations at nine locations, with five located in disadvantaged communities. The project aims to reduce transportation-related emissions, eliminating over 930 tons of greenhouse gases annually. The project will engage with the public to educate community members on electric vehicle benefits.