Valley 29 Electric will handle the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Project for the City of Ripon.

No discussion was needed at the Dec. 9 Ripon City Council meeting on the approval of bringing aboard Valley 29, which was among eight bidders for the project.

The cost of $135,650 for construction of the EV charging station will be funded via the Carbon Reduction Program Grant administered by the Federal Highway Administration.

According to staff, the grant received exceeds the project cost.

Staff mentioned plans to talk to those in the San Joaquin Councils of Governments of discuss options to fully utilize the awarded CRP grant funds. More on that.

The project calls for the installation of two electric vehicle chargers at Ripon City Hall and the five at the Corporate Yard on Doak Boulevard.

The state adopted several laws and regulatory programs that require a long-term transition toward zero-emission vehicles. Included are the requirements that apply directly to the municipal fleets.

The California Air Resources Board Advanced Clean Fleets – or ACF – became effective in 2023.

Because of that, state and local agencies are required by ACF to transition all fleet vehicles over 8,500 pounds to zero-emission models under a phased schedule that’s currently in effect.

This calls for all vehicles decommissioned after 2027 to be replaced with zero-emission vehicles.

“As these requirements phase in, cities will need to have the necessary charging infrastructure in place to support daily fleet operations,” said City of Ripon staff.

Enter CRP, which provides federal funding to help local agencies reduce transportation-related emissions.

Through SJCOG, Ripon received $528,000 in CRP funds during the prior fiscal year.

CRP funds not only qualify for making possible the EV charging infrastructure for the City of Ripon but will not require local matching funds, according to staff.