Sacramento looks to continue sustainability efforts with new electric vehicle strategy
by Contributing Writer, Kelby McIntosh
The City of Sacramento is working on expanding access to electric vehicles and electric bikes, ensuring the community’s growing need for alternative transportation.
The E-Bike Lending Program started at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library. This lending program will be part of the “Library of Things,” which allows people to borrow one item at a time for up to 2 weeks. People with a library card can check out an electric cargo trike or a traditional e-bike.
With an analysis of the City of Sacramento’s Electric Vehicle Blueprint Strategy–metrics and goals like the ease of access and the about of e-vehicles on hand are used to evaluate the EV Blueprint Projects’ crucial equity indicators. According to a public statement by The Department of Public Works, “Sacramento is working to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption and foster EV infrastructure and awareness.”
In 2017, Electrify America invested $44 million in Sacramento to catalyze a transformational shift in mobility to zero-emission technologies by installing charging infrastructure, conducting outreach and education, and implementing programs designed to increase access. “A program like this also continues to move us toward a carbon-free economy by enabling higher levels of renewable generation to be integrated with the grid,” said SMUD CEO and General Manager Arlen Orchard.
New ChargePoint electric vehicle chargers will be installed at several community centers, libraries, and one regional park. According to The American Lung Association, “this is urgently needed because the region has the worst air quality in the nation.” Nextcity.org said it’s hard to get around without a car in Sacramento and outlying incorporated communities.
- Joe Mims, Jr. Hagginwood
- South Natomas
- Coloma
- Oak Park
- Belle Cooledge
- George Sims
- Sam & Bonnie Pannell
- North Natomas
- Del Paso Heights
- Colonial Heights
- Belle Cooledge
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Valley Hi/ North Laguna
- Robbie Waters Pocket Greenhaven
- Granite Regional Park
Although The Department of Public Works is still working out the kinks to ensure the program is beneficial in addressing the community’s needs–since the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected almost 75% of the city’s public transit riders.
The primary goal for Sacramento is to stay green through electric vehicle expansion. James Corless, head of The Sacramento Area Council of Governments, said, “this is the kind of [public transportation] foresight we need to get out the other side with a robust system of transportation choices.”
Attending the meetings to understand The Department of Public Works’ sustainability goals–shows how much thought they’re putting into improving public transportation efforts. Despite the questions the program raises–the fundamental steps excite me to see Sacramento’s momentum toward a greener California.
Sacculturalhub.com/THE HUB Magazine coverage of local news in Sacramento county is supported by the Ethnic Media Sustainability Initiative, a program created by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services to support community newspapers across California.
