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State of Iowa Volkswagen Clear Air Act Settlement Grant ApplicationCopyrighted April 18, 2022 City of Dubuque Consent Items # 9. City Council Meeting ITEM TITLE: State of Iowa Volkswagen Clear Air Act Settlement Grant Application SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approval of a grant application and funding request to the State of Iowa Volkswagen Clear Air Act Settlement grant program which was submitted to meet the application deadline. SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve DISPOSITION: FIN ik[O]:ILyil21zIII l+] Description Type Grant Application -State of Iowa VW Clean Air Act City Manager Memo Settlement-MVM Memo Staff Memo Grant Application Staff Memo Supporting Documentation THE C Dubuque DUjIBQTE WAWca 914 Masterpiece on the Mississippi YP pp aoo�•o 13 zai7*20*�oi9 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: State of Iowa Volkswagen Clear Air Act Settlement Grant Application DATE: April 11, 2022 Sustainable Community Coordinator Gina Bell is recommending City Council approval of a grant application and funding request to the State of Iowa Volkswagen Clear Air Act Settlement grant program which was submitted to meet the application deadline. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. v Mic ael C. Van Milligen MCVM:sv Attachment CC' Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager Gina Bell, Sustainable Community Coordinator THE C DUj!B9?[FE Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO: FROM: DATE: RE: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager Gina Bell, Sustainable Community Coordinator April 8, 2022 State of Iowa Volkswagen Clear Air Act Settlement Grant Application Dubuque AIFMaica Cif 2007-2012.2013 2017*2019 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this memo is to request Council approval of a grant application and funding request to the State of Iowa Volkswagen Clear Air Act Settlement grant program. BACKGROUND In 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) filed a complaint alleging Volkswagen (VW) violated the Clean Air Act. As a result of two related VW settlements, the state of Iowa is expected to receive approximately $21 million in environmental mitigation trust funds over the next ten years for projects that reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) has had three previous funding cycles. Additionally, in late 2020, City Council agreed to move forward with fleet electrification after a feasibility study was conducted in partnership with Greater Dubuque Development Corporation and Alliant Energy. In 2021, the City, working with a team from Alliant Energy and Legacy Environmental Services, successfully applied for a State of Iowa VW Clean Air Act Settlement Grant to install a Direct Current Fast Charger which will be located at the Port of Dubuque. DISCUSSION On Friday April 8, 2022, the I submitted a 2022 State of Iowa VW Clean Air Act Settlement Grant application for Level 2 chargers to be located at the Historic Federal Building. The project included upgrading electrical components and will feature charging infrastructure for public and City needs. BUDGETIMPACT The total project cost is $26,395.00. The VW Settlement grant request is $15,000 with a required local match by the applicant, which amounts to $11,395.00 for the City's portion. We will not move forward with installation of a EVSE at the Federal Building, at this time, if it is not funded. REQUESTED ACTION Due to time constraints, the application was submitted to meet the deadline. I respectfully request City Council approve the submittal of the grant proposal to the State of Iowa Volkswagen Clear Air Act Settlement grant program. CC: John Klosterman, Public Works Dave Lyons, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation Steve Sampson Brown, Engineering Russ Stecklein, Transit Alexis Steger, Housing and Community Development Lj I OWA DOT Volkswagen Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Supply Equipment Grant Application Email complete applications to vwsettlement@iowadot.us by April 8, 2022, by 5:00 p.m. CST A complete application includes all of the following: 1) Completed application form in Word; 2) Signed Certification in PDF; 3) Project Costs Form in Excel; and 4) Minority Impact Statement in PDF. Please review the program guidance before completing this application. More than one application may be submitted by an applicant. Each application must be limited to a single site. PART A — APPLICANT INFORMATION Applicant Name: City of Dubuque Contact Name: Gina Bell Contact Title: Sustainability Coordinator Email Address: gbell@cityofdubugue.org Street Address: 50 West 13th Street City: Dubuque Zip Code: 52001 Phone Number: 563.690.6038 In what Iowa county will the Direct Current (DC) Fast Charger or Level 2 Community Charger be installed? Dubuque PART B — PROJECT TYPE, APPLICATION PRIORITY, AND SITE DETAILS Please select a project type for this application. (One charging site & one project type per application) I❑ Type 1— Direct Current (DC) Fast Charger Corridor Site ❑X Type 2 — Level 2 Community Charging Site If submitting more than one application during this funding cycle, what priority is this application among those submitted? (1 = Highest priority, 2=Lower priority, and so on) N/A Please identify where the charging equipment to be funded under this application would be located by completed Item A or B below. Because several scoring criteria are influenced by the site's geographic location, it is most advantageous for an application to have a secured site which will allow the completion of Item A below at the time of application. Alternatively, if a specific site has not yet been secured, it is acceptable to complete Item B below by listing a targeted city, intersection, or interstate interchange where you hope to secure a site along with an approximate search radius (e.g. 500 feet, 1 mile, etc.) within which you anticipate to identify and secure a location. However, because some scoring criteria are influenced by a site's geographic location, applicants are cautioned to strike a balance between specificity in an attempt to positively influence the application's scoring and providing enough flexibility to ensure that the eventual secured site is located within the target radii identified in Item B. A) What is the street address of the site? If the site 350 W. 6th St. Dubuque, IA 52001, the specific location of has not be assigned an address, identify the the city owned parking spaces proposed for the ZEV specific location otherwise. supply equipment are located in the parking lot on the southside of the building. What is the current use of the site? This is a Historic Federal Building which houses many City Is the site vacant? If not, identify the business or departments and offers public parking where the facility currently located on the site. proposed ZEV supply equipment is proposed to be located. What is the nearest existing charging site to this The nearest charging station is a level 2 chargepoint location? See Appendix B of the guidance for DC station located a half mile away. fast charging sites or identify another site using: https://afdc.energy.gov/stations/#/find/nearest. B) If a specific site has not been selected, identify a Site has been selected and secured. targeted site location. Provide a description by identifying a nearby address, nearest intersection, specific interstate interchange, etc. Lj I OWA DOT Volkswagen Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust 12 Within what radius of the location you identified I Within 250 feet of the parking lot behind 350 w. 61" St. above do you anticipate securing a site? Note Dubuque, IA. that while tighter radii are desired, take care to choose your radius judiciously. Requests upon award to move the location outside this radii will be closely scrutinized and may not be approved. PART C — PROJECT COSTS Complete the Project Costs Form which is available as an Excel file at https://www.iowadot.gov/vwsettlement. Transfer the total project costs and total funding request listed in the form (highlighted in yellow) to the space provided below. Total costs may include purchase of charging units, contracting for services such as installation, installation by the applicant's own staff, etc. Administrative costs are NOT eligible for reimbursement and should not be included. Costs listed here should be ESTIMATED costs only. Actual costs are not to be incurred until an award is made and a funding agreement is executed. If you desire to request less than the maximum amount allowed or in case of a discrepancy between the Project Costs Form and the amount transferred below, the amount transferred below shall be considered the funding requested. TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT COST: $26,395.00 TOTAL VOLKSWAGEN SETTLEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION TRUST FUNDING REQUEST: $15,000.00 Are any federal, state, or other funds whether public or private and external to the applicant involved in this project? ❑ Yes IZ No If yes, please explain the source of funds, intended use of funds (scope) if different from this application, whether the funds are secured or anticipated (and when), and any conditions placed on the funds in the space provided below. Example: $300,000 grant from foundation. Awarded July 2020 for purchase of a DCFC charging unit. Must be completed by December 2022. All project related funds are sourced from the City of Dubuque. PART D — PROJECT TIMELINE Please provide a timeline of your project milestones below. At a minimum, please list (as applicable) an estimated date of site acquisition, utility improvements completed, vendor/equipment procurement, contractor solicitation, estimated installation date, date unit will be put into service, and when the claim for reimbursement and closure of the project is expected. Add any additional milestones as appropriate. Remember: All projects must be complete two years following execution of the project funding agreement. DATE PROJECT MILESTONE 4/8/2022 Grant application due 7/15/2022 Signed/Completed