Questions and Answers
Zero-Emission Vehicle Regional Readiness and Planning
GFO-16-601
These answers are based on the Energy Commission’s interpretation of the questions received. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine whether or not their particular proposed project is eligible for funding, by reviewing the Eligibility Requirements within the solicitation. The Energy Commission cannot give advice as to whether or not your particular project is eligible for funding, because all proposal details are not known.
ELIGIBILITY
Q1Are University of California campuses eligible to apply on their own for some sort of feasibility study/readiness plan to look at the future conversion of our diesel campus shuttle fleet to EV?
A1By itself, a conversion plan for a diesel campus shuttle fleet to EVs does not qualify under this solicitation. However, conversion plans could and should be included as part of broader ZEV regional readiness plan or feasibility study.
Category A, ZEV Feasibility Studies on page 11 of GFO-16-601 statesfeasibility studies will determine the expected and potential growth of zero and near zero battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell electric vehicle growth in the area that could require regional readiness planning activities. At a minimum, the feasibility study must include anticipated increases in local ZEV population based on growth in rebates or other metric, activities that may require a more coordinated regional approach, such as installing charging infrastructure or outreach that could increase local ZEV population, estimations of when local ZEV population reaches “critical mass” and would require larger regional coordination and planning, and local businesses that could benefit from including charging infrastructure as an amenity to draw travel from outside the region.
Q2We are the lead agency of the San Joaquin Valley PEVCC and have received funding under a previous Energy Commission solicitation PON-14-603 for Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Readiness. We are in the process of completing that project. Are we eligible to apply and receive funding under this solicitation undercategories B, C and D?
A2Entities that have received previous regional readiness and planning funding from the Energy Commission are eligible to apply. Please note that in accordance with Addendum #2, only one application may be submitted per applicant under this solicitation.
Q3Would a ZEV Group Purchase Program activity be eligible for funding under this solicitation if it is consistent with ourregional Readiness Plans?Both of these Readiness Plans identify the widespread adoption of EVs and FCEVs as their principle goal.
A3No. Vehicle purchases are not eligible for funding.
Q4The text of the solicitationstates that “the applicant must be the lead public entity of a regional coordinating council,” but the oral answers during the workshop indicated that this might be more broadly interpreted. For example, encouraging cities to coordinate applications is good, but it is not the same as an association of governments. The lead public entity in the Bay Area—and administrator of the EV coordinator council—is the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD). Does that restrict eligibility to BAAQMD in its territory?
A4The solicitation is amended to remove the reference to a regional coordinating council. The BAAQMD qualifies as a lead public entity and eligibility is not restricted to its territory.
Q5BAAQMD hosts the Bay Area Coordinating Council. Are cities within the BAAQMD region eligible?
A5Yes.
Q6Are special districts eligible?
A6Yes.
Q7Can a Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for one county apply for a project that covers multiple counties as long as the applicant has support from the other jurisdictions?
A7Based on the above hypothetical and without accounting for additional details which may affect eligibility, an RTPA is eligible to apply.
Please note that ZEV feasibility studies under Category A of the solicitation are limited to one or more of the following counties: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Imperial, Inyo, Lake, Lassen, Mariposa, Modoc, Mono, Plumas, and Tuolumne. Counties covered by a regional readiness plan (existing or under development) are not eligible to be included in a ZEV feasibility study.
Q8Are Clean Cities Coalitions or city agencies that are dedicated to ZEV deployment considered regional coordinating councils?
A8Public entities associated with a Clean Cities Coalitionand city agencies may apply as the applicant on behalf of a region.
Q9Is this solicitation limited to passenger vehicles only? The ZEV Action Plan includes other types of vehicles.
A9While light-duty passenger vehicles are a key to meeting the ZEV Action Plan goal to have 1.5 million ZEVs on California roadways by 2025, the solicitation does not specify any limitations to passenger vehicles only.
Q10Are non-profits eligible to apply as a lead?
A10No. The solicitation is open to all California public entities that can meet the requirements of the solicitation.
Q11As a State agency, can we partner in the application or would our role only be to submit a letter of support?
A11State agencies can partner in the application.
Q12Please confirm whether a project consisting of the following tasks would be eligible under GFO 16-601 Category B if submitted by an eligible applicant:
- Identify geographic locations where PEV infrastructure is needed in multifamily housing with a focus on disadvantaged communities using metrics such as:
- Current PEV infrastructure gap;
- Projections of PEV deployments and level of PEVs required to support PEV infrastructure;
- Regional travel and housing development patterns; and
- Communities suffering disparate impacts based on CalEnviroScreen.
- Develop methodologies to meet these needs in disadvantaged communities including:
- Planning (including parking) and zoning codes;
- PEV infrastructure siting analysis to evaluate potential charging infrastructure host sites;
- Helping to coordinate and streamline the installation process and facilitating access to potential utility and other PEV infrastructure incentives; and
- Plans for education and outreach regarding PEVs.
A12Based on the limited information provided, it appears these activities are eligible for funding under the solicitation. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine whether their proposed project is eligible for funding according to the Eligibility Requirements within the solicitation. The Energy Commission willdetermine project eligibility once a proposal is submitted.
ADMINISTRATION/PROCESS
Q13Will the workshop presentation be available on the website?
A13The presentation slides for GFO-16-601 Pre-Application Workshop are posted on the Energy Commission’s website at:
Q14If an applicant submits an application for multiple activities, is there a page limit for individual activities?
A14Activity Description Sheets (Attachment 1-a) are limited to 5 pages maximum per activity. For example, if an applicant proposes 3 individual activities, three separate Activity Description Sheets up to 5 pages each must be submitted for a maximum total of 15 pages.
Q15The solicitation indicates that resumes may be included as part of the application package. Can you please advise what section resumes should be placed in?
