FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 2025 – Sonoma, CA – The City of Sonoma has been awarded a Silver designation from the national Charging Smart program in recognition of the City’s leadership in electric vehicle (EV) readiness and its commitment to expanding EV charging infrastructure throughout the community.
Charging Smart is a national program led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) in partnership with Cool The Earth and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Office. The program supports local governments in adopting nationally recognized best practices that accelerate EV adoption and improve community access to charging.
Sonoma’s Commitment to EV Readiness
As a Charging Smart Silver designee, the City of Sonoma has demonstrated progress toward its adopted Climate Action Strategies, which include reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, improving transportation choices, and supporting vehicle electrification as part of the City’s broader climate goals.
To achieve this designation, Sonoma worked closely with Charging Smart’s no-cost technical assistance team to strengthen staff knowledge and improve permitting and development processes related to EV infrastructure.
Key Actions Taken by the City of Sonoma
The following local actions contributed to Sonoma’s Silver designation:
- Zoning support for EV charging — The City has adopted zoning provisions that allow and encourage the installation of EV chargers in parking lots and new development projects throughout Sonoma.
- Municipal Fleet Analysis Underway — The City issued a Request for Proposals this fall for a comprehensive Fleet Services Analysis, which will evaluate opportunities to transition the municipal fleet to electric vehicles over time.
- Streamlined EV charger permitting — Sonoma already offers an expedited EV charging station permitting process consistent with state requirements and national best practices. Detailed information available on the City website at: SonomaCity.org/expedited-permitting-electric-vehicle-charging-stations/
- Public sustainability resources — Sonoma maintains a robust set of public resources on EV incentives, energy efficiency, and zero-emission transportation through the City’s Climate Action & Sustainability webpages: SonomaCity.org/departments/sustainability/.
- Updated Building Permit Process — The City updated its building permit process to reflect the streamlined permitting ordinance, reducing fees and timelines for residential and commercial EV charger installations. This helps residents and businesses install chargers more quickly and affordably.
- Partnerships to Expand Charging Access — The City is actively engaged with utility partners and regional agencies to identify funding and partnership opportunities for future public and municipal charging stations.
Mayor Patricia Farrar-Rivas emphasized the importance of this recognition and Sonoma’s continued focus on climate goals, stating:
“Designations like this Charging Smart Silver award show how the City of Sonoma is putting our climate goals into action. As we move through the Year of Climate Smart Sonoma, we continue to highlight the practical steps the City is taking, from EV readiness to energy efficiency and sustainable transportation, to support a healthier and more resilient community. This is complicated work, and we still have challenges to achieve our EV Charging goals. We are making good progress. I am grateful to our staff and partners for their work to make EV adoption easier and more accessible for our residents and businesses.”
About Charging Smart
Charging Smart provides local governments with expert assistance, practical tools, and national best practices to support communitywide EV adoption. Communities that meet the established criteria earn designation at the bronze, silver or gold levels.
Any city, town, or county may join the Charging Smart program. Interested communities can learn more at ChargingSmart.org.
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Media Contact: Sarah Tracy, Sr. Management Analyst & Public Information Officer
(707) 338-3759 | stracy@sonomacity.org