GFO-22-612 – Electric School Bus Bi-Directional Infrastructure

Purpose: The purpose of this solicitation is to fund projects that support the ability to enable managed charging and bi-directional power flow for electric school buses and their associated infrastructure. This is a two-phased competitive grant solicitation. The California Energy Commission’s (CEC’s) Clean Transportation Program announces the availability of up to $15,000,000 in grant funds for Phase 1 projects that will install bi-directional direct current fast charging stations at key building sites throughout California school districts. (See sections below for information on Phase 2). The purpose of this solicitation is to fund projects that support the ability to enable managed charging and bi-directional power flow for electric school buses and their associated infrastructure. As California has seen over the last few summers, and as is expected to be the case for years to come, extreme heat and other climate change impacts threaten the reliability of California’s electrical grid. California must now account for increasing levels of large fires, droughts beyond historical levels, and increased energy demand due to hotter temperatures. Additionally, with the continuing threat of wildfires, utilities may proactively schedule Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events to reduce the risk of their infrastructure causing or contributing to a wildfire. These events can leave communities and essential facilities without power for extended periods of time, creating hardships for vulnerable communities. The objective of this solicitation is to mitigate the impact of PSPS events and wildfires and to create additional energy resources during periods of high electricity demand. Electric school buses with bi-directional capabilities can help offset some of the impacts and challenges of grid reliability and PSPS events. Some California school districts already have electric school buses that are ready to take advantage of the benefits of vehicle-to-grid integration (VGI), with many more electric school buses expected to be ordered throughout the state in the near future. These districts will need the expertise to understand the most beneficial uses for their new technologies and how they can positively impact their communities. Eligible Applicants: Phase 1 of this solicitation is open to all private entities with a business presence in California. Phase 2 of this solicitation is open to all project teams awarded in Phase 1. Eligible Geographies: Have a business presence in California. Matching Funding: Applications must include a minimum match of 10 percent of the total project costs.

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  crystal.willis@energy.ca.gov