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| The South Coast Air Quality Management District was recently awarded $1,000,000 for the “Community Readiness and Planning for Plug-In Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure Grant,” which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. This grant program is designed to create a unified statewide approach to planning and implementation of critical PEV charging infrastructure activities in order to support and expand the market for PEVs in California. WRCOG was allocated $20,000 to engage in readiness guidelines and workshops, infrastructure plans, and coordinating council functions. |
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| The Southern California Association of Governments was recently awarded $200,000 for the “Southern California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan Grant,” which is funded by the California Energy Commission. This grant program is designed to develop a Regional PEV Readiness Plan with complementary model subregional plans that advance strategies for the accelerated and streamlined deployment of PEV electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), establish best practices for “EV-ready” building and public works guidelines, and help to streamline PEV EVSE permitting, installation, and inspection processes. WRCOG was allocated $35,000 to solicit and obtain city policies and practices which facilitate or hinder electric vehicle infrastructure installation. This will include gathering and analyzing local policies for their potential to facilitate the installation of charging infrastructure. |
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13th Annual Advancing the Choice
Expo Recap |
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| The 13th Annual Advancing the Choice Expo (Expo) was held on March 29, 2012, at the beautiful South Coast Winery Resort & Spa in Temecula, CA. This year’s Expo featured John Davis as the Keynote Speaker. Mr. Davis is a two-time Emmy Award winning producer, writer, and creator of PBS’s MotorWeek television series. “Gear up for the Future — Choose the Right Alternative Fuel for You” was this year’s Expo theme. The Expo showcased alternative fuel vehicles and technologies in Western Riverside County. In addition to the guest speaker, Expo activities included an alternative fuel vehicle Ride-N-Drive, regulatory and legislative updates from the California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Western Riverside Council of Governments’ Executive Committee Chair Robin Hastings, and Mayor of Temecula Chuck Washington, provided opening remarks for nearly 200 city and county elected officials, local fleet managers, private industry professionals, alternative fuel experts and members of the public. |
UCR CE-CERT Uses Solar Power
for Electric Vehicles |
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| On January 6, 2012, the South Coast Air Quality Management District awarded $2 million to the Center for Environmental Research and Technology at the University of California, Riverside’s (UCR) Bourns College of Engineering. The funds will be used to build and install solar arrays, advanced battery storage systems, electric vehicle charging stations, and a grid management system to create clean energy for electric powered vehicles. In addition, funds will be allocated to convert a diesel trolley to electric power to transport students to and from the UCR campus. The project will take approximately 2 years to complete and will utilize solar energy to power electric vehicle charging. Bourns, Inc. and SolarMax will collaborate to produce the solar arrays, while Balqon will assist in the conversion of the trolley and the installation of the battery storage, charging and distribution system. |
| This project, coincides with the newly established “Winston Chung Global Energy Center,” located on the UCR CE-CERT campus. Winston Global Energy will donate 2-megawatts of rare earth lithium-ion batteries, valued at approximately $5 million for this project. With the project underway, Western Riverside County is poised to be a hub of energy efficiency in the United States. |
 Electric Vehicle Chargers Approved by Board of Supervisors |
 On February 28, 2012, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved the installation of 5 electric vehicle charging stations in Downtown Riverside. These chargers will be in addition to the 13 that are currently being installed by the City of Riverside. The chargers will be 240 volt, Level 2 chargers, and the County plans to locate them at the 12th Street parking structure, the Riverside County Administrative Center, the 10th Street parking structure, and the Southwest Justice Center. The County expects to charge a fee to users of the stations, though that fee has not yet been determined. With the installation of these electric vehicle charging stations, Riverside County once again demonstrates its commitment to the environment and air quality. |
| Additional Stories |
| Environmental Youth Conference Draws 200 |
 The 5th Annual Environmental Youth Conference (Conference), hosted by the Western Riverside County Clean Cities Coalition and the Western Riverside Council of Governments, was held at the Diamond Valley Lake Visitor’s center on Thursday, March 1, 2012. The Conference was designed to teach middle school students how to live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle. 200 students from Nicolet Middle School, Riverside STEM Academy, and San Jacinto Leadership Academy collaborated in groups to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the environment and our health, and the effect that our carbon footprint has on overall quality of life. |
| The Conference was divided into four educational tracks: air, water conservation, green cities, and conservation. In each track, students made real life decisions to help foster a sense of respect for their community and the environment. |
| City of Riverside is First in Riverside County to Use Barcode Scanners |
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| Riverside County’s “Save a Gallon” Program (Program) aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gases, improve personal health, and save money by reducing fuel costs. The Program has recently acquired barcode scanners with the help of the City of Riverside and the Western Riverside County Clean Cities Coalition. The barcode scanners, along with barcode key tags, allow students and parents to track: |
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Participation by sending a text/email to all parents that have registered their child upon arriving at school. This information will include the date and time which their child arrived at school, the total calories burned from walking, the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that were reduced (calculated in carbon lbs.), and the amount of fuel saved by walking or biking with a dollar amount assessed (ex. $4.50). |
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Outdoor temperatures. |
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Individual classroom progress. |
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Riverside is the first city in Riverside County to implement this technology and began implementation with a pilot program at Jefferson Elementary School on March 7, 2012.
Rachel Reif, a staff member for Safe Routes to School, stated that they are “excited about the potential to increase overall health, increase traffic safety, reduce emissions, and motivate all (students, administrators, teachers, and volunteers) who are involved and are proud to be the first in California with the hopes that many other schools will follow.” |
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