TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to develop a policy where work done to develop our City EV infrastructure is performed by contractor’s signatory to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers who hold a valid California C-10 electrical contractors license. This requirement should apply to light, medium, and/or heavy duty EV charging infrastructure.
DISCUSSION
Long Beach has made and continues to make significant progress toward reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Motor vehicles are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gasses, so electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure is a big part of the City’s efforts to improve electric charging availability and reduce emissions. It is essential to ensure we have strong infrastructure in place to further renewable options and their availability for residents and businesses.
Additionally, because safety is also an important issue for Long Beach it is important to ensure that contractors installing electric vehicle infrastructure do so with the correct safety training and practices. Therefore, contractors working in Long Beach on City EV infrastructure should be required to be Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) approved, and their electricians should be required to hold EVITP certification. EVITP is a national non-profit training and certification program featured in U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities EV Infrastructure Guides and includes a curriculum that is made available through utility training centers, community colleges, and electrical union training centers.
Further, EVITP is required by two California state agencies. As a result, the Port of Long Beach has been awarded a vehicle electrification grant by the California Energy Commission (CEC) that requires EVITP certification. In addition, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requires that EV charging infrastructure financed by SCE, PG&E, and SDG&E be installed by utility staff, or by contractor’s signatory to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) who hold valid California C-10 electrical contractor’s licenses.
As electric vehicle infrastructure continues to be a commitment we are making to better the City, we need to make certain the work is being done safely and effectively by those most qualified and prepared to perform this work.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to this proposed action.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
SIZIE PRICE
COUNCILWOMAN, THIRD DISTRICT
LENA GONZALEZ
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
AL AUSTIN
COUNCILMAN, EIGHTH DISTRICT