NorCal-GoPowerEV

2024101009

California Energy Commission

NOE - Notice of Exemption

10/23/2024

10/23/2024

Danny Leung

California Energy Commission

Energy Commission Specialist

Lead/Public Agency

715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 637-8124

danny.leung@energy.ca.gov

Miguel Martinez

GoPowerEV, Inc.

Project Manager

Project Applicant

2935 Alexis Dr
Palo Alto, CA 94304

(650) 580-4956

miguel.martinez@gopowerev.com

1460 Contra Costa Blvd, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 434 Central Ave, Alameda, CA 94501 2838 Park Ave, Soquel, CA 95073 3470 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA 94549 603 A Street, Hayward, CA 94541 1820 Rumrill Blvd, San Pablo, CA 94806 1489 Fruitdale, San Jose, CA 95128 154, 166 & 174 Revey, San Jose, CA 95128 800 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Categorical Exemption

14 CCR §§ 15301, 15303, 15304

Cal. Code Regs., Title 14, Sec. 15301 provides that projects which consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, and which involve negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the responsible agency’s determination, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. The project involves installation of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) across 28 existing multi-family housing sites. The components for the EVSE will result in only minor alteration of the existing structures and facilities at the sites. The sites will require no infrastructure upgrades aside from the EVSE installations. Therefore, this project falls within section 15301 and will not have a significant effect on the environment. Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15303 provides that projects which consist of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure, are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. The proposed project activities consist of minor alterations to existing facilities. EVSE will be installed in existing parking lots. Existing electric infrastructure will be used to power EV charging. The sites will require no infrastructure upgrades aside from the charger installations. Therefore, the project falls within section 15303. Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15304 provides that projects which consist of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. In this project, the EVSE will be installed at fully developed sites. EVSEs will be installed in existing parking lots. These areas currently do not support riparian habitat, federally protected wetlands, or migratory corridors. Additionally, special status plants, animals, or natural communities are not expected to be found within close proximity to the affected facilities. The sites will require no infrastructure upgrades aside from the charger installations. Therefore, the project falls within section 15304. The project will not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project, and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment. For these reasons, the proposed work will not have any significant effect on the environment and falls under sections 15301, 15303, and 15304.