Committee questions procurement and equity as Department of Environment seeks $2.3M EV blueprint grant approval

The Department of the Environment asked the Budget & Finance Committee to accept about $2.3 million in grant funding from the California Energy Commission to advance local vehicle electrification, mapping and infrastructure work.

Acting Director Tyrone Joo told the panel the grant would fund four major efforts: a mapping tool to guide buildout, an EV ombudsman to assist the public with charger installation, a Bayview‑Hunters Point fast‑charging hub and an e‑bike program for food delivery workers. The department said partners including EVgo, Google, and other agencies will provide in‑kind services. Director Joo also described amendments removing retroactive spending language and sole‑source waiver references; he said the Office of Contract Administration and City Attorney had confirmed procedures for the application.

Supervisors raised procurement concerns. Several members questioned why certain co‑applicants—EVgo (a for‑profit charging operator) and others—were selected without a competitive solicitation and whether local nonprofits were bypassed. BLA (Nick Menard) and Supervisor Asha Safaie urged future transparent competitive processes even for grant co‑applicants; the department said a $150,000 competitive solicitation budget line exists and staff will use it for community‑based engagement. Supervisors also pressed details about fast‑charging counts and operations: department staff said the Bayview hub is planned to host eight DC fast chargers, with two additional hubs totaling about 25 fast chargers citywide and that EVgo will operate the sites under the state grant.

The committee voted to forward the resolution without a formal recommendation in recognition of both the project’s benefits for equity communities and lingering procurement concerns; staff committed to pursue competitive solicitations where feasible and to provide quarterly reporting on grant implementation.