Category: N-News

TEP Partner Spotlight: Los Angeles County

The County of Los Angeles has been a member of the Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP) since its inception in 2018. Originally, the County’s interest in joining TEP stemmed largely from the Board’s priority to expand zero emissions goods movement, particularly around communities of color most severely impacted by transportation along the I-710 freeway given the huge environmental justice challenge that this corridor represents. Under Supervisor Janice Hahn’s leadership, the County joined TEP to accelerate its own sustainability goals and to demonstrate regional leadership in collaboration with other key stakeholders. “Clean air is a critical issue for all of us, especially the communities that have shouldered the burden of our transportation system and the harmful air pollution that it creates,” said Supervisor Hahn. “For too long we have been told we had to choose between clean air and good jobs. I know that we can and should have both.”

The County has since been instrumental in advancing the bold targets set by the Partnership in our Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap 2.0 as we work to accelerate transportation electrification and zero emissions goods movement in the Greater Los Angeles region. “Having ambitious partners at the table making ambitious commitments has bolstered our own internal goal setting process and inspired us to be more assertive,” said Gary Gero, Chief Sustainability Officer at LA County.

This assertive goal-setting is reflected in the County’s own regional sustainability plan, known as OurCounty, which highlights 12 key goals focused on equity, accessibility, and sustainability. In particular, goals 7 and 8 emphasize the need for a fossil fuel-free County and achieving a convenient, safe, clean, and affordable transportation system that enhances mobility and quality of life while reducing car dependency. More specifically, the Sustainability Plan set the goal of installing 60,000 new zero-emission vehicle charging stations by 2025, 70,000 by 2035 and achieving 100% of all new light-duty private vehicles as zero emission vehicles by 2045. 

Leading the Way in Fleet Purchasing

The County has already shown initiative in this endeavor through an influential policy approved by the Board in April 2021. Through the Board of Supervisors’ Policy Number 3.020, the County has set an example for other regions as they have committed to purchasing zero emission vehicles when replacing all County vehicles, to the extent that they are available and that they meet operational needs. “Zero emission vehicles employ technologies that do exist, are available, and we as a County will take leadership in our purchasing,” said Gero. “This will signal to fleet managers that the future is here and we as a region need to approach this with a new way of thinking.”

This shift in perspective is vital for the region – not only for environmental reasons, but also economic reasons. Southern California is already a leader in cleantech manufacturing, as evidenced by the three electric bus manufacturers (BYD Motors, Proterra, and New Flyer) located in the region. As the largest manufacturing county in the country, LA County seeks to continue creating good, well-paying union jobs that will transform the region to a clean industry. “The cleantech revolution is an economic opportunity for the region that will help us lead the transformation of the LA region’s economy into the 21st century,” said Gero. “As we shift towards a more sustainable future, it will be imperative for us to ensure equity is built into every step of the process.” 

Mode Shift Priorities

It is this new way of thinking and leadership that is so vital not only to the implementation of electric vehicle solutions in the region, but also to how we think about the transportation system as a whole. “We need to fundamentally rethink the way we move people and make the alternative just as good, if not better, than single occupancy vehicles,” said Gero. The County highlights this as another key goal in its Sustainability Plan, aiming to increase to at least 15% all trips by foot, bike, micromobility, or public transit by 2025, 30% by 2035, and 50% by 2045. Through participation in TEP and close coordination with other stakeholders, this will be a multi-stakeholder effort that will transform the way we move around the region and think about transportation. 

As we reflect on our vision of an electrified transportation system in time for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it is key for stakeholders to think beyond what we believe is possible and shift the global view of Southern California as a car-centric region to one that is leading the way in clean transportation. “Being part of TEP has made us think deeply about what we thought was possible and how we can set goals that stretch the realm of possibility,” said Gero. “What might not be doable today may be doable tomorrow.” With these bold targets in place, we will work to accelerate the necessary change and go further, faster together. 

– Shevonne Sua, LACI Transportation Program Assistant

 The Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP) is an unprecedented regional public-private collaboration to accelerate deep reductions in climate and air pollution by the time of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. All of our partners have committed to work individually and collectively to pursue policies, pilot projects, and other actions that are equity-driven, create quality jobs, grow the economy, and help the region reach the bold targets in the TEP’s Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap 2.0.

