California Air Resources Board

Summary

Requires the Department of General Services and the Department of Transportation and their contractors to enter into a Labor Peace Agreement and adhere to High Road Jobs Standards, as defined, for contracts for zero-emission transit vehicles or electric vehicle supply equipment valued at $10,000,000 or more.

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Summary

Would have established the Clean Vehicles Ombudsperson (Ombudsperson) within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and would have required the Ombudsperson to consult with appropriate entities in identifying available programs and incentives offered by the State that can help to reduce costs and increase participation in a statewide contract or leveraged procurement agreement established by the Department of General Services (DGS) under this bill. The bill would also have required the Ombudsperson to convene two or more workshops of an advisory committee to aid in identifying and publishing best practices in adopting zero-emission fleet vehicles for public agencies and identifying appropriate candidate vehicles for bulk purchase, leveraged procurement, or other means of widespread adoption by public entities, as specified. The bill would have required the Ombudsperson to develop, and recommend that DGS adopt, criteria for evaluating vehicle purchase options or other means of widespread and streamline adoption options. Moved to the Assembly Inactive File.

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Summary

Expands California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemptions for specified transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects, and extends these exemptions from 2023 to 2030.

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Summary

Would have promoted medium-duty, heavy-duty, and off-road zero-emission infrastructure and electric and hydrogen refueling policies to support the State’s 2030 zero-emission vehicle and greenhouse gas reductions goals. The bill would have also established an electric rate structure, inclusive of electric charging and hydrogen refueling to incentivize zero-emission vehicles and freight equipment across the State. Additionally, the bill would have established the Safe and Clean Truck Infrastructure Program to deploy strategies to support truck drivers, such as safe areas to park and zero-emission refueling stations. Was not heard in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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Summary

Would create a partial (3.9375 percent) sales and use tax exemption for a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle purchased under Clean Cars for All (CC4All). Purchasers must have an award letter from an air district for purposes of CC4All. The exemption would apply to vehicles sold on or after January 1, 2022. Held at the Assembly Desk.

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Summary

Would require each electrical corporation to implement a plan to address climate change-related impacts to its respective electric plant, as defined, including prioritizing the replacement of equipment identified as most vulnerable to extreme heat events and other extreme weather events due to climate change. The bill would additionally require an electrical corporation to include a plan in its annual reliability report that addresses expected impacts, as specified, to the electrical distribution system from climate change, including impacts to transformers, substations, and electrical lines, that may result in a loss of electrical service of over an unspecified number of hours. The bill would require each electrical corporation to describe what investments have been made to better prepare its equipment for the impacts from climate change. Was not heard in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee.

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Summary

Would have required the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), in consultation with CARB and the California Energy Commission, under a separate proceeding, to authorize gas corporations to file applications for investments in programs to accelerate zero-emission vehicle transportation, including the use of hydrogen when it is used as a transportation fuel in fuel cell electric vehicles. CPUC would have been prohibited from approving any program or investment that would have resulted in either cost shifts in customer rates or a net increase in emissions from the energy sector, as determined by CARB. Held on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Requires the California Energy Commission, in consultation with CARB and the California Public Utilities Commission, to prepare a statewide assessment of the fuel cell electric vehicle fueling infrastructure and fuel production needed to support the adoption of zero emission trucks, buses, and off-road vehicles.

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Summary

Would have established the California Electric Vehicle Authority (Authority) as a separate entity within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. The bill would have required the Authority to coordinate activities among State agencies to advance electric vehicle and zero-emission charging infrastructure deployment as well as ensure related equity, workforce development, economic development, and other needs are addressed. The Authority would have developed new funding and financing programs, as separately authorized by the Legislature, including, but not limited to, incentives, rebates, tax credits, loan guarantees, reverse auctions, seed funds, pooled insurance funds, and matching grants. The Authority would have sunset January 1, 2029. Held on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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Summary

Requires that each local publicly owned electric utility's updated integrated resource plan include, as applicable, details of the utility’s electrical service rate design that supports transportation electrification. The bill requires the rate design include details for all applicable transportation sectors and include information on decision making tools, such as cost calculators or cost estimates that can assist customers in predicting the cost of paying for electricity for these vehicles.

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