- 10 public Level 2 chargers now available in Valley Center area
- First installation of chargers by SDG&E on tribal lands
- San Pasqual has more EV chargers than gas pump stations
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VALLEY CENTER, August 7, 2023 – Marking another milestone in the San Diego region’s transition to a clean energy future, San Diego Gas & Electric and the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians celebrated the completion of 10 new electric vehicle chargers. These are the first public-facing chargers that SDG&E has installed on tribal lands, as part of its mission to make charging easily accessible for all. Because the chargers are connected to underground power lines, they can remain energized during Public Safety Power Shutoffs, which are enacted during extreme fire weather conditions.
Gas-powered vehicles represent the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in California (around 40%), and a growing number of Californians and tribal residents are making the switch to driving electric.
“Environmental stewardship has always been a big part of our tribal culture,” said San Pasqual Tribal Council Chair Stephen Cope. “Over the years, we have implemented a host of initiatives to improve the sustainability of our tribal operations, our homes, and our overall community. And in the process, we’ve also strengthened our community resilience against the effects of climate change.”
Installed as part of SDG&E’s Power Your Drive for Parks and Beaches Program, these Level 2 chargers are part of a new parking lot for multi-use ballfields, located at 27315 N. Lake Wohlford Road in Valley Center. Two of the charging stalls are ADA accessible. The ballfields host many intertribal sports events that draw families from throughout Southern California. Level 2 chargers (208-240 volt) can provide up to 10-20 miles of range per hour of charging.
“Ensuring the clean energy transition is just and equitable is a high priority for SDG&E. We want to make sure everyone – regardless of where they live – has access to infrastructure that enables them to make the switch to clean energy technologies,” said SDG&E Chief Commercial Officer Miguel Romero. “But we can’t do this alone. We greatly value our collaboration with tribal nations like San Pasqual to advance our shared climate goals.”
The chargers represent another step forward in the tribe’s ongoing efforts to transition to a clean energy future. The tribe now has nearly 100 chargers, including fast chargers, throughout its tribal facilities, from its golf course and casino to its tribal hall, police department and education department. The number of chargers the tribe has outnumbers pumps at its gas station two to one. Gas-powered vehicles represent the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in California, and a growing number of Californians and tribal residents are making the switch to driving electric.
Over the past decade, San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians has significantly ramped up its sustainability efforts, which include expanding rooftop solar for tribal residents, installing dozens of EV chargers and adding an energy storage microgrid to provide backup power to its police/tribal hall, which serves as a designated American Red Cross shelter. The San Pasqual microgrid includes a solar carport and 150 kW/300kWh of energy storage capacity. In the coming years, the tribe hopes to gradually transition its fleet vehicles to zero-emissions vehicles and add another solar carport to its ballfields.
To date, SDG&E has installed more than 3,600 EV chargers throughout the region at a variety of places, ranging from multi-family housing and workplaces to the port, airport and school districts, to service a range of vehicles, from electric cars and buses to trucks and forklifts. About a third of SDG&E’s chargers are located in underserved communities.
SDG&E is an innovative energy delivery company that provides clean, safe and reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The company is committed to creating a sustainable future by increasing energy delivered from low or zero-carbon sources; accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles; and investing in innovative technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the region’s infrastructure for generations to come. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE). For more information, visit SDGEnews.com or connect with SDG&E on X (formerly Twitter) (@SDGE), Instagram (@SDGE) and Facebook.