SAN DIEGO, — San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has officially announced that it will invest $7.5 million over the next five years to develop a bold new education campaign to create awareness, expand electric vehicle (EV) ownership and lead the charge among large cities to electrify the transportation sector. The desired result: to reduce harmful air emissions, promote the use of EV charging with power from the wind and sun, and to establish San Diego and south Orange Counties as America’s EV and clean energy capital.
The education campaign will complement the $45-million pilot program recently approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to install 3,500 charging stations at 350 local businesses, multi-family communities and disadvantaged neighborhoods. This combined $52.5 million comprehensive effort is expected to increase the use of clean energy as a fuel for transportation and help consumers overcome any obstacles to EV ownership.
“California is known for new ideas and innovation, and development of life-changing technologies. Now, we are leading the U.S. in creating the leading standard for de-carbonizing electricity and advancing clean transportation,” said Jeff Martin, SDG&E’s chairman, president and CEO. “Some problems are solved by looking to the future, not the past, and this is one of them,” said Martin. “That is why we are reducing carbon in the transportation sector by installing charging infrastructure throughout the communities we serve, and maximizing the use of renewable energy to charge vehicles.”
Martin announced the comprehensive campaign at a news conference alongside San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer, Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas, San Diego Councilman Mark Kersey, and other local leaders.
“San Diego is a national leader in developing innovative solutions to reduce emissions and protect our environment,” said San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer. “I am happy to see SDG&E working to strengthen our reputation in this field by installing thousands of new electric vehicle charging stations at apartments, condos, businesses and underserved neighborhoods throughout our great city.
“San Diegans will not only save money on their gasoline bills, it will also help San Diego achieve its Climate Action Plan goals by cleaning up our air and reducing emission in the crucial transportation sector,” Mayor Faulconer added. “Power Your Drive demonstrates once again why the nation looks to San Diego for leadership in urban sustainability.”
“California is a leader in setting policy supporting the widespread deployment of electric vehicles,” said CPUC Commissioner Carla Peterman. “The SDG&E pilot program will not only make EV charging more available, which is important for driving the sale of cars, but it will test how charging can benefit the power grid and bring down electricity costs for all ratepayers.”
Among the participants to step forward and pledge to promote EV growth and charging included: American Lung Association, Bayview Baptist Church, Circulate San Diego, City of Chula Vista, City of National City, City of San Diego, County of San Diego, Cuyamaca College, Escondido Union High School District, Gildred Co., H.G. Fenton Company, I Love A Clean San Diego, Jewish Family Services, Menlo Equities, Palomar College, San Diego Housing Federation, Sea World, Sony, UCSD, and UTC Aerospace.
SDG&E is working to sign up 200 participants by the end of the year, in locations throughout all 26 cities in the region. At least 10 percent of the chargers will be in disadvantaged communities.
“Chula Vista is proud to partner with SDG&E to provide clean air to our communities,” said City of Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas. “Continuing our record of environmental leadership we are looking at electrifying our City fleet and are pleased to partner with SDG&E to install 60 charging stations at City facilities and more throughout our city.”
For those interested in learning more about the education campaign and EV charging station program, visit sdge.com/poweryourdrive or email EV@sdge.com
