Urban Resilience with Curbside Bidirectional Electric Vehicle Charging
Summary
SCH Number
2025110044
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Urban Resilience with Curbside Bidirectional Electric Vehicle Charging
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/3/2025
Document Description
The purpose of this project is to design, fabricate, and validate a novel curbside vehicle-to-grid (V2G) electric vehicle (EV) charger that integrates with existing urban infrastructure and supports bidirectional capabilities between EVs and the grid. The project involves development of prototype EV chargers, benchtop testing, and demonstration in a laboratory environment at the UC Berkeley Richmond Field Station. This demonstration aims to advance equitable access to cutting-edge clean transportation technology in underserved communities, while also enhancing local grid resilience. The primary beneficiaries of the project include underserved communities that have lacked access to advanced EV infrastructure, as well as utilities and transportation stakeholders seeking to implement scalable, grid-supportive charging solutions.
Contact Information
Name
Katelynn Dinius
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Air Resources Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Shannon Dulaney
Agency Name
It’s Electric Incorporated
Job Title
Project Manager
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Richmond
Counties
Contra Costa
Regions
Citywide, Countywide
Cross Streets
46th Street, S 46th Street
Other Location Info
1301 S 46th St Richmond 94804
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15301 provides that projects which consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, and which involve negligible or no expansion of existing or former use at
the time of the lead agency's determination, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The project involves the installation of two new 7.6kW Level 2 AC EV chargers at UC Berkeley's Field Station in Richmond, CA, located within an area already designated for research
and equipment testing. The scope of work includes trenching within previously paved and disturbed areas to connect the EV charger to an existing power source, and civil engineering activities necessary to support permitting and installation. The charger will be installed for demonstration purposes, with no expansion of building footprint, and tested with vehicles as part of a 1.5-year demonstration phase. Permission for new circuiting and installation is being secured from the City of Richmond, Building Division. The project represents a minor alteration to existing facilities, with no increase in use beyond current activities at the Richmond Field Station.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15303
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15303 provides a categorical exemption from CEQA for the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures. The project involves the installation of two small curbside V2G chargers and associated cabling within an existing paved and previously disturbed area at UC Berkeley’s Richmond Field Station. Trenching and ground disturbance are minimal and limited to utility connections. The equipment is comparable in scale to common public infrastructure such as parking meters or light poles. The installation is intended for a temporary demonstration phase and does not require any structural modifications or expansions of existing facilities.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15311
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15311 provides a categorical exemption from CEQA for the construction or placement of minor structures accessory to existing institutional, commercial, or industrial facilities. The project includes the installation of two curbside V2G chargers at the Richmond Field Station, which is a fully developed institutional research site. These chargers are accessory to the existing use of the site as a testing and demonstration facility and will support ongoing research related to grid-interactive EV charging technologies. The equipment is installed within an existing paved area and will not alter the function or capacity of the facility.
The project does not involve impacts on any particularly sensitive environment; will not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project, and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit LCI’s Accessibility Site.