The new year will bring a couple helpful "filling stations" to drivers of electric cars  visiting downtown San Rafael, thanks to the latest Marin Clean Energy project and the city's commitment to sustainability.

The public parking garage on C Street will feature the first two of a series of electric vehicle charging stations being installed through a $5,000 funding allotment approved by the Marin Energy Authority Board of Directors last month. 

The program is being done in partnership with the Transportation Authority of Marin and Coulomb Technologies, a Campbell firm wthat is providing the stations for free through state and federal grants.

San Rafael Councilman Damon Connolly, who also sits on the authority's board, said the city's central location wasn't the only reason it made sense to have the first two stations through this program, among the first of its kind in Marin.

"We were the first city in Marin County to enact a climate change action plan, which we're proud of and as a part of that we certainly envision enacting use of electric vehicle charging stations and bringing more green vehicles to the city," Connolly said. "There's a lot of reasons why we can take a leadership role in this."

Vince Guarino, the city's parking services manager, said the city was working with an electrician to have the units installed and hoped to have them in place "sometime around the new year."

He said the C Street garage was chosen because it already had the electrical requirements in place which would help keep costs low.

Jamie Tuckey, project coordinator with Marin Clean Energy, said funding for the stations was available on a first come, first serve basis "and San Rafael was the first to approach us."

Each station will be embedded with an on-board computer, flourescent display and a utility-grade meter providing energy measurement, Tuckey said. Drivers will be able to use credit cards to pay for the stations. Units will be powered by Marin Clean Energy, a quarter of which will be renewable energy supplied through its Light Green program.

The Marin Energy Authority board, which oversees the nonprofit governing body of the Marin Clean Energy program, is providing funding for installation of up to five charging stations at $1,000 per station within participating jurisdictions in the county. Other members include Belvedere, Fairfax, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, Sausalito, Tiburon and the county of Marin.

Tuckey said San Anselmo reserved funding for installation of two stations and Belvedere reserved funding for one as well, but no time frame has been established yet for any future installations.

The Transportation Authority of Marin has plans to install 34 charging stations at 17 locations throughout Marin.

Messages left with representatives of the Transportation Authority of Marin for comment were not returned.

Guarino said the program seemed to be a win-win on all accounts.

"Any efforts we can undertake that encourage greener living and don't require an additional outlay of funds in these difficult economic times are worth our time, effort and consideration."