Butte PEV Readiness Plan

BCAG has completed the development of the Butte Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Readiness Plan (Plan), after working with city and county staff and other interested stakeholders over the past year. BCAG was successful in receiving a Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant in the amount of $114,777 to develop the Butte PEV Readiness Plan.
What are plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs)?
- Make the region eligible for grant funding for installation of new PEV charging stations;
- Ensure the region is prepared for anticipated coming “wave” of new PEVs;
- Provide a “toolbox” for the cities and county to improve their PEV readiness;
- Contribute to improved air quality and reduced CO2 emissions in the region;
- Help meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for BCAG's Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, and city and county climate action plans.
Regions throughout the state are developing PEV readiness plans to be prepared for the anticipated increase in plug-in electric vehicles. Most major automobile manufacturers are developing PEVs with increased driving range, performance and practicability, and the existing network of charging stations continues to expand.
The development of the Butte PEV Readiness Plan was coordinated through a Project Development Team (PDT) that included representatives from the cities and county, as well as interested stakeholders including Butte County Air Quality Management District, PG&E, CSU Chico, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico Electric Vehicle Association, and others. Public workshops were held to solicit additional public input.
The Plan includes the following main components:
- Identification of preferred locations throughout the region for additional PEV charging facilities;
- Recommendations for improvements to city and county building codes, permitting and inspection processes, and zoning and parking requirements, in order to facilitate and streamline installation of PEV charging equipment in residential, workplace and public/retail locations;
- Recommendations for increasing the number of PEVs in vehicle fleets throughout the region;
- Projections identifying future PEV use in the region;
- Information for future training and education.
For further information on the Butte PEV Readiness Plan, please contact Chris Devine at cdevine@bcag.org or 530-809-4616.