31
Jan

Coalition for Clean Air Deputy Policy Director Chris Chavez issued the following statement on the Governor’s recent appointments to the California Air Resources Board:

 

“Coalition for Clean Air commends the Governor for his appointments to the California Air Resources Board (CARB.) We have much work ahead to ensure California meets its climate commitments and has healthy, breathable air for all Californians. The Governor’s appointments today will further the state’s efforts in fulfilling this important work. We welcome Councilmember Eric Guerra, Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, Professor Susan Shaheen and Assemblymember Bill Quirk to CARB, as well as look forward to continuing to work with reappointed Board Members Gideon Kracov, Diane Takavorian and Dr. John Eisenhut.

 

We also want to thank the outgoing Board Members for their years of service to CARB and the people of California.”

 

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This entry was posted in California government, Press and tagged California Air Resources Board, CARB, Gavin Newsom, press, Statement.

Originally Appeared Here

To meet our air quality and climate goals, we need to tackle some of the biggest polluters on our roads: heavy duty trucks. Though trucks represent just 2 million of the 30 million registered vehicles in the state, they are the largest single source of air pollution from vehicles. The California Air Resources Board study reveals that heavy-duty trucks spew 70% of the state’s smog-forming gases and 80% of carcinogenic diesel pollutants.

The answer may seem simple – put electric trucks on the road. The reality is much more complicated. Load capacity, range, availability and other factors make the move to electrify our biggest vehicles a big challenge.

But that doesn’t mean the move toward zero-emissions is any less righteous.

After years of successful demonstrations, we’re moving forward to make electric trucks a reality in some big ways. The Coalition for Clean Air is proud to be a part of the joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative (JETSI), a landmark effort led by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Air Resources Board and California Energy Commission to deploy 100 battery-electric regional haul and drayage trucks as well as 70 truck chargers across Southern California. The battery-electric trucks will be deployed through a partnership with NFI Industries and Schneider. JETSI represents an unprecedented industry-wide collaboration that includes more than 20 public and private partners and stakeholders.

Our role in this project is to gather feedback, facilitate meetings between key stakeholders and to educate the community on the positives and potential challenges that come with this ambitious work. Participating in JETSI is just the latest in our work trying to bring zero-emission technologies to California through efforts like recognizing businesses who move toward zero-emission technologies, facilitating conversations at the Port of Hueneme to create a zero emission blueprint and of course fight for policies to move us toward a zero-emission future.

As part of our Jetsi work, we are looking for feedback from Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange County-based business, nonprofit, public health, government, and academic organization on electric trucks and truck emissions generally. If you represent an entity in the area, please take 5-minutes to fill out this survey: tinyurl.com/JETSIsurvey

Originally Appeared Here

You’ve probably seen the headlines:

“Wealthy billionaire gives huge sum to fight climate change”.

Here’s the reality.

Less than 2% of all giving goes toward fighting the biggest threat mankind has ever seen.

Any guess what percentage goes to improving air quality?

We would love to know! The amounts are so small they don’t even keep count!

It bears repeating that California suffers from some of the worst air pollution in the country. Despite our progress, Greater Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley trade off every year for worst air pollution in the country. Even beautiful San Diego is not immune, ranking as having the 6th worst ozone in the nation. Models show that climate change will likely exacerbate the situation by increasing the high heat days that contribute to ozone and increase the number of wildfires that send lung-scaring particulate matter into our communities.

Is it really acceptable that only 2 out of every 100 Californians choose to support the fight against climate change?

While the causes and solutions to clean air and climate are complicated, we know that our fossil-fuel based system is what’s gotten us into this mess. Those same forces don’t seem particularly keen to get us out of it; Between 2018 and 2021, the petroleum industry spent almost $77.5 million advocating for the industry’s interests in Sacramento. That’s approximately 400% more than environmental advocacy groups, which spent roughly $15 million over that same period.

Our ask to you is to help change the paradigm on Giving Tuesday. Don’t just give. Give LOUDLY! Challenge your friends and colleagues to support environmental causes. As I wrote back in 2018, it’s not going to be those big grants you heard about that will help us get clean air. It will be all of YOU that change the paradigm.

Don’t just give to the Coalition for Clean Air. Give to local environmental justice organizations, climate advocacy groups, local grassroots organizations and more. Reach deep! There is a pathway to clean air, but it is going to take a village to get us there.

