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District to seek approvals for electric-bus charging upgrades after Clark PUD grant
Summary
The district will ask the board in February to approve a purchase agreement with Sparkstone Electrical Group for $52,927 plus Washington sales tax and to authorize a contractor bid award up to $300,000 to upgrade charging capacity for an expanding electric-bus fleet.
Brett, a district staff member, told the Committee of the Whole that Clark PUD awarded a grant to the district to upgrade electrical infrastructure to support the district’s growing electric-bus fleet. The district currently has buses on order and says the fleet will total as many as 13 when those deliveries are complete; many of the buses were subsidized through Department of Ecology grants.
Brett recommended the board approve a purchase agreement (2025-003) with Sparkstone Electrical Group for $52,927 plus Washington state sales tax. He also previewed a bid award (2024-050) to cover the electrical contractor work; the board will receive the low-bid amount at the Feb. 11 meeting, but the recommendation is for capacity up to $300,000 plus Washington sales tax so the district can move quickly once bids are opened.
The upgrades include a high-capacity distribution/transfer device (described by staff as similar in function to a home breaker box but much larger) and installation work to connect the charging infrastructure to street power, poles and site service. Brett said the work is intended to ensure reliable charging and continuity of service even in cold weather.
The Committee of the Whole did not take action; both contracts will return to the board for approval at the Feb. 11 meeting. Staff said the Sparkstone purchase agreement and contractor award are being presented now so procurement and scheduling can proceed immediately upon board approval.