funding agreement Lj I OWA DOT Volkswagen Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust 13 I8/01/2022 Bid Solicitation for EVSE & Installation Quotes 8/15/2022 Bid Selection 8/31/2022 Equipment Procurement 1/15/2023 Bi-Annual Reporting 3/15/2023 File Permits 4/1/2023 Equipment Delivery 4/15/2023 Site prep and installation 5/01/2023 Site certification 6/01/2023 Completion of project 6/15/2023 Reimbursement Claim Submittal 7/15/2023 Bi-Annual Reporting 1/15/2024-7/15/2027 Continued Bi-Annual Reporting will be submitted every six months or as IDOT dictates. �---7/15/2027 Final Report PART E — NARRATIVE QUESTIONS Please provide a narrative response to each question in the space provided for each question below. BE AS CONCISE AS POSSIBLE Detailed Description of the Project. Please provide a detailed description of your project addressing the following: a) What is the scope of your project? What type of equipment are you planning to install and in what manner? Please be as specific as possible addressing the following (as applicable): type of unit, number of outlets, connectors, method of procurement, site location, additional planned site improvements (only those directly related to the installation of the units as part of this application), etc. b) Describe your efforts to determine the sufficiency of the existing utility infrastructure to support installation of the project and whether improvements are needed. Has a study been completed? If improvements have been identified, identify the improvements, how they will be completed, and when. c) Fully describe your selected site or targeted site. What are the traffic volumes? How does it relate to other existing/planned charging sites? What studies have you completed on anticipated use? What amenities are located on the site or nearby. Optional amenities (in addition to those that are required in Appendix C of the guidance) may include free wireless internet, food, retail, walkability to other nearby attractions, parks, etc. d) Address whether the project described in this application will be developed independently regardless of whether any other submitted application is selected for funding e.g. this application is not dependent on another application also being funded. e) The Project Cost Form requires you to identify the source of your estimates used to calculate your total project costs. If you marked "Other", please fully describe the source of your estimate. f) Any other information that will help fully describe your project. a) The City of Dubuque is requesting funding to install a publicly available level 2 charging station at the City of Dubuque's Federal Building parking lot. This site was selected for a level 2 charging station due to being located in a highly visited area of the city and to increase public access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This location is in close proximity to Washington Park, the Dubuque Museum of Art, Five Flags Center, hotels, and many restaurants within a two block radius. The ZEV supply equipment hardware and software quotes were requested from DAS vendors. The proposed BTC Power dual port hardware is capable of charging two EV at 9.6kW, simultaneously. The software quotes were provided by Shell Recharge which is Open Charge Point Protocol certified. Appropriate signage will be installed and proper ADA requirements will be followed for the proposed parking spaces. Additionally, the City of Dubuque is interested in deploying additional charging stations Lj I OWA DOT Volkswagen Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust 14 at this location for city owned electric vehicles that serve essential municipal services for the city. The City of Dubuque will comply with the Iowa DOT's requirements and will document this process as part of the reporting requirements. b) A study has been completed with Westphal Electric to determine the necessary work and upgrades required to implement the level 2 charging station. Westphal Electric was also consulted in order to give a scope of work needed to complete this project. Extension of electrical service to the charging site will require the installation of a sub panel with new sub circuits. The electrician will install two 50 amp, 208-volt breaker and feeds from the existing panel. Conduit will be installed from an adjacent panel and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) will be installed underground to support the charging location. Two disconnects will be supplied and installed on the building for the dual vehicle charger. The concrete will be cut, removed, and replaced and bollards will be supplied and installed to protect the charging equipment. The charger will be installed and the wiring will be terminated and tested. Installation of 2" conduit will run from the charger to the service panel unit for communication wiring. The charging station's cord retractors will also be installed by the electrician and all parking lot signage/marking will completed as well. The required electrical permitting and inspection will be submitted and approved