On Earth Day, Central Coast Community Energy Celebrates Distributing Over 1,000 EV Rebates and Supporting 1,000 New EV Chargers for Region
April 18, 2023
Reducing emissions, placing more EVs on roads, and building more charging stations will increase local and regional adoption rates to meet state and regional climate action goals
MONTEREY, Calif., April 18, 2023 – On this Earth Day, Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) will celebrate and recognize the mutual accomplishment shared between the agency, regional partners, and its customers in placing more than 1,000 new and used electric vehicles on Central Coast Roads to reduce transportation-related carbon emissions.
In the last quarter, 3CE distributed its 1,000th EV rebate to Richard Price of Santa Cruz County. Price applied to 3CE’s Electrify Your Ride Program and received a rebate for his Volkswagen ID.4, an electric SUV. “I wanted to reduce my carbon footprint and get away from fossil fuels and this was my way of doing so,” Price said. “This is my fourth electric vehicle and I use my Level 2 charger at home to power the vehicle. I grew up in the 60s around muscle cars, so I understand the switch to electric vehicles is a big change for people. However, as I age, the car technology gets better and I feel safer, especially on long drives to Southern California. I’m never going back to gas-powered vehicles.”
Transportation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions along the Central Coast. By electrifying the transportation sector, in just one year these EVs have spared more than 6,000 metric tons of regional greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, in collaboration with funding partners like the California Energy Commission, 3CE has delivered rebates that will help build more than 1,000 new electric vehicle charging stations for the region.
“3CE’s Electrify Your Ride Program has seen tremendous growth in the number of applicants and funding,” said Jon Griesser, 3CE’s Director of Energy Programs. “It’s a priority for 3CE to address regional emissions and equity by providing an easily accessible program that offers enhanced incentives to our underserved customers.”
To help curb emissions, 3CE’s Electrify Your Ride Program provides customers with a “one-stop-shop” for transportation electrification rebates and support. Rebates are available for electric vehicles, Level 2 EV chargers, and EV readiness (electrical work related to charger installation at homes and workplaces). Current 3CE customers may qualify to receive up to a $4,000 rebate for purchasing or leasing a new or used EV. Up to $4,700 is available for equipment and installation of EV chargers.
In celebration of Earth Day, 3CE staff will booth the following free events:
Hollister Earth Day
Saturday, April 22
11am-2pm
649 San Benito Street, Hollister, CA 95023
San Luis Obispo Earth Day
Saturday, April 22
11am-4pm
Laguna Lake Park
504 Madonna Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Earth Day & Day of the Child
Sunday, April 23
12-4pm
Watsonville Plaza
358 Main St., Watsonville, CA 95076
Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival
Saturday, April 29
11am-7pm
Sunday, April 30
11am-6pm
Alameda Park
1400 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
About Central Coast Community Energy
Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) is a public agency that sources competitively priced electricity from clean and renewable energy resources. 3CE is locally controlled and governed by board members who represent each community served by the agency. Revenue generated by 3CE stays local and helps keep electricity rates affordable for customers, while also funding innovative energy programs designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions and stimulate economic development. 3CE provides service to approximately 444,000 customer meters, or more than 1 million people throughout the Central Coast, including residential, commercial, and agricultural customers in communities located within Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz counties. Learn more at 3CEnergy.org and on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
For more information:
Central Coast Community Energy
Central Coast Community Energy
Lena Wallace
Communications Specialist
831-641-7206
lwallace@3ce.org