REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 20, 2024
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, County Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application to the United States Department of Transportation for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Opportunity
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve a non-financial Contract with Skychargers, LLC for the United States Department of Transportation Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, for the Lenwood Electric Vehicle Charging Station Project, for the term of August 20, 2024 through September 30, 2028.
2. Approve grant application to the United States Department of Transportation for the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, on behalf of Skychargers, LLC, in the amount of $33,782,835, for the Lenwood Electric Vehicle Charging Station Project.
3. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors or the Chief Executive Officer to electronically execute and submit the grant application, any non-substantive amendments, and all documents required for the grant application, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
4. Direct the Deputy Executive Officer to transmit the grant application and all non-substantive amendments to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Moe Yousif, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-4377)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Jobs and Economic Value in the County.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program (Program) requires a match of at least 20% of total project allowable cost. The recommended non-financial Contract with Skychargers, LLC (Skychargers) commits Skychargers to fund approximately 33%, which exceeds the required 20% non-Federal match for the proposed Lenwood Electric Vehicle Charging Station Project (Project), contingent upon the Grant award. Skychargers will also fund all Project and administrative grant application costs, not covered by the grant award.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
USDOT issued the CFI Program Round 2 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in the amount up to $800,000,000 to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in the places people live and work - urban and rural areas alike - as well as along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors.
The Program provides two funding categories of grants: (1) Community Charging and Alternative Fueling Grants (Community Program); and (2) Charging and Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants (Corridor Program). The Corridor Program requires deploying a charging and alternative fueling infrastructure, where electric vehicle (EV) charging and other alternative fuel facilities must be located within five miles of the designated Alternative Fuel Corridor and publicly accessible. The minimum award amount is $1,000,000, with no maximum limit. Funds must be used to contract with private entities, and projects must demonstrate that benefits will reach disadvantaged communities impacted by underinvestment and pollution. Additionally, the infrastructure must be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
Eligible applicants are state and local governments; federally recognized tribes and affiliated groups, planning and project organizations; transportation providers and operations; and United States Territories.
The CFI Program is a cost reimbursement discretionary grant program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by USDOT. Skychargers requested to work with the County on submitting a CFI Program application for the Corridor Program funding opportunity to fund their Project, which will serve as a 20.72-acre EV charging station to serve light duty/passenger vehicles and medium and heavy-duty trucks. The Project is located on Lenwood Road between California Highway 58 and Interstate 15, less than three miles from the BNSF railhead in Barstow.
Skychargers will be identified as the Grant subrecipient and shall meet all Grant deadlines and requirements. The recommended Contract with Skychargers outlines the terms and conditions of the relationship between the County and Skychargers and Skychargers’s responsibilities.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 13, 2024; Finance (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on August 14, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on August 15, 2024.