before any onsite work will take place. The proposed installation will be scheduled to take place after contract agreement is signed with Iowa DOT. c) The proposed ZEV supply equipment project will be installed in the Dubuque owned public parking lot located near the Dubuque owned building located at 350 W. 6`" St. Dubuque, IA. This proposed location is strategically located in proximity to Washington Park, Dubuque Museum of Art, Five Flags Center, hotels, retail shops and multiple restaurants. This location has many walkable amentites that EV drivers can access while their EV is charging. According to the Iowa DOT, average annual daily traffic is 6,800 vehicles. This pubicly accesible parking lot is available to EV drivers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This location also offers shelter, high visibility, is well lit and is safe for drivers. The closest charging station to this location is a Level 2 charging station located 0.5 away at Hotel Julien in Dubuque, IA. d) The level 2, ZEV supply equipment project described in this application will be developed independently regardless of whether any other submitted application is selected for funding. e) The sources of the cost estimates for the equipment installation were provided by a local electrician, Westphal Electric of Dubuque. The hardware cost estimates were provided by BTC Power (hardware), a DAS approved vendor, and the equipment's software cost estimates were provided by Shell Recharge/Greenlots. f) The proposed ZEV supply equipment, level 2 project contributes to the many environmental and sustainable initiatives in action at the City of Dubuque and will support economic development in downtown Dubuque. Additionally, this project supports the necessary steps identified within the Iowa Energy Plan by expanding the deployment of ZEV supply equipment across the state. The City of Dubuque will capture and analyze this station's utilization data for the development of future ZEV deployment opportunities. This data will be shared with the local utility to analyze grid utilization and optimization. 2. Demonstration of Previous Successes. Please describe how this project will build on the successes of previous emission reduction projects you or your organization have completed. What previous electric vehicle charging initiatives have you completed? Does your organization have a policy or procedure for expanding the use of electric vehicles or reducing emissions in your fleet or organization more broadly (not limited to transportation)? Describe how you measured that these past projects were successful. This level 2, ZEV supply equipment deployment project will assist the City of Dubuque in continuing their effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and further support the city's deployment of zero emission vehicles. Additionally, this project will further support the need for publicly available ZEV supply equipment within the City of Dubuque. In Lj I OWA DOT Volkswagen Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust 5 2006 and every year since, the Mayor and the City Council have identified becoming a more sustainable city as one of their top priorities for the community. In 2013, the City of Dubuque set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 50% by 2030, from its 2003 baseline year, through the Community Climate Action & Resiliency Plan. The Community Climate Action & Resiliency Plan identified sources of GHG emissions in the City of Dubuque and strategies to reduce these GHG emissions across five sectors, including Local Energy & Renewables, the Built Environment, Waste Reduction & Resource Management, Transportation and Miscellaneous. The City's fleet vehicles were identified as a significant source of GHG emissions and electrification has emerged as the most viable strategy to decarbonize the fleet. The continued deployment of electric vehicle charging locations will assist Dubuque in reaching its decarbonization goals. A 2014 update to the Community Climate Action & Resiliency Plan revealed that the community had reduced their GHG emissions by 11% since 2003. The 2019 update reports a 27% reduction in GHG emissions since 2003. In 2020, the City of Dubuque partnered with Alliant Energy to complete a Fleet Electrification Feasibility Study to identify city fleet vehicles that can be transitioned to battery electric vehicles. The primary objective of the feasibility study was to assess the operational and economic feasibility of electrifying the City's fleet fueled by local renewable generation and avoiding adverse local grid impacts. The completion of this comprehensive feasibility study improves and accelerates the City of Dubuque's ability to accurately direct resources and implement public policy in support of decarbonization through electrification. This feasibility study also established a transitional roadmap toward electrifying the City of Dubuque's fleet of vehicles. This Zero Emission Vehicle supply equipment project will continue to lead the City of Dubuque toward transitioning their fleet to battery