Cal Transportation Agency and Energy Commission visit Calexico’s under construction EV Charging Stations
CALEXICO – The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) Secretary Toks Omishakin, CalSTA Deputy Secretary for Freight Policy Christine Casey, and California Energy (CEC) Commissioner Noemi Gallardo met with City of Calexico officials and community leaders to learn more about the electric vehicle charging stations under construction here at Rockwood Plaza on Thursday, March 7.
According to a press release from Comite Civico del Valle, the City of Calexico and Comite Civico del Valle (CCV) are currently installing four (4) DC fast electric vehicle charging stations to be located across the street from Calexico City Hall, located at 411 5th Street in Calexico. “The site was chosen not only because of its proximity to Calexico City Hall but also the Calexico Fire and Police Departments to ensure safety for EV drivers,” the release reads. “Adjacent to the site is Calexico’s largest municipal park with Calexico’s downtown business district only a couple of blocks away. The San Diego State University’s (SDSU) satellite campus is also nearby.”
“I am very excited about the EV chargers and amenities being added at Rockwood Plaza,” Calexico Councilmember Raúl Ureña said in the release. “Not only will this project allow local residents to charge their electric vehicles (EV), it is located in close proximity to our downtown business district and will support Calexico’s local economy.”
Per the release, CalSTA and CEC officials are visiting transportation project sites across California that reflect core agency priorities of safety, equity, climate action, and economic prosperity. CalSTA is implementing programs with California’s transportation entities to achieve the state’s mobility, safety and air quality objectives from its transportation system, while the CEC is supporting CalSTA by integrating clean energy and electric vehicle infrastructure opportunities into the effort. The City of Calexico site was selected for a state visit due to the project reflecting all of these core priorities in its design.
“The need for increased transportation services to better serve rural economies is a priority for CCV,” CCV Executive Director, Luis Olmedo said in the release, “and I am happy to hear that innovation taking place in our backyard is being recognized by state leaders and officials.”
CCV launched the Lithium Valley EV Charger Equity Initiative in 2022, which is a community-owned, nonprofit model aimed at installing and operating an EV charging station network in the Imperial Valley. With Imperial County having the lowest rate of EV chargers per capita of all 58 counties in California, CCV’s goal is to install 20 publicly accessible charging stations throughout the Salton Sea region, the release reas.