SANTA ROSA, CA – The Bay Area Climate Collaborative selected Sonoma County as the most “EV-Ready Community” for 2011. The Collaborative selected the County for its policies designed to accelerate EV adoption and municipal use of EVs. The Collaborative selected the City of Vacville, Calif. as the runner up.

The Bay Area Climate Collaborative received nominations for 11 agencies for the award. The panel of judges, which included representatives from public and private sector groups, judged their submissions based on the number of installed and proposed charging stations, adopted policies and ordinances in support of EV charging stations, ease of permitting for EV charging stations, outreach and education to catalyze the EV market, among other criteria.

The review panel unanimously selected Sonoma County as the winner. Reviewers praised Sonoma County for its comprehensive work to assimilate EV technologies and highlighted its community outreach and education efforts as successfully removing significant barriers to EV adoption. The County’s work to streamline the permitting process, expand its EV fleet, and  plans to install public and fleet charging stations distinguish Sonoma County as a leader in spurring EV adoption in the Bay Area, the group stated.

In 2008, mayors Newsom, Reed and Dellums set a goal of establishing the Bay Area the “EV Capital of the United States.” This award recognizes those communities doing exemplary work toward achieving this goal by recognizing their efforts to catalyze the EV market.

The review committee included the following representatives:

• Andrew Michael – Bay Area Council

• Ben Tarbell – SolarCity

• Brenda Dix – Metropolitan Transportation Commission

• Jason Smith – ECOtality

• Jim Helmer – LightMoves Consulting

• Lynette Mandal and Michael Jones – Coulomb Technologies

• Ryan Prosser – Green  Charge Networks