CONGRESSWOMAN BARRAGAN INTRODUCES FIRST-OF-ITS KIND BILL TO ESTABLISH ELECTRIC-VEHICLE CAR SHARING PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC HOUSING

WASHINGTON, D.C. Today Congresswoman Nanette Díaz Barragán (CA-44) introduced the EVs For All Act to establish an innovative grant program at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to support electric vehicle car sharing for public housing residents. The program would help public housing authorities and local governments invest in electric vehicles (EV), EV charging stations, community education and outreach, and other services and incentives to provide access to EVs for public housing residents.

“The success of our clean energy future requires that every resident, regardless of income, is included in the electric vehicle transformation,” Congresswoman Barragán said. “The EVs for All Act would provide resources for low-income residents in my district and around the country that are often left out of climate solutions. Congress must lead the way in ensuring that everyone has access to electric vehicles and clean air, including people who can’t afford to own a car.”

The bill would authorize up to $50 million in annual appropriations from 2022-2031 to launch a grant program with DoE which would implement the program in coordination with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Transportation (DOT). The program would provide up to $1 million in funding to eligible entities to support EV car sharing services dedicated for residents who live in public housing projects. Research has shown that public housing residents face significant barriers in accessing reliable and affordable transportation of any kind – and especially zero-emission transportation. Additionally, too many communities of color face disproportionate air pollution yet completely lack access to EV charging infrastructure or zero emission vehicles even though operating EVs is much less expensive than operating gasoline powered cars.

Barragán’s office worked closely with the
Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) to develop the legislation. LACI is accelerating transportation electrification in the Los Angeles region through pilots and policy, as well as incubating startups and training individuals to join the green workforce. Among other community shared EV mobility pilots, LACI launched EV car sharing programs in public housing developments in Los Angeles, including one dedicated only to housing authority residents at Rancho San Pedro, in partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA).

“LACI’s mobility pilots have demonstrated that EV car sharing programs can improve the economic mobility and quality of life of residents whose communities face disproportionate air pollution and climate impacts,” said Matt Petersen, LACI’s president and CEO. “We applaud Congresswoman Barragán leadership in helping to scale this pilot to increase equitable access to transportation to shared EVs and charging in cities across the nation.”

“Going green shouldn’t be reserved for only a specific socioeconomic status,” said HACLA President and CEO Doug Guthrie. “This electric vehicle share initiative provides a benefit to the community and environment as a whole. The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles is proud to partner with LACI on this forward-thinking and innovative pilot program that brings both opportunity and access to our residents in a community that is often overlooked and underserved,” Guthrie added.

The bill is aligned with the Biden-Harris administration’s
Justice40 Initiative, a commitment to invest 40% of the federal government’s investments in climate and clean energy in disadvantaged communities.

Barragn was joined by 23 original cosponsors of the EVs for All Act, including
Congressmembers: Adam Smith (Wash.), Yvette Clarke (N.Y.), Adriano Espaillat (N.Y.), Doris Matsui (Calif.), Andr  Carson (Ind.), Dina Titus (Nev.), Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), Ra l Grijalva (Ariz.), Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas), Donald M. Payne Jr. (N.J.), Ruben Gallego (Ariz.), Derek Kilmer (Wash.), Ted Lieu (Calif.), Marilyn Strickland (Wash.), Jimmy Gomez (Calif.), Mike Levin (Calif.), Chellie Pingree (Maine), Jim Costa (Calif.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (N.J.), Tim Ryan (Ohio), Jared Huffman (Calif.), Rick Larsen (Wash.), and Alan Lowenthal (Calif.).

A PDF of the bill is attached.

The EVs for All Act has significant support from environmental justice, clean tech, clean air, and environmental organizations. 