CCA works with many organizations in the effort to protect public health and fight climate change. While this list is by no means comprehensive, here are some links to organizations we work with to help gather your collective giving thoughts:

·    Clean Air Day list of participating organizations (grassroots)

·    SB 833 Letter of Support (policy advocacy)

·    Ship It to Zero (corporate advocacy)

·    Request to Caltrans (budget and active / public transportation advocacy)

·On Giving Tuesday, please give generously and widely.

The mission of the Coalition for Clean Air is to protect public health, improve air quality and prevent climate change. Your generous contributions support our efforts to educate, activate and advocate towards a clean air future.

www.ccair.org/donate

Brian Sheridan
Development Director
213-223-6872
[email protected]

The Coalition for Clean Air protects public health, improves air quality, and prevents climate change.

Originally Appeared Here

If you vote in Sacramento County, your ballot includes a measure that could significantly worsen the air quality of the Sacramento Region. The ballot measure, known as Measure A, promises to reduce congestion and improve air quality but will have the opposite effect by spending taxpayer dollars on the construction of numerous highway expansions throughout the region. We ask our members in Sacramento County to Vote No on Measure A to protect air quality, reduce traffic, and reduce climate change impacts in the region. 

Measure A is an initiative funded by large development interests that proposes to increase the sales tax by 0.5% for the next 40 years to fund a total of 225 transportation projects within Sacramento County. Although the funded projects include road repair and transit improvements, the measure will also fund highway expansion projects, including the SouthEast Connector, a new four-lane, 34-mile-long expressway connecting Interstate 5 and Route 50. 

Reasons to Vote No on Measure A:

• The proposed highway expansion projects will increase the number of cars on the road, contributing to increased traffic, higher air pollution, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and sprawl. 
• A peer-reviewed study by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) found that the transit improvement projects in the initiative were not able to offset the harmful impacts caused by the highway expansion projects.
• Constructing all of the proposed projects in the measure would cause the region to no longer meet its climate target of cutting GHG emissions by 19% by 2030.
• Measure A could also jeopardize state transportation funding for the region. 
• Measure A will worsen air quality, leading to increased asthma, lung and heart disease, and cancer hospitalizations in the region. 

This Measure only needs a majority to pass, meaning that every vote counts. As Sacramento continues to be ranked as one of the ten worst cities in the U.S. for air quality, we cannot afford to continue to increase air pollution in this region. We ask you to join the Coalition for Clean Air, Sierra Club, ClimatePlan, Environmental Council of Sacramento, and other environmental and transit groups to Vote No on Measure A on November 8th! 

For more information on Measure A, please visit www.measureanotok.org.

Click here to read California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) statement on Measure A.

Originally Appeared Here

Plagued by wildfire smoke, smog, soot, extreme heat and drought, Californians have often wondered “what can I do to help?” Now every voter in the state can be part of the solution to air pollution, climate change and wildfires by voting YES on Proposition 30, the Clean Air Initiative on this year’s ballot.

Written by an environmental/labor/business alliance (including Coalition for Clean Air) and drawing support from health, scientific and environmental health groups, Prop 30 has a simple goal: tax the rich, clean up the air. For many years, essential programs to clean up transportation and curb wildfires have suffered from the lack of sufficient reliable funding. Prop 30 would solve that problem by levying a small 1.75% tax on the highest incomes in the state, those over $2 million a year.

The tax would raise $4-5 billion a year, which would go to CalFire, the Air Resources Board and the Energy Commission to control and prevent wildfires and to provide zero-emission transportation. Transportation causes about 80% of California’s air pollution; we can solve that problem by electrifying transportation, and Prop 30 would deliver that solution. Incentives would go for replacing dirty old diesel and gasoline engines in trucks, buses, cars and other equipment with zero-emission engines, and for the infrastructure to fuel them. Californians who do not own vehicles would also benefit from EV car-sharing, van-pooling, bike-sharing, e-bikes, protected bus lanes, electric buses and transit passes.

Importantly, at least half of the vehicle and infrastructure funds would go to benefit people who live in low-income and disadvantaged communities. Prop 30 would assure that all Californians, especially those who have suffered the worst impacts of pollution and racism, benefit from the transition to clean transportation.

