MCE and Contra Costa Transportation Authority Partner on EV Charging
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 11, 2022
MCE Press Contact:
Jenna Tenney, Marketing & Communications Manager
(925) 378-6747 | communications@mceCleanEnergy.org
SAN RAFAEL and CONCORD, Calif. — MCE and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) are partnering to deliver clean transportation programs that are expected to reduce more than 50,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The Charge Up Contra Costa Program, funded by a $3.5 million California Energy Commission grant and $840,000 in match funding from MCE and CCTA, will promote electric vehicle (EV) charging station installations through rebates, EV car sharing, eBike rebates, and workforce development.
“Contra Costa County is creating a cleaner transportation system to combat climate change and improve our air quality,” said John Gioia, MCE Board Director and Contra Costa County Supervisor. “We want to make it easier and more convenient for our residents to own and operate an EV and save hundreds of dollars in fuel every year. Expanding access to charging infrastructure is critical to increasing the sale and use of zero-emission EVs.”
On average, driving an EV can save over $650 in fuel per year. Today, the cost of gasoline is more than double the cost of MCE’s Deep Green 100% renewable energy which can be used for clean EV charging. Commuters are six times more likely to drive an EV if their workplace or residence offers charging solutions. To reduce installation and hardware costs at multifamily and workplace properties, MCE will provide rebates of up to $5,500 per EV charging station.
“The City of Oakley was the first city to install charging stations through the Charge Up Contra Costa Program,” said Aaron Meadows, MCE Board Director and Vice Mayor of the City of Oakley. “This was our second EV charging project in the city and we’re looking forward to doing more to support clean transportation in partnership with CCTA and MCE.”
Charge Up Contra Costa also offers EV car sharing in Richmond through Míocar, $500 rebates on eBikes for income-qualified customers, and workforce development through program partners RichmondBUILD and Future Build.
“Charge Up Contra Costa will reduce our carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions, helping us to create cleaner communities,” said Timothy Haile, Contra Costa Transportation Authority’s Executive Director. “We’re excited to partner with MCE to build clean transportation and foster healthier communities in Contra Costa.”
Learn more about Charge Up Contra Costa at https://ccta.net/projects/charge-up/.
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About MCE: MCE is a groundbreaking, not-for-profit, public agency that has been setting the standard for clean energy in our communities since 2010. MCE offers more renewable power at stable rates, significantly reducing energy-related greenhouse emissions and enabling millions of dollars of reinvestment in local energy programs. MCE is a load-serving entity supporting a 1,200 MW peak load. MCE provides electricity service and innovative programs to more than 540,000 customer accounts and more than one million residents and businesses in 37 member communities across four Bay Area counties: Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano. For more information about MCE, visit mceCleanEnergy.org, or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.
About Contra Costa Transportation Authority: The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. With a staff of twenty people managing a multi-billion-dollar suite of projects and programs, CCTA is responsible for planning, funding, and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net.
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