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Welcome to the California Clean Cars Campaign eNews.
The California Clean Cars Campaign comprises diverse constituencies that support strong standards for California's groundbreaking Clean Cars Program. We are working to bring the next generation of advanced, clean cars into the driveways of California families.
The bi-monthly eNews brings you the latest information on the Clean Cars Program, related events and activities, and opportunities to show your support for clean cars.
Thank you for your interest.
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 In the News
Mercury News: "In a Silicon Valley milestone, Tesla Motors begins delivering Model S electric cars" - June 22, 2012
San Gabriel Valley Tribune: "Planning for a world of plug-in cars" - June 19, 2012
San Francisco Chronicle: "Tesla has a lot riding on Model S sedan's success" - June 19, 2012
High Gear Media, via The Washington Post: "Job Training For Returning Vets: Installing Electric-Car Chargers" - June 13, 2012
Detroit Free Press: "California can't get enough of the Chevy Volt as sales surge" - June 5, 2012
Orange County Register: "Rick Reyes, Reader Rebuttal: Alternative Fuel Cars" - May 18, 2012
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 Clean Cars Milestones
The California Clean Cars regulation is only one administrative step away from becoming law.
On June 25, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) submitted its final rulemaking package for the Low Emission Vehicle and Zero Emission Vehicle regulations to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) for final review. OAL will ensure that ARB has adequately considered public comments and that the regulations are easily understood, necessary, authorized, and consistent with law. With OAL's approval, expected in early August, the regulations will be filed with the Secretary of State. At that time they have the force of law.
On a parallel track is the state's request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a waiver under the Clean Air Act to begin implementing its Clean Cars law. That paperwork is also in process, and EPA is beginning its formal review process.
Meanwhile, federal agencies are scheduled to finalize federal vehicle rules in August. California has worked closely with U.S. EPA and the U.S. Department of Transportation to harmonize its vehicle greenhouse gas standards with the proposed federal rules.
We will call on campaign endorsers as needed to support upcoming milestones in 2012:
- U.S. EPA will likely hold a public hearing this fall on California's waiver request.
- Once the federal rules are final, California will initiate another public process to accept compliance with the federal standards as compliance with its own rules. This process will likely occur at an ARB hearing in the fall. Other loose ends with the California rules will also be addressed at this hearing.
- Several states and the District of Columbia, referred collectively as the "Section 177 states," (named for Sec. 177 of the Clean Air Act) have chosen to adopt California's clean cars rule in the past and are expected to again adopt the newest update. Rulemaking adoption processes vary by state, but many will begin their process this year and the Campaign is working to support their efforts. Please contact us if you have co-workers or colleagues in other states who would be interested in supporting clean cars.
In coming months, we will work to ensure that the media report the facts on the benefits of clean cars, and we welcome Campaign endorsers weighing in on the public process. We will continue to keep you updated on the latest news through direct updates as well as through this bi-monthly eNews.
If you have any questions, contact us at: info@calcleancars.org.
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| Related Regulatory and Legal Activity
More Consumer Incentives for Clean Cars 
The California Air Resources Board in late June approved its 2012-2013 funding plan for the Air Quality Improvement Program, which funds incentives for advanced technology passenger cars and trucks. The majority of the $27 million funding plan will provide consumer rebates for zero-emission and plug-in hybrid cars. Roughly $15 million will be available for approximately 7,700 clean car rebates.
California's 2050 Vision What, exactly, will it take for California to meet its 2050 climate and air quality goals and how will we get there? The staff of the Air Resources Board in late June launched the first step in a coordinated, integrated planning process with the release of " Vision for Clean Air: A Framework for Air Quality and Climate Planning." The public process will include workshops and more board review in coming months.
Appeals Court Ruling Clears Way for Federal Standards  Carbon dioxide endangers public health, and the U.S. EPA's use of the Clean Air Act for setting carbon pollution regulations is "unambiguously correct."
So ruled the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in late June, in a momentous decision that clears the way for U.S. EPA to implement the 2012-2016 federal Clean Cars standard.
The ruling addresses four separate lawsuits brought by chemical, energy, farming and mining industries. Automakers were not part of the lawsuit; in 2009 they struck an agreement with President Obama to support a single national vehicle greenhouse gas standard, just as they have agreed to support the 2016-2025 standards that are due to be finalized this summer, which were fashioned after the first California Clean Cars law. |
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 Campaign Supporter and Related Clean Cars Highlights
Clean Cars Campaign endorsers continue to actively support clean cars and clean air:
- Clean Cars = New Jobs, says a new study released June 26 by the BlueGreen Alliance. The report, "Gearing Up: Smart Standards Create Good Jobs Building Cleaner Cars," found that up to 570,000 American jobs will be created by 2030 as a direct result of the proposed 2017-2025 federal Clean Cars standards. It said 50,000 new jobs in light-duty vehicle manufacturing and assembly, alone, will be created by 2030. Among the BlueGreen Alliance's members are Natural Resources Defense Council*, Sierra Club*, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy* and United Auto Workers.
- Americans say fuel economy is the most important car-buying factor, according to a new nationwide survey conducted by Consumer Reports (produced by Consumers Union*) and released in late May. Nearly three-quarters of drivers said they would consider an alternative-fuel vehicle for their next car.
- The Union of Concerned Scientists'* new Half the Oil plan shows how, through efficiency and innovation across and beyond the transportation sector, we can cut the country's projected oil use by 50 percent in the next 20 years. It offers a clear, achievable roadmap to move America toward a cleaner, healthier, and more secure energy future.
- Coulomb Technologies*has lined up $47.5 million in new capital to support its expanding electric vehicle charging network, as reported on Gigaom.com
- Electric vehicle experts from around the world converged in Los Angeles in early May for the 26th International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS-26). Los Angeles* Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa welcomed the visitors and accepted the E-Visionary Award from the World Electric Vehicle Association for its "strong support of clean, efficient and sustainable modes of transportation, and for making electric drive a reality in the everyday lives of their citizens."
Local Leaders Love Clean Cars!
 Local elected representatives from across California toured the EVS-26 show to learn about the cars and business opportunities coming to California. City of Long Beach* Mayor Bob Foster, a longtime PEV-driver, checks out the new RAV4 EV from Toyota.
* Campaign endorser
California Communities Get Ready for Clean Cars
Cities across California are working diligently to meet Governor Jerry Brown's recent executive order that communities must be plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) ready by 2015.
Hundreds of local government officials -- the folks on the front line who handle building and construction plans, permits and inspections -- along with vehicle manufacturers, charging station providers, electricians and contractors, recently attended six workshops hosted by the California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative.
The PEV Collaborative is a multi-stakeholder public-private partnership working to ensure a strong and enduring market transition to PEVs in California. Workshop attendees learned about the top five actions that communities can do to become PEV Ready. The workshops were part of a U.S. Department of Energy Plug-In Electric Vehicle Readiness Grant awarded to California in 2011.
New Online Resources
- The California Air Resources Board and California Plug-in Electric Vehicle Collaborative have launched a new Plug-in Electric Vehicle Resource Center to help consumers compare options and take steps toward PEV ownership.
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Sincerely,
The California Clean Cars Campaign Team |
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