Quarter 1 - In This Issue:
Health in All Policies Public Health Partnership

Last summer, San Bernardino County Department of Public Health completed their study on Healthy Communities Program Evaluation and Strategic Plan, and Riverside County Department of Public Health completed their study on their Healthy Development Checklist.

Last month, SBCOG participated in a panel discussion at the 2017 Southern California Public Health Association's Annual Conference at the California Endowment in Los Angeles where SBCOG staff discussed the partnership between the Counties of San Bernardino and Riverside's Public Health Departments, Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) and SBCOG, focused on the joint work effort that has yielded the beginnings of a best-practices tool-kit. This information will be presented to the respective COG Boards in the coming months. 
Cap and Trade Funding Partnerships

Throughout the months of October through January, SBCOG has been working with local agencies on applying for Cap-and-Trade dollars through the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program and the Transformative Climate Communities Guidelines. Cap-and-Trade is a market based regulation that is designed to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) from multiple sources. The Cap-and-Trade program is intended to help put California on the path to meet its goal of reducing GHG emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020, and ultimately achieving an 80% reduction from 1990 levels by 2050. SBCOG was happy to provide technical support and grant-writing services for several agencies in the hopes of bringing Cap-and-Trade resources to the SBCOG region. 
San Bernardino County Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan

Having successfully received funds through the California Energy Commission to complete a sub-regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan Update for the mountain/desert region and from SCAG for the completion of a sub-regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan for the valley region, SBCOG will begin efforts into creating a San Bernardino County Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan. 

The current San Bernardino County Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction plan reduces 2020 GHG emissions based on the requirements of 2006's AB 32. Our goal for the new plan will be to supplement the original GHG Reduction Plan by providing guidance and analysis for how San Bernardino County member cities should respond individually to SB 32 of 2015, which requires an overall 40% reduction of GHGs by 2030.

SBREP Assists Residents with Saving Energy During the Holiday Season

Residents throughout San Bernardino County enjoyed energy savings this past holiday season thanks to the San Bernardino Regional Energy Partnership's (SBREP) third consecutive Holiday LED Light Exchange and Energy Efficiency Starter Kit events. The events hosted by the SBREP, a program between SBCOG, Southern California Edison (SCE) and SoCal Gas, provided the opportunity for SCE and SoCal Gas customers to receive a free Energy Efficiency Starter Kit in exchange for their old, working incandescent holiday lights for LED holiday lights. Nearly 400 holiday lights were exchanged and more than 200 Energy Efficiency Starter Kits were distributed at the events held in Chino Hills, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto and Upland leading up to the holidays.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Operational at the Santa Fe Depot

In an effort to meet the needs of the increasing number of electric vehicles, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) has installed four new level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging station ports at the Historic Santa Fe Depot in San Bernardino. The EV charging stations are the first phase of chargers installed using a $450,000 grant SBCTA was awarded from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC). Using ChargePoint EV chargers, the network will provide EV location mapping, real-time charging status, notifications, as well as pricing and payment information available via smart phone apps. For additional information and official press release, click  here. 
California Air Resources Board Project

Zero Emission battery chargers have been installed at BNSF's Los Angeles location and a demonstration project  has begun. Additionally, we have full installation and power at BNSF location in San Bernardino as of January 12, 2018. Demonstrations for this location will begin by the end of January.  Daylight Transport in Fontana has been in full demonstration mode since beginning operations last spring.

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate zero-emission battery electric technologies to replace the two most common trucks at freight support facilities across the United States: Class 8 Yard Trucks and Class 5 Service Trucks. The battery technologies for both of these truck types are in the pre-commercialized stage. However, the technology partner for the proposed project, BYD, is currently developing prototypes and manufacturing capabilities to support the expected rapid growth of these product lines.  Both truck types will be powered entirely by BYD's electric propulsion systems, including iron phosphate batteries, inverters, and traction motors.

BNSF Railway, the largest intermodal rail operator in the world, is the principal technology demonstrator and will be demonstrating ten (10) yard trucks at each of their facilities in San Bernardino and Los Angeles for a total of twenty (20) yard trucks. All trucks are scheduled to be delivered by end of January 2018. Daylight Transport, a leading national LTL (Less than truckload) shipping provider, are demonstrating an additional three (3) yard trucks at a new facility in Fontana that are supported with battery storage and solar. Those trucks were delivered in March 2017 and are now in full operation.

All three of these locations will also be demonstrating a total of four medium duty service trucks, which are used to provide maintenance and service support for yard tractors, rubber tire gantry cranes, and forklifts, and have the ability to serve in other capacities and environments, which enhances future commercialization prospects.
Ontario Airport

SBCOG staff met with Mark Thorpe, the new Executive Director of the Ontario Airport Authority to discuss opportunities for the COG to support the airport's efforts.  The meeting was a great introduction, and staff is working on scheduling an opportunity for Mr. Thorpe to address and update the Board of Directors on the airport's progress.

Monique Reza-Arellano
Council of Governments Administrator
San Bernardino Council of Governments
909-884-8276