County-funded fleet conversion study to assess EV readiness; public visioning set for May 12

The Los Alamos Environmental Sustainability Board on April 17 heard a presentation outlining a county-funded fleet conversion study and a communitywide electric vehicle (EV) charging plan that county staff say is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand EV access.

The study, contracted to engineering and planning firm Stantec and funded during the FY25 county budget cycle, will evaluate whether electric vehicle equivalents exist for county operations, estimate charger and energy needs at county facilities, and produce siting recommendations and adoption scenarios. A public visioning meeting is scheduled for May 12 from about 3:30 p.m. to 6–6:30 p.m., staff said.

"This study was first recommended by the LAHREZ Task Force and later reinforced as a priority in the county's Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse house gas emissions and support EV adoption by expanding access to charging infrastructure," Angelica, the county project lead, told the board. She said Stantec will perform site visits, collect fleet usage data, and meet with departments including the Department of Public Utilities, police and fire to determine operational constraints.

Stantec will develop a base-case and a zero-emission case to model greenhouse gas reductions, prepare financial analyses and funding options, and create heat maps indicating priority locations for chargers. The plan will consider demand, suitability (utility and transportation infrastructure), and equity — with outreach intended to include the board, the Board of Public Utilities and County Council before final recommendations are delivered.

Board members asked about specific operational questions. Councilor Herman asked whether the county is reviewing current vehicle needs or relying on historical assumptions; Angelica replied that Stantec is meeting one-on-one with critical departments "to see if an alternative would work" and to take a current pulse on needs. Board member Ko Kyung asked whether school buses are included; Angelica said, "School buses are not part of the county's fleet, but we are working with LAPS to make sure that we have plans within our electrical infrastructure as they start to convert."

Staff also discussed funding approaches. Angelica said some municipalities use infrastructure service models in which a private vendor owns and operates chargers in exchange for a monthly fee, which can reduce upfront capital needs. The presentation noted the New Mexico Clean Car Rule as a key driver for planning; staff said Stantec will provide multiple adoption scenarios to account for different rates of EV uptake.

The timeline presented to the board shows the project kickoff in early February, a county council project kickoff in March, the May 12 public visioning session, and a goal of presenting final recommendations to county council by the end of the year. Staff also reported that County Council has approved a charge-point amendment to purchase six Level 2 EV chargers to be sited in front of the municipal building; staff said the procurement should be out to bid by the end of the month with construction possible this summer.

Next steps: Stantec will complete site visits and data collection, staff will host the May 12 community visioning meeting, and the draft plan will be presented to the board before being forwarded to the Board of Public Utilities and County Council for review.