F.Y.I.

 

CALSTART-Supported Legislation Moving Forward in California

DATE:            4/19/12
TO:                 CALSTART Members
FROM:          Jamie Hall, Policy Director

CALSTART is sponsoring several pieces of legislation in California that support our mission of growing the clean transportation technologies industry and accelerating the transition to a cleaner transportation future. Three CALSTART-sponsored bills just passed out of their first legislative committees this week. There is still much work to be done, but we have cleared the first major hurdles. The bills are summarized here. We encourage you to engage in the process and add your organization to the list of supporters for these bills. More information is below.

• SB 1455 (Kehoe): This bill would set an alternative fuels goal for the state of California and direct the relevant agencies to proactively work toward diversifying the state’s transportation fuel supply. As currently written, the bill calls for 26% alternative fuels by 2022. We are currently just under 10%, so this would represent a substantial move toward alternative fuels (including electricity) and greater fuel efficiency.

• AB 2405 (Blumenfield): This bill would ensure that clean vehicles with “white stickers” and “green stickers” are able to access California’s High Occupancy Toll lanes free of charge, with a few minor exceptions. This ensures the continuation of a vitally important incentive for these vehicles, which include natural gas, battery electric, fuel cell, and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

• AB 2583 (Blumenfield): This bill calls for greater leadership from California’s state fleets. The bill would call for the state Department of General Services to purchase more clean vehicles and fuels, with a goal of moving toward 100% advanced technology for new vehicle purchases in 2015. The bill would also ask the state to investigate ways to use state garages to encourage the use of clean vehicles, through preferential spaces, available refueling infrastructure, and other means.

We will keep you up to date as these bills move through the legislative process. There is still a long way to go, but we have cleared the initial hurdle on each of the above efforts. We are still soliciting support on these bills so please contact CALSTART Policy Director Jamie Hall (jhall@calstart.org; 510-307-8774) if you are interested in supporting. The more companies we have on board, the more likely it is that we can implement these important policies and move the industry forward.

                                 REGISTER TODAY                          
 

CALHEAT Forum 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
registration and breakfast at 7:30 am
 

Hilton Hotel

Stockton, California

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Early Registration Discount Ends Tomorrow!

The California Hybrid, Efficient and Advanced Truck (CalHEAT) Research Center Forum 2012 is almost here.  Hosted by the CEC, CALSTART, and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, CalHEAT Forum 2012 features an informative agenda of government, industry, fleet, and technology experts, as well as valuable networking opportunities. 

Highlights include:

• Unveiling of the CalHEAT Technology Roadmap, the foundation of the State’s clean truck plan
• Policy insights from key policy leaders - Rob Oglesby, Executive Director, California Energy Commission and Matt Spears, Center Director, Heavy-Duty Diesel Programs, US EPA
• KEYNOTE ADDRESS:  Jim Williams, Chief Scientist Energy and Environmental Economics - The Technology Path to Deep Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cuts by 2050:  The Pivotal Role of Electricity
• Important stakeholder  and fleet views on commercializing clean truck technologies
• Policies, investments and incentives needed to speed commercialization