Unfortunately, extremely wealthy individuals who do not want to pay their fair share to clean up our air are funding a grossly deceptive advertising campaign  — a judge called their arguments “false and/or misleading” — claiming that Prop 30 is “corporate welfare” because its primary funder is Lyft. But opponents are unable to point to anything in the measure that singles out Lyft for special treatment, because Prop 30 in fact does no special favors for any company. The truth is that the money raised by Prop 30 would go to state agencies to fund existing programs that are now so stretched for funds that they run out of money every year, leaving many California residents and businesses unable to afford the transition to electric cars, trucks and buses.

You can find more information at https://yeson30.org.

Originally Appeared Here

Governor Newsom has only one week left to make changes to California law by signing or vetoing bills. In the last few weeks, the Governor has been instrumental in passing a number of influential bills, including the 40-bill Legislative Climate Package, many of which the Coalition for Clean Air had worked to support. However, as the legislative session slowly wraps up, there are still a number of influential bills remaining on the Governor’s desk. We need your help to convince the Governor’s office to sign these important bills into law. 

In particular, we are urging the Governor to sign AB 2438 (Friedman) and SB 457 (Portantino). These two bills will help reduce greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions by ensuring that the state transportation funding is spent on climate-friendly projects and that Californians are rewarded for their decision to stop driving and use other modes of transportation, such as public transportation, bicycling, or walking. We need your support to push these bills across the final finish line. 

Action Alert

Please contact Governor Newsom today to urge him to sign AB 2438 and SB 457.

Call Governor Newsom: (916) 445-2841
Email: Click here for a link to the contact form.

AB 2438 (Friedman) – Climate-Friendly Transportation Funding

What this bill does: This bill would align transportation funding with the state’s priority of protecting the climate by reducing emissions.

Why this bill is needed:

• • Nearly 50% of California’s GHG emissions are generated by the transportation sector. Vehicle emissions are also a source of ozone and particulate matter pollution, which are estimated to cause between 100,000 and 200,00 premature deaths in the US annually.
  • A recent report published by the Strategic Growth Council found that only 2% of the current transportation funding is in alignment with our state’s climate mandates.
  • AB 2438 must pass this year to ensure that funding for our transportation systems emphasizes air quality, climate, health, equity, and good jobs, especially as our state receives a major influx of federal transportation funding.

• Call or email the Governor today to tell him you support aligning transportation funding with climate targets. 

SB 457 (Portantino) – Income Tax Credits to Car-Free Households

What this bill does: This bill would provide families with no registered vehicles $1,000 in income tax credits, giving incentives for households to shift from using single-occupancy vehicles to other modes of transportation. 

Why this bill is needed:

• • About 10 million households in the US do not have access to a vehicle. 
  • This bill would be the first to provide incentives for those without access to vehicles, helping these families afford public transportation, bicycles, and ride-sharing programs.
  • By encouraging fewer people to drive, we can reduce the number of cars on the road. This can result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions, better air quality, less traffic, and a more efficient transportation system overall.

• Call or email the Governor today to tell him you support incentives for car-free households

Originally Appeared Here

Another summer of record-breaking heat and drought, combined with wildfires, shows the urgency of tackling our climate and air pollution crises. Governor Newsom can take the next step in reducing emissions by signing the eight bills below that are currently on his desk. 

AB 2097 (Friedman) – Eliminate Parking Minimums Near Transit

This bill would prohibit requirements for parking minimums in residential and commercial buildings near public transit, which would encourage more sustainable transportation choices and reduce housing costs. 

AB 2438 (Friedman) – Climate-Friendly Transportation Funding

For far too long, the state has funded transportation projects like freeway widening that increase harmful pollution. This bill would align transportation funding with the need to protect the climate by reducing emissions.

AB 2550 (Arambula) – San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution

The San Joaquin Valley continues to have the worst particle pollution in the country, so  AB 2550 would hold the SJV’s air district and the California Air Resources Board accountable for acting to reduce emissions. 

AB 2836 (E. Garcia) – Air Quality Funding

The Carl Moyer Program is a proven and cost-effective source of funding to replace dirty old diesel engines with cleaner new technology, so this bill would extend that funding for 10 more years.

SB 457 (Portantino) – Income Tax Credits to Car-Free Households

This bill would provide families with no registered vehicles $1,000 in income tax credits, giving incentives for households to shift from using single-occupancy vehicles to other modes of transportation. 

SB 1020 (Laird) – Clean Energy, Jobs, and Affordability Act of 2022.

