The California Public Utilities Commission approved $738 million investment in Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure across the state. This important decision is an acknowledgement that zero emissions technologies are the only real solution to both our climate and air pollution problems, and it will enable utilities to make long-term investments to modernize transportation by electrifying buses, trucks and cargo equipment.
Today’s decision is also a major victory for environmental justice, and is the result of years of hard work by EJ advocates fighting to protect their communities from heavy polluting industries. Representing communities living alongside our state’s heavily polluted ports, warehouses and railyards, environmental justice groups forced utilities to come to terms with very real harms caused by air pollution and called on them to do more to clean up our transportation system.
For the past three years, Earthjustice has represented environmental justice leaders from the East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice and the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice in Commission proceedings. Below are quotes from all three organizations with their reactions to today’s decision.
Adrian Martinez, Staff Attorney at Earthjustice: “Today marks the largest investment in vehicle charging infrastructure in US history. While the powers that be in Washington seem intent on moving us backwards by giving everything away to fossil fuel interests, this last week California has fully embraced a vision of transportation that goes beyond combusting fossil fuels. California is living proof of what states can achieve when leaders listen to communities and design policies that prioritize public health over industry profits.”
Taylor Thomas, Research and Policy Analyst at East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice: “It’s been a long road to get here, but we’re relieved that the CPUC has seen the light and has come to understand what’s at stake. Zero emissions technologies are the only way to end the chronic air pollution crippling our communities, and we appreciate that the Commission is doing what’s needed to help make this a reality.”
Michele Hasson, Policy Director at the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice: “For far too long, our communities have been forced to live under a cloud of smog and filthy air. Today’s decision is an important first step to alleviate this burden and help communities like ours become a part of California’s clean energy future.”