Groups in support:

EVs for All Supporters as of February 4, 2022

Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet
AMPLY Power

Breathe California of the Bay Area, Golden Gate, and Central Coast

Breathe California Sacramento Region

Breathe Southern California

Center for Environmental Health

Center for Sustainable Energy

Citizens Climate Lobby – Long Beach/South Bay

Clean Fuels Michigan

Cleantech San Diego

The Climate Center

Climate + Energy Project (Kansas)

The Climate Reality Project: Chicago Metro Chapter

The Climate Reality Project: Los Angeles Chapter

The Climate Reality Project: San Fernando Valley Chapter

Climate Resolve

Coalition for a Safe Environment

Communities for a Better Environment

Corporate Ethics International

Councilmember Paul Koretz

Defend Our Future

East Bay Community Energy (EBCE)

Ecology Center (Michigan)

Edison International

Electrification Coalition

Elemental Excelerator

The Emphysema Foundation of America

Environmental Defense Fund

Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2)

Environment America

EV Connect

EVHybridNoire

Envoy Technologies

Evergreen Climate Innovations

Forth

Fresh Energy

Generation 180

Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition

GreenLatinos

The Greenlining Institute

Greenlots

Grid Alternatives Greater Los Angeles

LABC

Launch Alaska

Local Government Commission

Los Angeles Community College District

Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)

Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC)

New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition

NYU Urban Future Lab

Pacoima Beautiful

Paired Power, Inc.

Plug In America

Prairie Rivers Network

Project Green Home

Prospect Silicon Valley

ReJoule, Inc.

Respiratory Health Association

Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality District

San Fernando Valley Climate Reality

Shared-Use Mobility Center

Sierra Club

South Coast Air Quality Management District

South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone (SLATE-Z)

Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Southwest Energy Efficiency Project

Transportation Electrification Partnership

U.S. Green Building Council – Los Angeles (USGBC-LA)

Valley CAN (Clean Air Now)

Valley Vision

Verdical Group

Vertue Lab

Vote Solar

Watts Clean Air & Energy Committee

Statement from Transportation Electrification Partnership on Governor Newsom’s Proposed 2022-2023 Budget

LOS ANGELES, CA “On behalf of the Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP), I applaud and thank Governor Newsom for including $6.1 billion for zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure investments in his budget proposal, with a focus on providing greater access to and benefits from the transition to zero-emission vehicles to low-income communities that are disproportionately burdened by pollution. These investments are critical to achieving TEP’s bold 2028 targets for the LA region, and statewide goals for 2035 and beyond. 

We are pleased to see proposed funding for zero-emission vehicle purchases by low-income consumers, expansion of charging infrastructure in low-income neighborhoods, zero-emission mobility community pilots, electric transit and school bus purchases, zero-emission heavy-duty trucks and infrastructure, port electrification, as well as funding for active transportation projects such as bicycle and pedestrian safety programs, among others.

As the budget process progresses, LACI and TEP look forward to working with the Newsom Administration and Legislature to support these proposed investments and to develop a pathway to increase the funding for accelerating the electrification of California’s goods movement sector. 

Thanks to Governor Newsom’s leadership, California will fund investments to purchase 1,000 zero emission trucks along with supporting infrastructure. However, in order to transition the tens of thousands of diesel trucks serving California’s ports, we encourage the Governor and Legislature to dedicate a total of $3.35 billion in the 2022 budget towards the state’s transition to zero-emission drayage trucks and charging infrastructure, including $100 million zero-emission early action pilot projects in key transportation freight corridors like the I-710 freeway.

We believe the time is now for the State of California to fully embrace its unique role in making bold “market maker” investments that will create good jobs, advance equity, and result in deep reductions in air and climate pollution. We look forward to working with the Administration and Legislature to further develop the state budget to achieve these goals.


Matt Petersen
President & CEO, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator
Chair, Transportation Electrification Partnership

 

ABOUT TEP
The Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP) is an unprecedented regional public-private collaboration to accelerate deep reductions in climate and air pollution by the time of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games by pursuing bold targets, pilots, initiatives, and policies that are equity-driven, create quality jobs, and grow the economy.

Current members include:
Leadership Group: Mayor Garcetti, CARB, County of Los Angeles, LADWP, LA Metro, Southern California Edison, LACI

Advisory Group: Audi of America, BMW Group, Nissan North America, PCS Energy, BYD Motors, Normal Now sponsored by Electrify America, Greenlots, Itron, Proterra, AMPLY Power, Burbank Water & Power, Clean Power Alliance, Culver City, East Bay Community Energy, Glendale Water & Power, Inglewood, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 11 / National Electrical Contractors Association Los Angeles County, Metrolink, Pasadena Water & Power, Santa Monica, Southern California Public Power Authority, Tesla, Waymo


