California continues to act as a leader on the clean transportation technology and policy front. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is working alongside EPA and NHTSA to develop light-duty vehicle emission standards for MY 2017-2025. Additionally, CARB is revamping the Zero Emission Vehicle Program and taking another look at the Clean Fuels Outlet, which could require major oil companies to provide hydrogen refueling stations once a certain number of vehicles are on the road. CARB scheduled meetings to discuss these efforts in July.
 
California’s clean transportation technology investment programs are moving along for now. Both CARB and the California Energy Commission (CEC) are updating their investment plans for the next round of AB 118 funding, which will provide more than $100 million in public investment in this sector. The programs cover a wide variety of fuel and vehicle technologies. Purchase incentives for hybrid and electric trucks and for battery electric passenger vehicles are some of the larger and higher profile investments. In order to get the money out the door more quickly, CALSTART has been working with policymakers and stakeholders on legislation (AB 1314, Wieckowski) intended to simplify and streamline the CEC’s AB 118 funding process.
 
A CALSTART-sponsored effort to put into law petroleum reduction and alternative fuels usage targets has stalled. AB 638 (Skinner) would have created a target of 26 percent alternative fuels by 2022.
 
Contact: Jamie Hall, Policy Director, jhall@calstart.org or 510-307-8774.

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