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aqip -- SB 350 Overcoming Barriers to Clean Transportation Access for Low-Income Residents Draft Guidance Document Available for Comment
Posted: 20 Apr 2017 10:54:06
The Clean Energy and Pollution Act of 2015 Senate Bill (SB) 350 (De Leon, Chapter 547, Statutes of 2015) established as a State priority the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through the promotion of various clean energy policies, including widespread transportation electrification, for the benefit of all Californians. Transforming the State’s transportation sector to support widespread electrification requires increasing access for all residents, including low-income and those living in disadvantaged communities, across a broad spectrum of clean mobility options. SB 350 directs the California Air Resources Board (CARB or Board) to examine the barriers low income residents must overcome to increase access to zero-emission and near zero emission transportation and develop recommendations on how to overcome these barriers. CARB undertook a public process and directly engaged local community members, including low-income residents, to determine the main barriers to clean transportation access. CARB framed the results of this effort as a guidance document, which provides a pathway to overcome barriers to clean transportation and mobility options. The guidance document, formally titled, Low-Income Barriers Study, Part B: Overcoming Barriers to Clean Transportation Access for Low Income Residents (Draft SB 350 Clean Transportation Access Guidance Document), and supporting Appendices are now available for public review and comment at: https://www.arb.ca.gov/transoptions The Draft SB 350 Clean Transportation Access Guidance Document is an initial step in identifying the main barriers and providing initial recommendations as a framework to address them moving forward. Recommendations include steps that the Legislature, communities, State and local planning, transportation, and air quality agencies can take to overcome specific barriers and begin to formulate innovative, meaningful solutions. Many of the recommendations build upon current actions State and local agencies are implementing to increase access to transportation electrification for all Californians. CARB is seeking public input on the Draft SB 350 Clean Transportation Access Guidance Document. To submit written feedback, please contact Ms. Ashley Dunn, Air Pollution Specialist, at (626) 459-4385 or by email at Ashley.Dunn@arb.ca.gov. To facilitate an ongoing public process, CARB will hold a public roundtable meeting in the next two months. Further details for the roundtable will be announced soon and posted on the project webpage provided above. Please make sure you are subscribed to the following project listserv to receive details on this meeting: https://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv_ind.php?listname=transoptions CARB also plans to provide an informational update to the Board in Spring 2017. Staff will update the Board on key findings in the Draft SB 350 Clean Transportation Access Guidance Document, present initial recommendations, and summarize public comments received. CARB intends to publish a final guidance document in late Summer 2017. Continued coordination and engagement across the State is critical for building continued understanding and solutions for increased clean transportation access for all residents, including low-income residents. CARB will continue coordinating with the California Energy Commission (CEC), transportation agencies, and key stakeholders in developing implementable actions, and ensuring progress is made to achieve the goals of transportation electrification, including increased access for low-income residents and disadvantaged communities. Further information about this effort is available at: https://www.arb.ca.gov/transoptions Background: Transportation electrification is the cornerstone of California’s future towards meeting both air quality and climate goals, along with ensuring economic prosperity and energy security needs. SB 350 plays an important role in ensuring the State is taking positive steps forward to promote widespread electrification across transportation and mobility options and in turn increasing clean transportation access for all residents. Portions of SB 350 are intended to address legislative findings that there is insufficient understanding of the barriers to access for low-income customers to: • Zero-emission and near zero-emission transportation options. • All forms of renewable energy being generated in the State. • Energy efficiency investments. As a result, CARB was directed to develop and publish a study, in consultation with CEC and with input from other relevant state agencies and the public, on barriers for low-income customers to access zero-emission and near-zero-emission transportation options, including those in disadvantaged communities as well as recommendations on how to increase access. Similarly, CEC was directed to develop and publish a study on barriers for low-income customers to energy efficiency and weatherization investments, including those in disadvantaged communities as well as recommendations on how to increase access to energy efficiency and weatherization investments to low-income customers. The results of these efforts are two separate, but related, reports that provide recommendations intended to have a transformative effect on access to clean energy and transportation investments for low-income residents, including in disadvantaged communities. In December 2016, CEC published their study, formally titled, Low-Income Barriers Study, Part A: Overcoming Barriers to Energy Efficiency and Renewables for Low-Income Customers and Small Business Contracting Opportunities in Disadvantaged Communities, which is available at: www.energy.ca.gov/sb350/barriers_report/documents/index.html Contact: For more information on the on the Draft SB 350 Clean Transportation Access Guidance Document, please contact Ms. Ashley Dunn, Air Pollution Specialist, at (626) 459-4385 or by email at Ashley.Dunn@arb.ca.gov. Media Inquiries: For media related questions, please contact CARB's Public Information Office at (916) 322-2990.