FROM:
Sean Condry, P.E., Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
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Discussion of Potential Regulations Imposing an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) Certification Requirement for Town-Funded Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Projects
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RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
That Town Council receive the staff report and provide direction to staff regarding potential implementation of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) certification requirements 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. EVITP is a collaboration of industry stakeholders including automakers, electric vehicle charging station infrastructure manufactures, utility companies, and others, and provides training for the installation of EV charging stations.
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. Currently, there is one EVITP certified electrician in Marin County, located in Novato.
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
The Town Council may adopt an ordinance that imposes EVITP requirements similar to those contained in Assembly Bill 841 for Town-funded EV projects. The Cities of Petaluma and Rohnert Park have adopted such ordinances. Like those cities, the ordinance would amend the existing EV streamlining ordinance that was adopted by the Town in 2020 to add the
certification requirement for Town projects. (SAMC § 9-8.1 et seq.; see Rohnert Park Ordinance attached for reference (Attachment 1)).
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.
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.
CEQA AND CLIMATE ACTION PLAN CONSISTENCY
The Town finds that discussion of the EVITP certification requirements is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), because it does not involve an activity that has the potential to cause a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment (Pub. Res. Code § 21065).
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 seeks direction from the Town Council related to adoption of an EVITP requirement for Town EV projects.