The City of Sonoma has been recognized with a Silver designation from the national Charging Smart program for its leadership in preparing the community for electric vehicle adoption and expanding access to EV charging infrastructure. Charging Smart is a national initiative led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council in partnership with Cool The Earth and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Office.
This recognition reflects Sonoma’s ongoing work to support cleaner transportation options and advance the climate goals identified in the City’s Climate Action Strategies. As part of the Climate Smart Sonoma framework, the City is taking practical steps that help residents and businesses transition to low-emission transportation and participate in a more sustainable future.
To earn the Silver designation, Sonoma worked with Charging Smart’s technical assistance team to improve local knowledge of EV infrastructure and implement nationally recognized best practices. Key actions include updating zoning to support EV charger installation, streamlining the permitting process for residential and commercial chargers, launching a municipal fleet analysis to identify electrification opportunities, and expanding public resources on EV incentives and low-carbon transportation. City staff are also working with regional partners and utilities to pursue funding for future public and municipal charging stations.
These efforts support Sonoma’s broader Climate Action Strategies and complement the City’s work to improve transportation choices, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build community resilience. The designation also aligns with the City’s Climate Smart Sonoma public information effort, which highlights local climate action projects and helps connect residents with programs and tools that support communitywide sustainability goals.
Residents can learn more about EV charging, incentives, and sustainability programs on our Climate Action & Sustainability Webpages. For more information about the Charging Smart program, visit ChargingSmart.org.