Monterey Bay Municipal Fleet Electrification and Workforce Accelerator

2026020478

California Energy Commission

NOE - Notice of Exemption

2/12/2026

2/12/2026

Miki Crowell

California Energy Commission

ZEV Infrastructure Specialist

Lead/Public Agency

715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 314-3159

miki.crowell@energy.ca.gov

1270 Natividad Road, Salinas, CA 93906 1428 Abbott Street, Salinas, CA 93901 2620 1st Avenue, 93933, Marina 11160 Speegle Street, Castroville, 95012 54692 Teresa Street, San Lucas, 93954 1428 Abbott Street, Salinas, CA 93901 1441 Schilling Place - North Building, Salinas 93901 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas, 93901, CA 855 E Laurel Dr., Salinas, CA 93905 1011 Broadway, King City, CA 93930 331 North Sanborn, Salinas CA 93906 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas, 93901, CA 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas, 93901, CA 1441 Constitution Blvd, Salinas, CA 93906 1590 Moffett St, Salinas, CA 93905 326 Evergreen St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 605 Dimeo Lane, SC, CA 95060 326 Evergreen St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 401 Upper Park Road, SC, CA 95060 155 Center Street, SC, CA 95060 809 Center Street, SC, CA 95060 320 Harvest Dr., Watsonville, CA 95076 500 Clearwater Lane, Watsonville, CA 95076 500 Clearwater Lane, Watsonville, CA 95076 500 Clearwater Lane, Watsonville, CA 95076 500 Rodriguez St., Watsonville, CA 95076 37 Davis Ave., Watsonville, CA 95076 795 Vista Montana Dr., Watsonville, CA 95076 2021 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville, CA 95076 730 San Andreas Rd., Watsonville, CA 95076 120 2nd St., Watsonville, CA 95076 320 Harvest Dr., Watsonville, CA 95076 320 Harvest Dr., Watsonville, CA 95076 26 West Front St., Watsonville, CA 95076 150 Lighthouse Dr., Watsonville, CA 95076 535 Main St., Watsonville, CA 95076 320 Rodriguez St., Watsonville, CA 95076 1301 Main St., Watsonville, CA 95076 1301 Main St., Watsonville, CA 95076 150 Lighthouse Dr., Watsonville, CA 95076 100 Aviation Way, Watsonville, CA 95076 2301 Technology Parkway, Hollister, CA 95023 471 4th Street, Hollister, CA 95023 701 Ocean St. Santa Cruz, CA 95060 1060 Emeline Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95060 500 Westridge Dr. Watsonville, CA 95076 1060 Emeline Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95060 701 Ocean St. Santa Cruz, CA 95060 500 Westridge Dr. Watsonville, CA 95076

Categorical Exemption

Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301, § 15303

This project involves the installation of 195 electric vehicle chargers in the paved parking lots at municipal facilities and the installation of 4 solar photovoltaic systems to support some of these chargers (addresses on the attached sheet). The chargers will be used to power new electric municipal fleet vehicles. This installation constitutes minor alterations to existing facilities, with no expansion beyond their current use, and will not have a significant impact on the environment. Each site will require trenching to install underground electrical supply. All of the areas to be trenched are located at municipal facilities and are previously disturbed. The trenching will remain within previously disturbed areas and depth will be in compliance with required codes for underground electrical lines. EV chargers will be approximately 6-8 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide. The solar photovoltaic systems will be approximately 30 feet tall on canopy carports or will be placed on rooftops and will remain within previously disturbed municipal facility areas. 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 use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. This project involves installation of electric vehicle chargers and solar photovoltaic systems at existing municipal facilities that are previously disturbed. The electric vehicle chargers will be installed on existing paved parking lots and will involve negligible or no expansion of use. Therefore, the project falls within section 15301 and will not have a significant effect on the environment. Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15303 provides that projects which consist of 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 from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure, are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. This project consists of installation of new, small equipment to existing sites. In addition, the electric vehicle charging stations will be installed at existing, paved parking spaces. The solar photovoltaic systems will be on canopy carports or on rooftops and will remain within previously disturbed municipal facility areas. Therefore, the project falls within section 15303 and will not have a significant effect on the environment.

Ministerial

California Government Code section 65850.7(b)

The proposed project is also ministerial in nature involving the issuance of a building permit for the installation of electrical utilities infrastructure to support EV charger installation at existing municipal facilities. Under California Government Code section 65850.7(b) “a city, county, or city and county shall administratively approve an application to install electric vehicle charging stations through the issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit.” As such the proposed project is statutorily exempt from CEQA under 14 CCR section 15268 Ministerial Projects.