Legislators Celebrate Progress to Modernize the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program and Recommit to Bolder, Stronger Policy

Sacramento, Calif. – On September 8, 2021, Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) and Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-San Bernardino) celebrated progress in plans to modernize the California Energy Commission’s Clean Transportation Program that boasts incredible support from relevant stakeholders and community members. SB 726 (Gonzalez) and AB 1389 (Reyes) to be advanced next year will reflect milestone policy changes to create a bolder, stronger and more equitable program to accelerate the deployment of advanced clean vehicle and fueling infrastructure technology in the state.
 
“I am very proud of our work this year and thankful for the support of community groups and stakeholders in advancing policy to help California transition to cleaner transportation,” said Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach). “California needs to lower greenhouse gas emissions and other toxic pollutants to combat climate change, fight air pollution and protect public health. We can only do this if we work together to pave the way for clean vehicle technologies and infrastructure with bold and meaningful action. That is why I am proud of the strong and diverse coalition of supporters that have come together to work on this legislation, and I am looking forward to continuing our work for a comprehensive plan that will not only reflect state climate goals but also prioritize equitable solutions for positive, lasting change for our communities that need it most.”
 
"I am proud of the work we have done this year on modernizing the Clean Transportation Program. I would like to thank our stakeholder partners for their commitment to ensuring that this program reflects the needs and values of transportation equity. We have developed a diverse coalition that understands that environmental justice and economic growth can not only coexist but are complementary to each other,” said Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes. “It is crucial that as we decarbonize the transportation sector, the benefits reach the people that need them the most. Transportation emissions are by far the biggest source of air pollution and air toxics impacting our communities. Modernizing the Clean Transportation Program provides an opportunity to drive down emissions, clean up the air in our communities, and accelerate clean vehicle deployments. I look forward to continuing the discussion to ensure that the state's investments create a robust, enduring, and equitable economy."
 
“We look forward to working next year with Senator Gonzalez, Assemblymember Reyes and Governor Newsom to secure sustainable long-term funding for vital programs that provide clean mobility and healthy air to all Californians, especially those living in disadvantaged and low-income communities,” said Bill Magavern, Policy Director at Coalition for Clean Air.
 
"Our broad coalition of industry, environmentalist, community leaders, and policymakers have come together around modernizing the Energy Commission's Clean Transportation Program with a focus on achieving state climate goals and benefiting our underserved communities,” said John Boesel, President and CEO of CALSTART. “We applaud Senator Gonzalez and Majority Leader Reyes for their leadership on clean transportation funding and we're pleased with their commitment to ensuring greater market stability needed to transform the transportation industry in California."
 

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Senator Gonzalez represents the 33rd Senate District, which includes the City of Long Beach and portions of South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles including the cities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Lakewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, Signal Hill, and South Gate. Senator Gonzalez lives in Long Beach with her family.
 
Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes is the newly-elected Majority Leader of the State Legislature, representing Assembly District 47 which includes the cities of Fontana, Rialto, Colton, Grand Terrace, San Bernardino and the unincorporated areas of Muscoy and Bloomington.
 
CCA was founded in 1971 and is California’s only statewide organization working exclusively on air quality issues. From creating the idea for California’s original Smog Check program in 1981 to ensuring the first national ban on the toxic dry cleaning chemical “perc” to helping pass legislation to put 1 million electric vehicles on California’s roads by 2025, CCA has paved the way for socially and environmentally responsible air policy nationally and worldwide.
 
A national nonprofit consortium with offices in New York, Michigan, Colorado and California and partners world-wide, CALSTART works with 280+ member company and agency innovators to build a prosperous, efficient, and clean high-tech transportation industry. We overcome barriers to modernization and the adoption of clean vehicles. CALSTART is changing transportation for good.