The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District offers grant money to help public agencies with the purchase of electric, plug-in hybrid, or alternative fuel vehicles.

The Ripon Police Department submitted a grant application to go towards one such car at the Oct. 10 Ripon City Council meeting.

No discussion was necessary on approval of the resolution.

The local police department is looking to get partial funding for one 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E Battery Electric Vehicle.

“The vehicle would ultimately replace the gas-powered currently used by the School Resource Officer,” said police Chief Daniel Sauer in his Council report.

He estimated the total cost of the new vehicle at $70,000 – included would be the required radios and computer upgrades for police vehicles.

Some of the cost is already budgeted for this year. The City of Ripon’s General Capital-Department Fund (fiscal year 2023-2024) includes the purchase of a new SRO vehicle for $50,000.

The City is requesting $20,000 in grant funds to help offset the total cost.

The Ripon Police Department has the infrastructure in place to support an electric vehicle, which in this case would be a Level 2, 240-volt power outlet, according to Sauer.

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s Alternative Fuel Vehicle Purchase Program is offered to public agencies to promote clean air alternative-fuel technologies along with the use of low- or zero- emission vehicles in public fleets.

All projects will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis, Sauer said.