SB 1020 would continue our state’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable power by requiring 90% carbon-free electricity by 2035 and 95% by 2040. 

SB 1137 (Gonzalez) – Oil and Gas Drilling Setback Zones 

Communities living near oil and gas wells can experience a number of health effects caused by lower air and water quality. SB 1137 would mandate a 3,200 ft health protection zone to buffer communities from oil and gas drilling. 

SB 1382 (Gonzalez) – Clean Cars for All

Taxes can be a burden for low-income buyers of zero-emission vehicles, so this bill would exempt them from state sales taxes when they make a purchase through the Clean Cars 4 All program, and also would improve the program’s outreach to low-income and disadvantaged communities.

The Governor signing all of these bills would help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, protect communities from air pollution and oil drilling, encourage people to drive less, and speed the transition to clean transportation.

Please consider contacting the Governor’s office to encourage him to sign these crucial bills! Click here for more information on how to reach his office. 

 

Originally Appeared Here

“Today’s action by CARB is an essential step to cleaning up the transportation system, which causes about 80% of California’s smog and soot and about 50% of its greenhouse gas emissions. The updated standards will mean less pollution coming out of the tailpipes of combustion engines, and an acceleration of the vital deployment of zero-emission vehicles. By 2035, all new light-duty cars and trucks sold in our state will be ZEVs.

 

We urge other states, and the federal government, to follow California’s lead in putting ZEVs on the road. At the same time, we must do more to provide clean mobility to all Californians, whether or not they own cars. We need to democratize the electric car and help our low-income communities of color make the transition to zero-emission transportation.

 

The best way to support an equitable transition to zero-emission transportation is for voters to pass Proposition 30, the Clean Air Initiative on the November ballot. Prop 30 would invest unprecedented amounts of funds in incentives for clean cars, trucks, and buses, as well as bikes, and in the infrastructure to support them, with at least half of the money flowing to disadvantaged and low-income communities.”

 

Originally Appeared Here

Today’s passage of the Inflation Reduction Act is truly a landmark moment for air quality, public health and the planet’s climate. Though by no means perfect, the Inflation Reduction Act includes largest federal climate investment ever. The law’s $369 billion in climate investments will reduce climate-harming pollutants by 40% of 2005 levels by 2030. These investments will also result in cleaner, healthier air while also reducing energy costs and supporting a healthy economy. Importantly, many of these investments will be targeted towards low-income communities, which have long suffered from under investment and the effects of air pollution.

Originally Appeared Here

Wildfires, smog, high gas prices and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine all serve to remind us of the urgency of breaking our addiction to oil. CCA has been heavily involved in several bills in the California Legislature that would help, and they all need to pass by August 31.

SB 1010 (Skinner) – Clean State Fleets

State government should lead by example, so this bill would require the state to purchase only non-polluting vehicles for its own fleets. All new cars and light trucks would have to be zero-emission by July 1, 2026, and all new trucks, buses and other heavier vehicles would have the same standard by January 1, 2027.

SB 542 (Limón) – Zero-Emission Trucks

Speaking of zero-emission trucks, this bill would exempt them from the state sales tax for 5 years, to help speed the transition to clean movement of goods.

SB 1382 (Gonzalez) – Clean Cars for All

Taxes can also be a burden for low-income buyers of zero-emission vehicles, so this bill would exempt them from state sales taxes when they make a purchase through the Clean Cars 4 All program, and also would improve the program’s outreach to low-income and disadvantaged communities.

AB 2438 (Friedman) – Climate-Friendly Transportation Funding

For far too long, the state has funded transportation projects like freeway widening that increase harmful pollution, so this bill would align transportation funding with the need to protect the climate by reducing emissions.

AB 2836 (E. Garcia) – Air Quality Funding

The Carl Moyer Program is a proven and cost-effective source of funding to replace dirty old diesel engines with cleaner new technology, so this bill would extend that funding for 10 more years.

AB 1897 (Wicks) – Oil Refinery Violations

Petroleum refineries cause more air pollution than any other fixed sources in California, but penalties for facilities that violate the law have stayed low for so long that they are just a minor cost of doing business for multi-national oil behemoths. This bill would raise those penalties for scofflaws.

Passage of all of these bills would help reduce oil dependence and air pollution and speed the transition to clean transportation.

Please write or call your state legislators and tell them to send these bills to the Governor this August!

 

Originally Appeared Here