Congressman Salud Carbajal and Congresswoman Julia Brownley Present $12 Million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to the County of Ventura for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Thousand Oaks,
January 29, 2024
On Friday, January 26, Congressman Salud Carbajal and Congresswoman Julia Brownley presented a $12 million federal award from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand access to public electric vehicle charging in Ventura County, advancing the County’s goals of equitable mobility and energy resiliency. The federal funds are projected to support the construction of 190 new EV chargers in Ventura County, including 42 public rapid charging stations. “When Rep. Brownley and I were helping to move the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law forward through our roles on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, we understood that our goals of expanding use of zero-emission vehicles and cutting carbon pollution were only possible if we also approve investments in public charging infrastructure," said Congressman Salud Carbajal. "I’m proud to see mine and Rep. Brownley’s work helping to write and pass that landmark law now delivering our community such a robust return on that investment. I look forward to seeing this grant helping to create new charging availability across Ventura County." “The promise of greener, healthier communities holds great weight in the work that I do in Congress. Alongside advocating for environmental sustainability efforts and taking action to address the climate crisis with the urgency this existential issue demands, I am working to ensure that Ventura County residents have safe and reliable modes of transportation and transit to travel to and from their destinations,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “That is why I am proud to have joined the County of Ventura and its community partners in securing funding for this transformational project. Because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and more specifically this grant funding for EV charging infrastructure, the County of Ventura will make critical investments so that residents, businesses, and visitors to the region are able to utilize a cleaner, safer, and more accessible transportation network, while creating jobs and strengthening our economy.” “The receipt of these funds is monumental for Ventura County and will go far toward the expansion of sustainable energy infrastructure in the county,” stated Supervisor Kelly Long, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “The County of Ventura is grateful to have been selected by the Department of Transportation to receive this grant and for the opportunity to create a significant investment in green energy. We’re delighted to have the support from Congresswoman Brownley and Congressman Carbajal which helped secure this funding.” The funds provided through the Department of Transportation will go to support the “Powering Progress” project, a $15 million Ventura County initiative to implement the Ventura County Regional EV Blueprint and support the larger sustainability goals set forward by the state of California to achieve 100 percent zero emission vehicle sales. The funding for the “Powering Progress” initiative will create several unique investments in sustainability that will serve as a model for EV infrastructure in the state. The grant will provide funds to invest in E-bike integration to support multi-modal opportunities for those who rely on bikes as their primary mode of transportation. As well, the funds will allow for the creation and expansion of workforce development programs to train workers in the installation, maintenance, and operation of the expanding EV charging infrastructure. The “Powering Progress” project also addresses the need for resiliency in the local EV infrastructure by proposing the creation of off-grid EV charging combined with large-scale and small-scale solar battery storage. This element of the project supports both the residents of Ventura County and first responders by enabling a reliable power supply during emergency outages as well as Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events. More information about “Powering Progress” and other Ventura County sustainability initiatives and green energy projects can be found at: www.vcenergy.org Through their role as members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congressman Carbajal and Congresswoman Brownley helped write and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law over the course of 2021. To date, the Central Coast has received over $600 million for more than 100 projects from the infrastructure law, including:
A map of some of the investments funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can be found at Invest.gov. |
