REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Proposed Electric Bicycle Rebate Pilot Program [Council Pillar: Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure and Sustainability]
Report
BACKGROUND
On September 24, 2019 Council requested Silicon Valley Power (SVP) to review the opportunity to provide an electric bicycles (ebike) rebate program. SVP staff researched the various restricted fund programs; the public benefits program (PBC), the low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) program, and the green-house-gas (GHG) reduction program to evaluate if all or parts of the programs can fund an ebike rebate program. The California Air Resources Board governs both the LCFS and GHG program spending. At this time they do not allow program dollars to be spent on electric transportation beyond electric cars, trucks and forklifts and infrastructure. However, they are considering making changes to their current guidelines to allow for greater equity and diversity in clean transportation in the future. The PBC funds are used for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and research and development projects and at this time is not eligible to be used for an ebike program.
DISCUSSION
Given the current shelter-in-place and economic climate, people are biking more for both transportation and exercise. SVP is proposing to create a pilot residential ebike rebate program to encourage the adoption of electric bicycles for commuting to work, shopping, going to school, visiting friends, etc. instead of commuting by car. Electric bicycles are less expensive than electric cars and do not require special infrastructure to charge making them ideal for a range of lifestyles and economic situations.
SVP is proposing to fund the pilot ebike program through the already adopted operating 2021 budget by redirecting a total of up to $15,000 of funds from community promotion for public events to specific ebike rebate program(s). The proposed program will use $10,000 toward a st...
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