A15Resumes are optional and may be submitted as part of the overall application package. Please see Addendum #2.
CALENVIROSCREEN/DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES
Q16Is CalEnviroScreen the exclusive mapping tool an applicant can use to identify disadvantaged communities?Please clarify if applicants should only be using CalEnviroScreen 2.0 instead of CalEnviroScreen 3.0 (which is currently a draft version). Can an applicant use an alternative like the Disadvantaged Communities Mapping Tool provided by the Department of Water Resources?
A16Applicants must use the most current final (not draft) version of CalEnviroScreen to identify disadvantaged communities within the selected project region. Draft versions of CalEnviroScreen are available for public comment, but may still be going through revisions.
Q17Are only counties that are labeled as disadvantaged communities by CalEnviroScreen eligible for funding?
A17No.
MISCELLANEOUS
Q18In regards to the ombudsman/liaison, is it necessary to create a new position or would the Energy Commission consider funding the expansion of an existing position that serves a similar role for a related topic area, such as a residential/commercial solar liaison?
A18Funding requested for an ombudsman must be linked to establishing a new ZEV ombudsman position. The new ZEV ombudsman can be either a brand new position or new ZEV-centric ombudsman responsibilities for an existing position. Requested Energy Commission funding must be supplement and not supplant funding already allocated to ZEV ombudsman activities.
Q19For Category C, can Applicants cite more than one Regional Readiness Planning document pertaining to zero-emission vehicles in their application? For example, a region with both a Regional PEV Readiness Plan and an Alternative Fuels Readiness Plan available.
A19Yes, more than one applicable plan may be cited.
Q20How many applicants is the Energy Commission expecting to receive funding through this solicitation?
A20With the available funding, the Energy Commission expects to fund up to 12 awards.
Q21Do the county restrictions outlined in Category A also apply to Categories B and C?
A21No.
Q22Does ZEV “implementation” mean these funds can be used, in part, to construct an EV charging station or are the funds limited to planning ZEV infrastructure(s)?
A22ZEV infrastructure construction/installation is not an eligible activity. ZEV Implementation is limited to planning activities for ZEV infrastructure. Please refer to Section II. Category C: ZEV Regional Readiness Plan Implementation on page 12 of the solicitation for examples of eligible activities.
Q23What are the minimum applicant eligibility requirements?
A23Please refer to Addendum #2, Section II.A. Applicant Requirements. The solicitation is open to all California public entities that can meet the requirements of the solicitation.
Q24Is there an opportunity to provide a brief Project Team summary?
A24Yes. A project team summary can be included as part of the Project Narrative.
Q25What are the differences between a ZEV Feasibility Study (Category A) and a ZEV Regional Readiness Plan (Category B)? Could you please provide a full description of what tasks are allowed and not allowed in a Feasibility Study?
A25ZEV feasibility studies (Category A) are meant to allow counties that are not yet covered by a ZEV regional plan to begin initial planning efforts. Feasibility studies must include ZEVs but can also include other alternative fuels (except propane).
New ZEV Regional Readiness Plan Development (Category B) provides funding for any applicant to develop a new ZEV regional readiness plan. New plan development can be proposed for counties both with and without existing plans. These fuller and more robust plans are limited to ZEVs only.
Please see Section II.B for more information on project requirements for each category.
Q26Can the California Energy Commission provide any good examples of ZEV Feasibility Studies?
A26Section I.N., Reference Documents, contain links to previous readiness planning reports.
Q27Workshop slide 21 indicates that the “applicant must be the lead public entity of a regional coordinating council”. Do you have a list of the regional coordinating councils, and who is the lead agency for each?
A27Addendum #2 removes the reference to regional coordinating councils. Section I.N, Reference Documents, contain links to previous readiness planning reports including information on relevant regional coordinating councils.
Q28Can three eligible adjacent counties form one region and submit one application for Category A and receive $150,000 in funding?
A28No, Category A applicationsare limited to $50,000 each regardless of how many counties are covered by the proposed feasibility study.
Q29If an applicantapplies for Category A funding, can the applicant also apply for Category B, Category C, or Category D funds?
A29No. Only one application may be submitted per applicant under this solicitation.
Q30Can successfully awarded Feasibility Studies applicants apply and receive funding for a ZEV Readiness Plan in future solicitations? Are ZEV Feasibility Studies the first step before applying for a ZEV Regional Readiness Plan?
A30Staff cannot predict specific requirements or restrictions of future solicitations. However, the intent of funding feasibility studies is to reach regions within California not yet covered by a ZEV regional plan. The feasibility study can be viewed as a first step to a full ZEV regional readiness plan. The regions (counties) listed in Category A can choose to apply under Category A, Category B, or Category D.
Q31How is the Energy Commission planning to meet its objectives for this solicitation, encouraging new regions to apply for Regional Readiness Plan funds?
A31Category A (Feasibility Studies) are meant to encourage new regions to begin the process of planning for alternative fuels (including ZEVs).
Q32Can a ZEV Feasibility Study address only a subset of a county's ZEV population, including primarily ZEVs for off-road use, supported by shared charging infrastructure serving a secondary (for purposes of the study) set of on-road ZEVs? An example would be a study addressing the adoption of off-road ZEVs at warehouse/distribution facilities that would distinguish such facilities competitively for the county's economic benefit, while also providing charging infrastructure for on-road ZEVs.
A32While this solicitation does not specifically limit studies to on-road vehicles, applicants are encouraged to broaden the scope of feasibility studies to the greatest extent possible which will further support the goal of the ZEV Action Plan to have 1.5 million ZEVs on California roadways by 2025.
Questions and AnswersPage 1 of 6ZEV Regional Readiness & Planning
December 2016GFO-16-601