electric vehicles. In 2020, the Dubuque City Council adopted a policy which requires the city's staff to consider the "carbon cost" in addition to the total cost of ownership when purchasing a vehicle. This policy change will allow the city to better understand the impact its vehicle purchases have from an economic and environmental standpoint. This vehicle purchasing policy change is a starting point for the city to begin its more widespread investment in electric vehicles, charging stations, and renewable energy sources to power the vehicles. The City of Dubuque is currently planning to deploy more electric vehicles in the municipal fleet with the department currently located at this proposed location. The City of Dubuque has delivered on their sustainability plan annually since the plan was put into place over 15 years ago. 3. Complements Other Programs. Please describe how this project complements other public and/or private programs, initiatives, or partnerships to reduce emissions. Please list the programs, initiatives, or partnerships and explain their connection to this project. This level 2, Zero Emission Vehicle supply equipment project directly compliments the City of Dubuque's Community Climate Action & Resiliency Plan goals to reduce GHG emissions 50% by 2030. This Zero Emission Vehicle supply equipment deployment project also directly supports the transitional roadmap and long-term sustainability goals outlined in the City of Dubuque's Fleet Electrification Feasibility Study completed with Alliant Energy. This ZEV supply squipment project will assist the city in developing adequate charging resources to support the City of Dubuque's deployment of electric vehicles both internally and for public use. Sustainable Dubuque is a community driven approach toward establishing the City of Dubuque as a viable, livable, and equitable community. Sustainable Dubuque embraces economic prosperity, environmental integrity, and social/ cultural vibrancy to create a sustainable legacy for generations to come. This ZEV supply equipment deployment project directly supports Sustainable Dubuque's mission by supporting the city's economic development and environmental integrity through the deployment of zero emission vehicle charging infrastructure. Lj I OWA DOT Volkswagen Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust 16 The City of Dubuque is currently in progress on deploying a DCFC at the Port of Dubuque and this level 2 project directly supports that initiative. The City of Dubuque is currently building upon its Fleet Electrification Feasibility Study to offer DCFC in close proximity to highway corridors in order to help satisfy the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program's criteria administered by the Department of Transportation. 4. Long-term Sustainability. Please describe your efforts to improve the long-term sustainability of the project. How do you plan to maintain the site/equipment? What measures are you taking to ensure the site can easily be expanded in the future? How are you incorporating technological readiness (future proofing) and innovation to avoid equipment becoming obsolete? Examples include battery ready stations or battery storage; advanced data collection or energy management components; and enabling future higher power station upgrades. The City of Dubuque adopted the 50% by 2030 Community Climate Action and Resiliency Plan in 2013 and updated the plan in 2020. The plan sets the goal of a community -wide greenhouse gas reduction of 50% over 2003 levels by 2030. This plan lays out steps that the City of Dubuque and the local community must take in order to reach this goal. Section Five focuses on Transportation and Land Use and includes specific actions addressing the city's fleet electrification and electrification infrastructure (Strategy TL2-A) estimate emissions reductions of 3,616 Metric Tons. An additional 20,317 Mt is estimated with alternative fuel vehicles city wide. Using a variety of policy updates, including the City's purchasing policy and budget processes to default to alternative fuel vehicles, the City plans to make a full transition of its fleet in the coming decade. The 50% by 2030 Plan, the fleet analysis and recent (2020) study on fleet electrification have all played into the strategy of electrification. This is a multi -phase project and will continue to expand in this direction in future years. This grant will put the City of Dubuque on the path to achieve its sustainability goals as well as set an example for the larger community to consider alternative fueled vehicles. The proposed level 2, BTC Power charging station is capable of charging two EVs at 9.6 kW and can be upgraded with minimal effort to increase speed and build out additional ZEV charging stations at this location. This is a cost-effective approach to ZEV supply equipment deployment and is proficient of the future needs and future EV demands. If the demand at this location is higher than anticipated, the City of Dubuque will be able to deploy additional charging stations in order to