FROM:
Megan H. Acevedo, Town Attorney; Scott Schneider, P.E. Assistant Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
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Adoption of Ordinance Imposing an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) Certification Requirement for Town-Funded Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Projects
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RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends that the Town Council adopt the attached ordinance imposing an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) certification requirement for Town-funded electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure projects.
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BACKGROUND
At the January 25, 2022, Town Council meeting, Council member Burdo requested that the Council consider requiring EVITP certification for Town-sponsored EV infrastructure projects. There was Council consensus to move forward with the conversation about this topic.
Assembly Bill 841, adopted in September 2020, added Section 740.20 to the California Public Utilities Code. Among its provisions, the statute requires, with limited exceptions, that all electric vehicle charging infrastructure that is funded in part by the Public Utilities Commission, the Energy Commission, and the State Air Resources Board on and after January 1, 2022, be installed by a contractor with the appropriate license classification and at least one electrician on each crew who holds an EVITP certification.
To be eligible for EVITP training, a participant must be a state licensed or certified electrician. The training includes topics such as customer interactions, electrical code requirements, and EV supply equipment. To become certified, an electrician must take an 18-hour course and pass a 90-minute exam. The course and exam cost $275 1. Currently, there are three EVITP certified electrician in Marin County2.
1 EVITP’s California course information is available at <https://db.evitp.org/addclient.php>
2 See EVITP website listing all certified contractors - <https://evitp.org/california?zoom=12&is_mile=1&directory_radius=100&keywords=&address=San%20Anselmo%2C%20CA%2C%20USA&directory_radius=100¢er=37.9746458%2C-122.5616448&address_type=>
DISCUSSION
At its meeting of August 23, 2022, the Town Council directed staff to propose an ordinance that imposes EVITP requirements similar to those contained in Assembly Bill 841 for Town-funded EV projects. The Town Council noted that they were interested in public comment indicating that there are worker safety benefits to implementation of the EVITP certification requirement. Staff was unable to find specific data about worker safety, but various references related to AB 841 suggested that first responders, workers, and the public are put at risk when improperly installed EV infrastructure poses fire, electric shock, and other safety hazards.
For the foreseeable future, Town staff estimates that an EVITP certification requirement would apply to the planned installation of two EV chargers in Creek Park and two EV chargers in the Pine Street lot. In addition, the Town may consider installing four new chargers located along roadways (co-located at a streetlight) in the future.
At its meeting of September 27, 2022, the Council discussed and took public comment about the attached ordinance. Following the hearing, the majority of the Town Council voted to introduce by title only and waive further reading of the attached ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adopting an EVITP certification requirement may increase the Town’s costs for locally-funded EV projects, because of the requirements for additional certification could decrease the pool of contractors available to perform the work. Publicly-bid projects already require licensed contractors to perform the work and this ordinance places additional certification requirements on those licensed contractors. However, because of the state requirements imposed through AB 841, local contractors are increasingly likely to have certified workers in the future. Allowing a 6-month lead time before the ordinance takes effect may give more contractors an opportunity to secure the EVITP certification.
CEQA AND CONSISTENCY WITH CLIMATE ACTION PLAN 2030
The Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) because it is not a “project’ under CEQA and CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3), the “common sense exemption”, because the proposed Ordinance Amendment will not have a significant environmental effect.
Adoption of an EVITP certification requirement for Town-funded EV projects is consistent with the Town’s Climate Action Plan because it will ensure that electricians who install chargers in Town lots are qualified to do so.
CONCLUSION
Staff respectfully requests that the Town Council introduce by title only and waive further reading of the attached ordinance imposing a EVITP requirement for Town EV projects.
Respectfully submitted,
Megan H. Acevedo
Town Attorney
Attachment 1 - Proposed EVITP Ordinance