A California Energy Commission (CEC) packet proposes awarding Highland Electric Fleets Inc. up to $10.3 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for electric school-bus charging infrastructure, while leaving the location of 32 charging ports unidentified. The proposed agreement, identified as ZVI-26-009, outlines a project designed to provide at least 119 direct-current fast-charging ports across several sites.
According to the CEC packet, the project’s scope assigns 30 charging ports to Compton Unified School District, 12 ports to Santa Monica-Malibu Unified, eight ports to La Habra City School District, and 37 ports to San Bernardino City Unified. An additional 32 charging ports are assigned to a site listed only as “TBD” within the project's documentation.
This creates a discrepancy within the proposed materials made public by the commission. The resolution section of the packet describes the overall project as covering four distinct sites. However, the scope table, which details the allocation of charging ports, includes the four named school districts alongside the unidentified allocation for the 32 ports, effectively listing five sites. The packet does not specify which school district or facility would ultimately receive this allocation of 32 ports.
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund money proposed in this agreement is intended to supplement existing Clean Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project awards, providing additional support for green transportation initiatives. Furthermore, the materials indicate that the infrastructure developed through this project would support transportation needs related to the upcoming 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. This connection highlights the broader significance of the project beyond daily school transportation.
The CEC packet documents a proposed grant and agreement, meaning it is not yet a final vote or confirmed award. Evidence of this status is present in the packet itself, which shows blank fields for the proposed resolution’s vote totals, including “AYE,” “NAY,” “ABSENT,” and “ABSTAIN.” This indicates that the commission has not yet formally acted on the proposal.
To ensure clarity and full transparency for the public and involved parties, the California Energy Commission and Highland Electric Fleets are expected to take further action. Specifically, they should clarify the identity of the fifth site slated to receive the 32 charging ports. Additionally, the language regarding the number of project sites needs to be reconciled to resolve the discrepancy between the resolution and the scope table. Finally, the commission is expected to provide the final resolution or meeting record, which would document whether the commission acted on the proposed award and its terms.
