California Air Resources Board

Agenda

• Welcome and Introductions
• Zero-emission Vehicle (ZEV) Equity definition, GO-Biz
  • Presentation of the draft definition
  • Opportunity to provide feedback
• Overview of ZEV Equity Action Plan Development, GO-Biz
• Next Steps

Attendees: Lisa Chiladakis (CARB); Natalie Reavey (CARB); Katherine Dillon (CARB), Nidia Erceg (GO-Biz), Ali Cooper (EVGide), Amrit Sandhu (CARB), Annalise Czerny (Cal ITP), Candace O'Melia (GM), Christian Colby (CalETC), Cristina Marquez (IBEW), David Morfin (Making Hope Happen), Franz Lieder (Bosche), Gennet Paauwe (CARB), Gia Vacin (GO-Biz), Gloria Huerta (Míocar), Graciela Garcia (CARB), Heather Hickerson (GO-Biz), Heather Zappia (Making Hope Happen), Isaac Lino (CARB), Lance Dornan (GO-Biz), Larry Rillera (CARB), Linda Khamoushian (GRID Alternatives), Mabel Aceves Lopez (CEC), Maravilla Guiles (Making Hope Happen), Marissa Williams (CEC), Mars Wu (Greenlining), Maurissa Brown (Greenlining), Patty Breslin (San Leandro 2050), Raquel Cardenas (CARB), Robyn Marquis (CALSTART), Ross Good (Stellantis), Sarah Somorai (Hyundai), Sophia Kownatzki (Greenwealth), Stephanie Parent (CARB), Thomas Lawson (Ford), Tom Knox (ValleyCAN), Valeria Cantor (GO-Biz)

Meeting Summary:  The meeting focused on sharing and getting input on the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) definition of Zero-emission Vehicle (ZEV) Equity and providing a timeline and process for developing the ZEV Equity Action Plan.  Here is the information presented by GO-Biz.

• SB 1251 by Sen Gonzalez - ZEV Equity Advocate appointed by the Governor 
  • Steering the development of a shared, cross-agency definition of equity, and set an equity agenda for the deployment of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty zero emission vehicles, the supporting infrastructure, and workforce development by facilitating alignment across various interagency equity groups (e.g., CARB, CEC, CPUC, CalSTA, Caltrans, CTC, etc.) 
  • Expand and integrate equity principles and actions into ZEV market development activities 
  • Create systems and processes to ensure transparent and consistent communication and to daylight existing and future initiatives to improve ZEV equity within California 
  • Lead development and publishing of statewide ZEV Equity Action Plan, leveraging past ZEV Equity Engagement & Implementation Plan efforts and in collaboration with public, private, and NGO partners. 
  • The Advocate will also create a ZEV Equity Action Plan that will help to align equity definitions, planning, and metrics across agencies and programs with an eye to funding equity prioritization across agencies in their ZEV deployment work.
  • The Action Plan will further make recommendations on new funding streams and programs to promote an equitable ZEV deployment.
  • Through these actions SB 1251 will ensure that the State is moving towards effective community-centered ZEV equity goals in the most efficient manner possible.
• Timeline
  • Q1 - GO-Biz is introducing the draft definition of ZEV Equity
  • Q2 - GO-Biz will continue work on the definition as well as have meetings with state agency staff, NGOs, and community groups to collect additional feedback.
  • Q3 - Go-Biz will host a meeting with agency leadership for final language approval and to see if it conflicts w/ any statutory requirements
  • Q4 – GO-Biz will release a timeline for final feedback on the ZEV Equity Action Plan.
  • GO-Biz will reach out to the different agency leads and would like staff to help share this work with their respective leadership.
  • GO-Biz is asking for help identifying lead staff at the different agencies to ensure that the definition makes it to the appropriate people or person within each agency.
• Objectives: Alignment in equity definition
  • An aligned definition is meant to provide clarity on equity in the development of the ZEV market.
    • To best address equity issues in ZEV market development, agencies should be aligned in an equity definition.
  • Language Matters
    • The way in which we describe disadvantaged communities, and their challenges is important.
    • Communities should understand what considerations agencies take when discussing equity in ZEVs
• Equity Action Plan Development
  • Engaging Stakeholders
    • Presentations and introductions to a variety of agency staff, community groups, and partners in academia
  • Key Focus of Plan
    • Divided plan development between workforce development, access and affordability, infrastructure, and outreach and education.
  • ZEV Equity Task Force collaboration
    • Collaborating with CARB and the ZEV Equity Task Force to develop ideas to help the drafting of an equity definition and plan.
• Working Draft - ZEV Equity Definition
  • ZEV equity is offering tailored resources and support based on individual and community-specific needs with a focus in regions with historically limited opportunities to ensure access to ZEVs, supporting infrastructure, and other clean mobility options, addressing key barriers such as lack of availability, affordability, ZEV education, and public engagement, while reducing health and economic development disparities.

Discussion:

1. What initial reactions do you have on the definition?
2. What are your recommendations on the efforts, timeline and process of the ZEV Equity definition and Action Plan?
3. What actions are needed to ensure underserved communities have equal access to ZEVs?

More to Say?

• Use this form to provide input on the definition and action plan

Contacts:

• Nidia Erceg, ZEV Equity Advocate, GO-Biz
• Valeria Cantor Méndez, Executive Fellow, GO-Biz

Key Discussion Points

1. Action Plan and Metrics

• Emphasis on defining measurable outcomes to track progress year over year.
• The plan should balance implementation efforts with targeted outcomes.
• Metrics must evolve as a living document to ensure long-term effectiveness.

2. Definition of Regions

• Clarification requested on how regions are defined in the action plan.
• The legislative framework (SB 1251) intends to provide guidance for agencies and the definition needs to be broad.
• The focus remains on ZEV equity without redefining existing definitions (e.g., disadvantaged communities, priority communities, etc.).

3. Equity in ZEV Market Development

• Importance of using established equity definitions to align with policy.
• Ensuring ZEV infrastructure is developed in a way that benefits local communities, including workforce development and livable wages.
• There is a need for specificity while allowing flexibility for different agencies to implement equity strategies.

4. Funding for Underserved Communities

• UCLA Luskin report highlighted that only 15% of clean vehicle incentives reached disadvantaged communities.
• Funding must be a priority in advancing ZEV equity and accessibility.
• Recommendations to establish partnerships with housing authorities and community-based organizations to ensure funding aligns with community needs.

5. Tribal and Rural Considerations

• Importance of incorporating tribal values and perspectives into ZEV policies.
• Expanding the definition of equity to include rural and tribal communities in infrastructure development.

6. Medium and Heavy Duty needs to be included in the definition and action plan

• Current definition seems light-duty focused.

7. Business and Workforce Development

• Need to ensure that ZEV market expansion supports job creation in underserved communities.
• Recognizing small businesses and enterprises as key players in ZEV supply chains.

8. Stakeholder Engagement and Input Process

• Encouragement to review the current draft and provide input.
• Various mechanisms available for feedback that are provided above.
• GO-Biz will continue outreach efforts in the coming months.

Action Items:

• GO-Biz is asking for help identifying lead staff that should be included in future meetings on the definition and the action plan.
• A summary of the meeting will be shared, including relevant links and presentation materials.
• Participants are encouraged to review the materials and provide feedback through the designated channels.
• March 11: Next ZEV Equity Task Force meeting focusing on outreach, education, and awareness campaigns.

Return to ZEV Equity Task Force page