May 31, 2022
Assembly Member Phil Ting
Chair, Assembly Budget Committee
1021 O Street, Suite 8230
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: $500 million Budget Request for De-carbonized Fuels
Dear Assembly Member Ting,
Diesel powered heavy-duty trucks are the single largest source of smog-forming pollution and toxic air contaminants in California, especially in the federal non-attainment areas of the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley air basins.
This $500 million budget request submitted on May 18th, and its accompanying legislation, AB 2797, targets diesel fuel displacement in the heavy-duty transportation sector by further incentivizing the development and use of fuels with the lowest carbon intensities. This will help California reach its 2045 carbon neutrality goal sooner by incentivizing increased use of very low and “net negative” carbon fuels.
Given the current climate emergency, additional policy tools are needed to help drive deep decarbonization of fuels immediately. Encouraging greater use of such low carbon fuels today will ensure that future clean transportation markets will be powered by fuels that are entirely consistent with California’s stated policy goals.
Low carbon fuels are the most cost-effective means for the state to:
· Meet petroleum and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals;
· Improve air quality;
· Reduce short-lived climate pollutants and toxic air pollutants;
· Improve public health and benefit disadvantaged communities.
The Environmental Justice League, representing black and brown communities across California, writes to express its support for this budget request and respectfully ask for your serious consideration of a $500 million appropriation in the 2022-23 state budget to incentivize the development and use of the lowest carbon transportation fuels in the heavy-duty sector. This allocation would make real near-term progress toward addressing climate change, cleaning our air and protecting California’s disadvantaged communities.
Our communities are some of the hardest hit by air pollution. They are suffering, and they can’t wait.
Sincerely,
Tim Cromartie
Policy Director
cc: Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon
President Pro Tempore of the Senate Toni Atkins
Senator Nancy Skinner, Chair, Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
Senator Bob Wieckowski, Chair, Senate Sudget and Fiscal Review, Sub-2
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