California public power provider expands EV charging network

Sonoma Clean Power (SCP), the public power provider for Sonoma and Mendocino counties in California, is introducing new charging stations to improve access to public charging for current and prospective electric vehicle (EV) drivers.

SCP reports that with the recent passage of the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, more people are considering the switch to EVs than ever before. However, finding convenient locations for charging remains a concern or barrier for many, especially renters.

Government entities

In 2019, SCP received a $6.75m grant from the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) California Electric Vehicle Incentive programme (CALeVIP) to expand the local network of EV chargers by partnering with businesses, nonprofits, multi-family properties, tribal governments, and government entities.

Qualifying sites receive rebates to help cover equipment and installation costs for Level 2 connectors and direct current (DC) fast chargers. Funding for the programme comes from the CEC, SCP, and the Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District, and is managed by the state’s CALeVIP administrator, the Centre for Sustainable Energy.

“We want people to have access to EV charging options near the places they live and work. With this funding, our focus is on filling in public charging gaps along rural highways and near multi-family housing”

Since the programme’s launch, SCP claims 72 new EV charging stations throughout Sonoma and Mendocino counties have been installed and are live, including nine DC fast chargers and 63 Level 2 chargers.

An additional 48 DC fast chargers and 61 Level 2 chargers are funded for completion in 2023. According to SCP, the programme’s 181 chargers represent a one fifth increase for the region, where an estimated 954 chargers are currently available to the public. California’s goal is to have 250,000 public EV chargers by 2025.