May 30, 2024 - ZEV Equity Task Force Meeting Summary

I. Welcome and Opening Remarks, Jennifer Gress, Chief, Sustainable Transportation and Communities Division, California Air Resources Board (CARB)

  • Advanced Clean Cars II Program aiming for all new car sales to be Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) by 2035.
  • Need to ensure the transition to ZEVs is equitable. 
  • Want to incorporate a wide variety of perspectives and lived experiences. 
  • Program updates were covered in an email that included:  
    • California Energy Commission Rural ZEV solicitation.
    • Development of a mapping project focus for the next few Community Meeting work group meetings.
    • Community Mobility Program Connections Directory that was developed to help organizations and car manufacturers find partners interested in collaborating to access vehicle discounts. 
    • Meeting agreements. 
  • Acknowledging broader harm issues to be discussed this fall. 

II. Electrify America’s Cycle 4 Outreach and Education Investments, Brenna Corrigan, Senior Manager, Electrify America

  • $3M allocated for equitable access through the Zero-Emission Access Program (ZEAP) focused on outreach and education. 
  • $500K of this amount designated to fund projects of the Outreach & Education Workgroup. 
  • Please email zevequity@arb.ca.gov to get a copy of the slides presented at the meeting. 

III. Imperial Valley Community Tour, Luis Olmedo, Executive Director, Comité Cívico del Valle 

  • Imperial Valley has ongoing initiatives and firsthand engagement with electric vehicle infrastructure. 
  • Overview of the Imperial Valley area and environmental concerns: 
  • Salton Sea as a significant landmark. 
  • Issues with drought in the Colorado River affecting the area. 
  • Exposure to contaminated soils and gases. 
  • Community Focus: 
    • Calexico, as the closest international border gateway city. 
    • Highlighted the need for funding to support slow adoption rates of EVs. 

IV. Panel Discussion: Listening to Members of Rural and Tribal Communities to Increase Access to Zero-Emission Vehicles, Moderator: Larry Rillera, CARB 

As we continue our efforts to improve access to ZEVs in California's most burdened communities, it's vital to consider the unique needs of rural and tribal areas. This panel aims to foster a meaningful discussion on the challenges and opportunities for increasing the use of light-duty ZEVs in these communities. 

  • Ken Ahmann: Chief Operating Officer of Colusa Indian Energy and Tribal Utility Authority Director 
    • Expertise in microgrid construction, engineering, and management. 
    • A lot of education is needed 
    • There is limited vehicle choice. 
    • There is a lack of money for tribal communities to afford these cars. 
    • Tribes are underserved by utilities.  Only 20% uptime with electricity. 
  • Lucia Marquez: Associate Policy Director, Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) 
    • Focus on improving working conditions, affordable housing, and reducing industrial pollution. 
    • Community members/farm workers can’t relate to ZEVs. 
    • Mass transit can have so many benefits for the community. 
    • Language access is a big problem. 
    • “People are living multi-issue lives” 
    • We need someone to sit down with community members to talk to them as a trusted voice, 
    • How do we make the cultural gap a cultural advantage? 
       
  • Elizabeth Perez: Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Native American Energy Services Company 
    • Tribal energy sovereignty, lack of infrastructure, education, and funding for tribal communities. 
    • Highlighted the need for cultural collaboration to achieve goals. 

V. Next Steps and Closing Remarks: 

  • Next ZEV Equity Task Force meeting will be in the Fall/Winter. 
  • Encouraged continued engagement and collaboration. 

Return to ZEV Equity Task Force page