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Comment 47 for Volkswagen Settlement - California ZEV Investments (vw-zevinvest-ws) - 1st Workshop.


First Name: Tamara
Last Name: Perry
Email Address: tamara.perry@laedc.org
Affiliation: LAEDC

Subject: Recommendations for the Volkswagen Settlement Investment Priorities
Comment:
Sir/Madam:

The e4 Advanced Transportation Center of Southern California
(e4ATC), a California Energy Commission funded initiative of the
Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation to establish a
Center for Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicle Technology, is
pleased to submit the following recommendations regarding the
priorities of the Volkswagen (VW) settlement investment
priorities.

The e4ATC promotes Southern California as the national hub for
advanced transportation technology research, development,
demonstration, production and exportation, and whose efforts
include: attracting investment to spur innovation,
commercialization, and increase market activity; encouraging the
transfer of technology out of academia into the hands of private
firms; strengthening the region’s workforce and education systems
to develop the requisite talent to support this fast-growing
industry; and advocating for sensible policy initiatives to
engender a regulatory environment that is conducive to achieving
e4ATC’s top-line goal of establishing Southern California as a
world leader in advanced transportation and alternative fuel
innovation.

The e4ATC members and participants are comprised of advanced
transportation industry, education, research, finance and
government thought leaders from across Southern California. Over
the past three years, e4ATC has examined global best practices in
the areas of: rulemaking and administrative law; economic and
community development; infrastructure planning and deployment; and
education and workforce development. Based on these findings and
with collective and input from the e4ATC members, we respectfully
submit the following recommendations:  

First, it is imperative that Southern California receive a
proportional distribution of resources remitted though the
settlement, a minimum of $90 million. Los Angeles County is home to
nearly 10 million residents, 25 percent of the California’s
population, and its goods movement industry moves more than 40
percent of nation’s containerized goods. Passenger vehicles, and
medium- and heavy-duty vehicles all contribute to the concentration
of air pollutants which negatively affect health outcomes for many
residents, especially those in disadvantaged communities, more than
half of which are located in Los Angeles County. Proportional
funding will encourage early adoption and innovation of products,
processes, services and technologies to ensure a cleaner, healthier
environment. 


Second, we would like to commend ARB for prioritizing VW settlement
investment in disadvantaged communities. We echo the tenets of
senate bill 535 (de León, 2012) and suggest that at least 25% of
funds allotted to the Los Angeles area be designated to programs in
disadvantaged communities, and that 10% of these funds be
appropriated to infrastructure projects for projects that will have
immediate impact within these communities. 

Disadvantaged communities includes those that are
disproportionately affected by pollution and environmental hazards,
and with socioeconomic vulnerability. By this definition,
established by SB 535, of the 1,994 census tracts in the state of
California, 1,018 of them (51 percent) are located in in Los
Angeles County alone. Indeed, of the 9.4 million residents who live
in these census tracts, 4.348 million live in Los Angeles County -
nearly 46 percent of the total disadvantaged population for the
state. It is imperative that funds allocated for disadvantaged
communities be proportionately directed to the jurisdictions that
contain these census tracts. This means that at least half of the
25 percent of funds designated for disadvantaged communities should
be directed to projects or programs in Los Angeles County. 

Third, in an effort to avoid duplicating or neglecting existing
projects and programs of the state, utilize the Advanced
Transportation of Southern California (ATC) to conduct the market
outreach and to act as the regional convener, as required by the
settlement priorities. The ATC can provide a roadmap complete with
information, resources, and connectivity with regional partners as
VW considers its investment priorities, and it well positioned to
act as a neutral arbiter or conduit for advisement and
connectivity.  

According to the International Council on Clean Transpiration, when
infrastructure increases, so does adoption. Utilizing data to map
out major employers, e4ATC can identify potential workplace and
fleet charging sites in or near disadvantaged communities, and can
optimize other programs that can buy-down lease costs of vehicles
for public agencies, further developing the requisite
infrastructure. Increasing infrastructure in Los Angeles County
will spur rapid and widespread adoption. The ATC is prepared to
offer suggestions and recommendations that will allow VW to provide
additive benefit to programs and initiatives already at play in the
region. The e4ATC can also provide necessary information regarding
Green City candidates including infrastructure needs, existing
programs, opportunity sites, and other deployment opportunities. 

Fourth, we encourage the ARB to remain adamant that data
collection, transparency, and impact assessment be conducted and
maintained by VW, and, as the regulatory body, the ARB should
provide consistent oversight. This investment has the potential to
significantly impact the adoption of ZEVs and other technologies
(hydrogen, autonomous vehicles, etc.). Providing guidance,
encouraging evaluation, and maintaining a database that offers
analytical evidence for impact will help the state, and local
entities alike, determine what “works” and why, and how to invest
in future efforts we bring California to the forefront as a the de
facto leader of the alternative fuel and advanced transportation
industry. 

It is our hope that an appropriate settlement investment level,
along with the investment application called for in this letter,
will be made in the Los Angeles region, which is not only prepared
to receive and expeditiously deploy targeted resources, but can be
the standard-bearer in setting best management practices precedent
for ZEV investment, development, deployment and adoption.  For all
of these reasons, we encourage Volkswagen and the California Air
Resources Board adequately consider the above recommendations and
ensure that Southern California receives balanced and proportional
share of investment. 

Should you have any additional questions and/or comments, please do
not hesitate to contact Tamara Perry, Director of Strategic
Initiatives with the Los Angeles County Economic Development
Corporation, at tamara.perry@laedc.org

Sincerely, 
Jeff Joyner
Co-Chair, LAEDC e4Mobility Alliance  
Michael Boehm
Co-Chair, LAEDC e4Mobility Alliance
Executive Director, e4 Advanced Transportation Center of Southern
CA
JoAnne  Stewart
Co-Chair, LAEDC e4Mobility Alliance
Rick Teebay
Co-Chair, LAEDC e4Mobility Alliance

Attachment: www.arb.ca.gov/lists/com-attach/52-vw-zevinvest-ws-VDEFN1w8AiVSN1cI.pdf

Original File Name: e4ATC VW investment recommednations.docx.pdf

Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2016-12-16 11:56:49



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