DATE: March 5, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Robert W. Bash, Director of Internal Services/Chief Information Officer
SUBJECT: Resolution in Support of Countywide Fleet Electrification
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Resolution expressing support for the electrification of the County’s vehicle fleet, by supporting the goal of an eighty percent electric vehicle fleet by 2050; and
2. Approve and authorize the Director of the Internal Services Department/Chief Information Officer to submit a grant application for an amount not to exceed $336,680, and to complete and submit all required forms and documentation in support of the application to the United States Department of Energy for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions, which will adopt a resolution expressing support for the electrification of the County’s vehicle fleet through the approval of the goal of an eighty percent (80%) zero-emission electric vehicle fleet by 2050 and authorization for the Director of the Internal Services Department/Chief Information Officer (ISD Director) to apply for grant funding from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG). The planned use of the grant funds is to fund the Internal Services Department (ISD) - Fleet Services division’s (ISD-Fleet) electric vehicle infrastructure “pilot” program (pilot program), which would enable the County to collect the necessary data for the development of a more precise and defensible electrification strategic plan. If the grant is awarded to the County, the Department will return to the board with a proposed grant agreement and additional details of this pilot program. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your board may choose to not approve the Resolution. If the Resolution is not adopted, the County of Fresno will not be able to submit the EECBG grant application, and staff will need to identify alternative funding sources to support the County’s goal for the inclusion of zero-emission electric vehicles in its fleet.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. If awarded, the approximate $336,680 in EECBG funding will be used to purchase and install electric vehicle charging stations at various County locations for ISD Fleet’s electric vehicle infrastructure pilot program, and to cover the salary cost of the County of Fresno employees who worked on the grant application. The approximate cost is $278,620. If funding is awarded, Department staff will return to your Board with the related budget amendment and resolution.
DISCUSSION:
On July 8, 2008, your Board adopted the “Go Green Fresno County” environmental policy package, to encourage superior environmental stewardship by the County.
On September 23, 2020, the State of California passed executive order N-79-20, which expressed the State’s goals that (1) one hundred percent (100%) of in-state sales of new passenger cars and trucks will be zero-emission vehicles by 2035 and (2) one-hundred percent (100%) of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in California be zero-emission vehicles by 2045.
ISD-Fleet wishes to take steps towards the County’s fleet electrification, as necessary to abide by both the “Go Green Fresno County” policy and the mandates of Executive Order N-79-20, by declaring a Countywide goal of an eighty percent (80%) zero-emission electric vehicle adoption by 2050.
On November 15, 2021, the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts” became a federal law, which funded the EECBG program for $550 million, in order to assist eligible entities with implementation strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions, total energy use, and to improve energy efficiency. The County is potentially eligible for $336,680 from the EECBG program in grant funding.
ISD-Fleet has established an electric vehicle infrastructure implementation pilot program to enable the County to collect the necessary data for the development of a more precise and defensible electrification strategic plan. The four County locations proposed for the pilot program are: the ISD-Fleet office located at 4551 E. Hamilton Avenue in Fresno; the ISD - Facility Services office located at 4590 E Kings Canyon Road in Fresno; the lower parking structure located at 901 M Street in Fresno; and the ISD - Administration office located at 333 W Pontiac Way in Clovis.
The County currently does not have any zero-emission electric vehicles in its fleet. ISD-Fleet proposes to purchase and install the vehicle charging infrastructure, before acquiring any zero-emission electric vehicles. In addition, the stock of zero-emission electric vehicles at dealerships have been in limited supply, preventing the County from purchasing any variety of electric vehicles currently, which includes both battery powered and fuel cell powered electric vehicles. ISD-Fleet is still in the process of searching for a vendor that has an adequate stock of zero-emission electric vehicles, and for any grants or rebates that may be applied to the purchase of zero-emission electric vehicles.
The EECBG grant will provide for the purchase and install two “level-2” dual-port vehicle charging stations at each of the four identified County locations five-year access to the AssetWorks charging management system, and reimbursement for staff time allocated to the grant application. Data collected from this pilot program will be used to develop a more precise and defensible electrification strategic plan.
As stated, if the grant is awarded to the County, the Department will return to your board with a proposed grant agreement, and more details of the proposed pilot program.
Approval of the recommended action will memorialize the County’s support of an eighty percent (80%) County zero-emission electric vehicle fleet by 2050 and authorize the ISD Director to submit an application for the EECBG Grant Program.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #7, July 8, 2008
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Ahla Yang