City Awarded “Charging Smart Gold” Designation for EV Readiness

The City of Santa Rosa has been awarded a Gold Designation from the national Charging Smart program-an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that supports local governments in accelerating electric vehicle (EV) adoption. This is the highest level of recognition in the program, which is led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) with the Great Plains Institute (GPI) as a lead partner.

Santa Rosa is proud to be the first Charging Smart designee in California, and the first Gold designee on the West Coast-a milestone that reflects the City's leadership in sustainability, innovation, and equitable transportation.

The Charging Smart program evaluates cities on their efforts to:

• Streamline EV permitting processes
• Expand access to public and private EV charging
• Engage communities in the transition to electric mobility

Santa Rosa's Gold status highlights strong collaboration across multiple City departments, including Parking, Transportation and Public Works Department, Planning and Economic Development Department and the City Manager's Office. This achievement also aligns with City Council Goals to promote climate action and improve mobility for all residents.

This designation supports the City's broader commitment to building a clean, accessible, and future-ready transportation system. It also complements ongoing initiatives such as:

• Greening the City Fleet: Analyzing the utilization and on-going business needs for each of more than 1,200 pieces of equipment managed by the City's Fleet Division and transitioning municipal vehicles to electric and low-emission alternatives.
• CityBus Electrification: Transitioning to a full zero emissions transit fleet by 2040 as mandated by the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation (13 CCR § 2023.1).
• Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy: Part of the City's General Plan, the Reduction Strategy outlines how the City will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It aims to reduce emissions at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 85% by 2045, in line with California's climate goals.

Charging Smart