A $12 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will bring major improvements to the electric vehicle charging infrastructure across Ventura County, officials said at a Jan. 26 briefing in Thousand Oaks.
Congresswoman Julia Brownley from the local 26th District and Congressman Salud Carbajal of the neighboring 24th District to the north, both Democrats, joined local leaders at the Thousand Oaks Transit Center on South Rancho Road to announce the award.
The funding will be used for the construction of an east and west county EV charging center and 190 EV charging ports countywide, officials said. The funding will also expand EV workforce development programs and invest in e-bike integration and pedestrian-safety infrastructure.
“Alongside advocating for environmental sustainability efforts and taking action to address the climate crisis with the urgency this existential issue demands, I am working to ensure that Ventura County residents have safe and reliable modes of transportation and transit to travel to and from their destinations,” Brownley said.
“County of Ventura will make critical investments so that residents, businesses, and visitors to the region are able to utilize a cleaner, safer, and more accessible transportation network, while creating jobs and strengthening our economy,” she said.
Brownley and Carbajal teamed up as members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to secure the funding made available by the federal government’s 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“The receipt of these funds is monumental for Ventura County and will go far toward the expansion of sustainable energy infrastructure in the county,” Ventura County Supervisor Kelly Long said.
“The County of Ventura is grateful to have been selected by the Department of Transportation to receive this grant and for the opportunity to create a significant investment in green energy,” Long said.
Locally, the project will pay for the development of a regional EV hub at the Thousand Oaks Transit Center through the construction of eight fast-charging stations with solar and battery back-up that enables charging during power outages and emergencies.
The funding will also support the installation of electric charging stations adjacent to multi-family housing to ensure access for all residents, Thousand Oaks Mayor Al Adam said.
Details of the grant include:
East and West County EV charging centers with solar and battery storage to provide first responders and the public with charging ability during grid outages and other emergencies.
Implementation of off-grid EV charging combined with solar battery storage for rural communities that experience intermittent grid outages.
Multiple fast chargers and level 2 chargers spread throughout Ventura County for additional charging capability.
An e-bike program that helps reduce the number of vehicles on the road and promotes multi-modal transportation opportunities to those who rely on bikes as their primary transportation.
Workforce development programs to train workers in the installation, maintenance and operation of the expanding EV supply equipment network.
— John Loesing
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