Dear CA Air Resources Board,
California can move much
faster on zero-emission vehicles. Many automakers have already set
goals of selling 100% EVs by 2030 or 2035, and are moving faster in
Europe and China. Let's make them move fast here as well. CARB
setting standards that lag the market would be a huge waste of
resources - the automakers can move faster if CARB requires it.
This is also a huge equity issue. When CARB forces
manufacturers to offer clean cars, they have to offer better
pricing, as we saw with great deals on Nissan Leafs, Chevy Bolts,
and Fiat 500es. Also, by accelerating EV sales there will be more
model availability as well as used EVs for lower income
Californians to chose from. Californians need alternatives to
paying $6 gas now and in the future.
I urge you to
restore California’s leadership on clean cars by accelerating
the state’s transition to 100% electric vehicles and
strengthening requirements on new gas-powered vehicles.
Climate pollution from gas-powered cars and trucks makes up 40%
of total greenhouse gas emissions in California. These vehicles are
a massive driver of the climate emergency, devastating our state
with deadlier, more damaging wildfires, heat waves, and
drought.
Historically, we’ve led the nation
on setting strong auto emissions standards — but the current
clean cars proposal falls short of the climate action we need.
If we don’t reach 100% zero-emission vehicle sales
until 2035, it will be too late for California to meet its goal of
carbon neutrality by 2045, since many new vehicles last 20 years or
longer. Moving that target to 2030 will give our state a better
chance of meeting its climate goals and remaining a global leader
on clean cars.
And until we reach that target in 2030,
California can’t ignore the climate-damaging emissions from
new gas cars. We need to take immediate action to make sure they
emit less pollutants as they drive our roads for decades.
This action is also critical to protect the health of communities
hit hardest by tailpipe pollution. Cancer-causing vehicle exhaust
harms people's health and particularly hurts low-income communities
of color near congested freeways.
California must lead
the way with strong policy solutions to end tailpipe pollution and
build an environmentally just transportation system. New clean car
standards must ensure equitable access to electric vehicles.
We urge you to adopt strong clean car rules that
require:
• 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by
2030.
• 7% annual pollution cuts from gas-powered cars in
the meantime.
• Mandatory equity commitments to ensure
that communities most affected by pollution benefit from electric
vehicles first and foremost.
This transition is a
tremendous opportunity to create family-supporting, high-road jobs
for Californians. We urge you to seize this moment and adopt
nation-leading clean car standards that slash climate pollution,
ensure equity, and promote good jobs.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Michael Chiacos
Santa Barbara, CA
93101
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