EV Charger Rebates Offered

Written by Estero Bay News

February 23, 2023

The State Energy Commission has begun a rebate program as part of its efforts to increase the number of fast-charging electric vehicle chargiung stations in certain areas of California.

The California Energy Commission or CEC has started a $30 million rebate program to build fast-chargers in 30 counties encompassing Eastern California, the Central Valley and the Central Coast, with the deadline to apply set for March 10.

The “Golden State Priority Project,” part of the “California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project or CALeVIP, “is the first of its kind to fully focus on bringing fast-charging stations to disadvantaged, low-income and tribal communities,” reads a news release from the CEC. “Projects that are shovel-ready will be prioritized for funding to accelerate build-out of the state’s infrastructure network.”

“This new model is designed to deploy charging infrastructure swiftly and equitably to make sure every EV driver feels confident they can refuel, and that need is especially critical in rural, low-income and tribal communities,” CEC Commissioner Patty Monahan said. “These funds will help fill the gap in areas where we know charging is needed the most to bring the benefits of clean transportation to all Californians.”

Eligible participants on the program include: businesses, nonprofits, public entities and tribes “with project sites in disadvantaged communities, low-income communities and tribal community census tracts in 30 counties across the state.” San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties are included in this program.

Rebates can be used to buy direct current (DC) fast chargers “capable of at least 150 kilowatt-hours (kW) guaranteed power output at each active connector.”

Other requirements include: Applicants must install at least four DC fast chargers per site and can receive funding for up to 20 per site; and chargers must be available for public use within 15 months of application approval. There is also a 50-50 cost sharing requirement, so one can only get rebates to cover half the cost of the new EV chargers.

If interested in this program, readers can go to the CEC project website at: calevip.org. Deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Friday, March 10. 

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