Submitted By
Emily A. Egan, Development Services Director
Reviewed By
Erin E. Baynes, Assistant to the Village Manager
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Authorizing the Submission of an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Driving a Cleaner Illinois - Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) Grant Application with a Requested Funding Amount of $100,000 and Approval of Any Subsequent Agreements and Authorizing Their Execution
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Overview
Overview
This Resolution authorizes Village staff to submit an application to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Driving a Cleaner Illinois - Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) Grant Program. If awarded, funds would be used to procure and install publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations in Village-owned parking lots.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution.
Background
The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), Public Act 102-0662, was passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Pritzker on September 15, 2021. CEJA includes provisions to phase carbon emissions from the energy and transportation sectors by directing the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (ILEPA) to establish rebate and grant programs for electric vehicles and charging stations and to oversee the phase-out of fossil fuel-fired electrical generation units.
Municipalities were not eligible to apply for the first round of CEJA grant funding for electric vehicle charging stations in November 2023. In March 2024, the ILEPA announced round two of CEJA funding for electric vehicle charging stations. The total estimated program funding for round two is $44,000,000.
The Village applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation Charging & Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program on June 8, 2023, pursuant to the Village Board’s adoption of RES 23-154 on May 15, 2023. The grant funding was proposed for use in assisting the Village in a project that would deploy thirty (30) publicly accessible power-share level 2 electric vehicle charging stations throughout the community. The total project budget was $1,130,000. 80% of the project costs, or $904,000, would utilize the grant funding, and the Village is responsible for matching the remaining 20%, or $226,000.
As outlined in the Adopted FY 24 - FY 28 Capital Improvement Plan, the project was proposed to occur over a three-year period. Site design and engineering work would occur in FY 24 and construction would occur in FY 25 and FY 26.
On January 11, 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced the first year of CFI grant recipients, awarding $622.57 million in grant funding to 47 applicants across 22 states and Puerto Rico, including two Tribes. The only grant recipient in the State of Illinois was the Illinois Finance Authority/Illinois Climate Bank for the State of Illinois Community Charging Program for a funding amount of $14,962,506. The State of Illinois worked with entities across the state to identify potential locations for the Community Charging Program, particularly in disadvantaged communities. According to the Village’s grant management consultant, Metro Strategies Group, the State had coordinated directly with Cook County to identify locations that had previously completed the County’s survey about their interest in publicly accessible EV charging stations. The Village completed the survey in Q1 of 2023 pursuant to the Village Board’s adoption of RES 23-128 on March 20, 2023, however, the Village was not selected for the County’s program.
CEJA grant funds have the following restrictions that prevent the Village from applying for the full project total sought through the CFI program:
1. Proposed locations shall not have any pre-existing public charging stations; and
2. Proposed locations shall have a minimum of ten (10) ports, capable of simultaneously charging ten electric vehicles.
Due to these restrictions, staff proposes an application for CEJA funding for a revised project that would procure and install five (5) dual-port level 2 EV charging stations within Municipal Lot 15 (924 S. Oak Park Avenue) and five (5) dual-port level 2 EV charging stations within Municipal Lot 24 (438 S. Taylor Avenue). This includes all necessary site and electric service work.
CEJA grant applications are due by May 10, 2024. If awarded, the Village would aim to complete engineering design and construction documents in 2024. Procurement of the stations and associated site design and electrical service work would occur in 2025.
Fiscal Impact
The estimated project total is $271,000. The Village is required to provide a minimum match of 20% but the grant reimbursement is also limited to $5,000 per port. Therefore, the maximum amount that the Village may be reimbursed for the project is $100,000, requiring remaining matching funds of $171,000.
As previously mentioned, the Village’s FY 24-FY28 Capital Improvement Plan outlined funding for the procurement and installation of EV charging stations, dependent upon the Village receiving a grant award from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) program.
Pending the award of the CEJA grant, staff would work to complete site design and engineering work in FY 24. Adequate funding exists in account # 5060.43770.787.570707. Staff would request necessary funding in the FY 25 budget for procurement and installation of the stations.
DEI Impact
Residents and visitors to the Oak Park community will benefit from the expanded electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Additionally, the stations will allow residents without private parking to realize increased access to charging station locations, thus reducing the potential barriers that exist for multi-dwelling unit housing locations to transition from a motor vehicle to an electric vehicle.
One (1) of the two (2) proposed locations for this project is located within a low- and moderate-income area.
The Village’s grant application will address how the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, incorporating evidence-based climate resilience measures and features. Staff will utilize data from existing electric vehicle charging stations in the community to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
Alternatives
The Village Board could not adopt the Resolution and direct staff to continue seeking alternative funding sources for EV charging station infrastructure.
Previous Board Action
N/A
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
If awarded the CEJA grant, staff would prepare a grant agreement with the Illinois EPA for the Village Board’s consideration. A notice of award is expected in July 2024 and the grant agreement would need to be executed by September 2024.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
The proposed project addresses the goals of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), as well as Climate Read Oak Park (CROP). Specifically, the project aligns with CROP’s goal to increase access to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and parking, with an emphasis on access for residents who do not own a garage.