To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: APPROVE and AUTHORIZE participation in a national certification program for EV charging infrastructure (Charging Smart) provided by the International Renewable Energy Council.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to participate in the Charging Smart program, administered by the International Renewable Energy Council, to advance County electric vehicle charging infrastructure goals, effective April 1, 2025 through March 10, 2029, Countywide.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with program participation.
BACKGROUND:
Charging Smart is a nation-wide certification program led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Charging Smart assists local governments in setting and achieving impactful EV readiness goals, covering topic areas such as EV charging infrastructure; innovative EV procurement policies; EV fleet driver training and resources; stakeholder engagement and outreach; utility collaboration; public access to charging infrastructure; and equity.
Participating jurisdictions can achieve ascending levels of Charging Smart certification depending on their level of EV readiness: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Public Works believes that the County has already met the requirements for the Gold certification through its Vehicle Purchasing Policy, Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, EV Readiness Blueprint, EV chargers installed on County sites, and existing public outreach efforts. A Gold certification by the Charging Smart program will benefit the County by providing valuable public recognition for the County’s EV leadership and will increase public awareness of the growing EV charger network across the region.
On January 21, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved the County’s Strategic Energy Management Plan (SEMP). Participation in the Charging Smart program aligns with several key objectives in the SEMP:
1. Infrastructure objective I-3 calls for the County to “build a countywide electric vehicle (EV) charging network supporting a zero-emission fleet by 2035 and ensure equitable public access to charging,” and to “install and manage EV chargers to exceed goals in the 2035 Fleet Transition Plan, accommodate employee EVs, and serve the broader community.”
2. People & Policy objective P-3 calls for the development of “policies, procedures and administrative bulletins as necessary to implement the SEM Plan objectives,” including a “workplace EV charging policy” to “ensure County EV fleet access to charging while accommodating employees and the public.”
3. People & Policy objective P-5 directs staff to “position the County as a local government clean energy leader and ambassador” by “pursing awards and accolades for the County’s work in clean energy.”
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Without approval, the County would not benefit from formal recognition and certification from a nation-wide best practices program for the County’s leadership in advancing transportation electrification goals.