Sonoma County continues investment in resilient infrastructure with new portable solar-powered EV chargers

The Board of Supervisors today authorized a funding agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for $791,200 in federal funds to purchase six portable solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations and an emergency back-up power trailer as part of Sonoma County’s Equitable Energy Resilience and Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project. The funding will be matched with $595,403 from the County’s Climate Resilience Fund for a project total of $1,386,603. The Climate Resilience Fund, which totals $10 million, was set aside by the Board of Supervisors in 2021 using PG&E settlement funds from the 2017 wildfires.  

“With this investment, the County continues to bolster its off-grid, transportable infrastructure for continuity of operations during emergencies,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Board of the Supervisors. “We don’t know when the next disaster will strike, but we can be confident that essential services for public health and safety can continue without disruption thanks to ongoing public investment in sustainable infrastructure.” 

The federal funding includes support for training and certification for local electricians who may have limited access to resources or face challenges with computer literacy. The program is part of a larger County initiative to invest in resilient critical infrastructure that can support essential public services and first responder operations during power outages, and to build a local workforce in the transition to a green economy.  

When the chargers are not providing emergency back-up power, they will be made available to the public free of charge at Andy’s Unity Park in Santa Rosa, a number of Veterans Memorial buildings, and other locations to be determined. The units could be relocated over time depending on utilization rates, operational limitations such as lack of sunlight, and use as a backup power supply in the event of an emergency. In 2023, Sonoma County invested in three mobile solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations, which are located at Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol, Taylor Mountain Regional Park in Santa Rosa, and North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park in Sonoma Valley.   

For more information about the Sonoma County Equitable Energy Resilience and Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project, please contact the Department of Public Infrastructure at (707) 565-2550 or email SPI@sonoma-county.org.    

Sonoma County’s strategic plan pillar on Climate Action and Resiliency. 

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Media Contact:
Dan Virkstis
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org 
707-565-3040