meet this demand. The City of Dubuque and local utility will utilize the data collected from this charging station for analyzing current usage, and for future planning and deployment projects. The software included also allows for implementing EV Demand Response programs to accommodate the changing needs of drivers while maintaining grid reliability and security. The charging station allows for aggregation and control of EV loads to maintain an efficient and balanced grid. This charging station will provide a streamlined charging experience for EV drivers with 24/7 support to assist users and maximize station uptime. The City of Dubuque is willing to share their experiences with other municipalities that wish to implement ZEV supply equipment. S. Project Requirements. Please review Appendix C of the guidance. Address each category of site requirements for your project type. Provide a response of how your project will meet or exceed the requirements listed. Note: An adequate answer would not include merely stating you intend to meet the requirements. Responses to this section are expected to be thorough and thoughtful. Applications that are not able to meet all of the applicable requirements listed in Appendix C for the chosen project type will not be eligible for funding under this program. SITE REQUIREMENTS: This proposed Level 2 EV charging station will be publicly visible, accessible, and available to all drivers for EV charging. This Level 2 EV charging station will be deployed at a public parking lot owned by the City of Dubuque and the charging station will be accessible to the general public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This location is prioritized with access to indoor shelter, restrooms, lighting and safety. This site is conveniently located near a variety of walkable attractions, restaurants, parks, and other points of interests. The two paved parking spaces that are Lj I OWA DOT Volkswagen Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust 17 identified for station deployment allow access to multiple types of vehicles, from area drivers that are visiting the downtown and City of Dubuque departments that utilize the parking lot. The City of Dubuque will deploy EV designated signage at the parking spots to allow EV drivers to easily locate and navigate to the charging station. Additionally, the City of Dubuque will feature the ZEV supply equipment on the AFDC station locator and PlugShare websites. The City of Dubuque will also designate the proposed parking spaces with signage and pavement markings limiting their use to actively charging electric vehicles. The proposed parking spaces will also comply with ADA standards. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS: The BTC 40 amp, dual -port Level 2 EV charging station is equipped with two J1772 connectors and the charging equipment will be certified through the Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory program to demonstrate compliance with appropriate product safety test standards. The charging equipment will be capable of operating without any decrease in performance over an ambient temperature range of minus 22 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of up to 95%. The charging enclosure will be constructed for use outdoors in accordance with UL50, Standard for Enclosures for Electrical Equipment, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, Type 3R exterior enclosure or equivalent. A retractable cord management system will be utilized to eliminate potential for cord entanglement, user injury and connector damage from lying on the ground. PAYMENTS, PRICING, & DATA REQUIREMENTS: The Level 2 charging station will allow multiple payment methods to be used by EV drivers and the station will utilize Open Charge Point Protocol. The equipment will be connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network providing the capability to access remote diagnostics, remotely start the equipment, collect and report usage data, process payments, and track usage by the kilowatt hour. The station will collect annual utilization data that the City of Dubuque's staff can access. SPONSOR/VENDOR REQUIREMENTS: The City of Dubuque will make every effort to publicize and educate the general public on the existence of the new charging site. The Level 2 charging location will also be updated on the electric vehicle charging network websites such as the Alternative Fuels Data Center Station Locator and PlugShare. The station will be equipped with customer service support available 24/7 and the helpline number will be clearly posted to assist EV drivers having difficulties accessing or operating the charging equipment. Site development, project installation, and station maintenance will be completed in a manner that complies with all applicable laws, ordinances, regulations and standards including but not limited to the Americans with Disabilities Act. The proposed Level 2 equipment also has a 5-year manufacturer's warranty that will be continually maintained in full -working order to every extent possible.