ABOUT LACI
Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) is creating an inclusive green economy for the people of Los Angeles by: unlocking innovation by working with startups to accelerate the commercialization of clean technologies; transforming markets through partnerships with policymakers, innovators, and market leaders in transportation, energy and sustainable cities; and enhancing communities through workforce development, pilots, and other programs. Founded as an economic development initiative by the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP), LACI is recognized as one of the most innovative business incubators in the world by UBI. As of Q2, 2021, LACI has helped 281 portfolio companies raise $636 million in funding and create over 2,300 jobs in the Los Angeles region, with a projected 5-year economic impact on the Los Angeles region of more than $520 million. Learn more at laci.org

TEP Partner Spotlight: LADWP

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the nation’s largest municipal utility, with over 8,000 megawatt electric capacity and serving the 4 million residents of the City of Los Angeles, its businesses and visitors. With its bold sustainability goals and leadership in transportation electrification, the utility plays an integral role as one of the founding partners of the Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP). “TEP creates a forum for all stakeholders, not just utilities, to have input,” says George Payba, Environmental Affairs Officer at LADWP. “It fosters the creation of new ideas that otherwise wouldn’t have occurred in a closed system.”

With this collaborative spirit, LADWP has been able to go above and beyond some of its initial targets. The Charge Up LA Program, for example, provides rebates for LADWP residential and commercial customers who install Level 2 chargers (240 Volt) in their home or business in LADWP’s service area. Since its creation, this program has been highly successful to the point where LADWP has met its prior goal of 10,000 EV charging stations by 2022 two years ahead of schedule. “L.A. is on the road to meeting the city’s targets of 25,000 commercial charging stations by 2025 and 28,000 by 2028,” Payba said. 

To encourage more medium and heavy duty vehicles to go electric, the LADWP Board of Water and Power Commissioners approved a new commercial EV charging rate in November 2021 to speed expansion of publicly available, fast vehicle charging stations.

But it’s not enough to build out more EV charging stations; it’s just as important to focus on where those stations are being developed. “One of the key elements we want to focus on is putting more electric vehicle charging infrastructure in disadvantaged communities (DACs),” says Payba. In addition to rebates for EV chargers, LADWP offers a used EV rebate for up to $1,500. “Our goal is to place about 40% of EVSEs in DACs since those are the areas impacted most by the effects of climate change.”

Additionally, LA City Council recently approved an equitable hiring plan, which instructs LADWP to increase hiring from environmentally and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and focus on “ensuring project labor agreements, prevailing wage and targeted hiring requirements” for clean energy jobs. The City anticipates creating 9,500 new jobs as part of the transition to 100% clean energy and to create a more inclusive green economy. 

In the same City Council meeting, the City of LA and LADWP took the historic step of requiring that100% of the City’s electricity come from clean, zero-carbon energy by 2035. Through a motion introduced by Councilmembers Paul Krekorian and Mitch O’Farrell, LADWP will lead the nation in this ambitious and game-changing commitment to sustainable energy. With these bold targets and key milestones, LADWP has set a precedent for the rest of the nation to continue on the path towards transportation electrification. 

As we push towards the future, it will be more important thanever for stakeholders and industries to coalesce and ensure that the region is prepared for a fully electrified transportation system. “Regional collaborations such as TEP have the power to create lasting, meaningful change as we work together to electrify our future. As we promote the discussion of innovative ideas, we look forward to future collaboration to achieve a more sustainable region,” said Payba. These efforts will undoubtedly prove worth it as we near TEP’s Roadmap 2.0 targets in 2028. He adds, “We hope that by the time the world arrives for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, people will see what an electrified region can be. From the airport to the stadium, people will experience a cohesive, seamless,
electrified transportation system and be inspired to achieve the same in their own regions.”

– Shevonne Sua, LACI Transportation Program Assistant

 The Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP) is an unprecedented regional public-private collaboration to accelerate deep reductions in climate and air pollution by the time of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. All of our partners have committed to work individually and collectively to pursue policies, pilot projects, and other actions that are equity-driven, create quality jobs, grow the economy, and help the region reach the bold targets in the TEP’s Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap 2.0.

 

LACI CEO Comments On COP26 UN Climate Talks and Passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package

LACI CEO COMMENTS ON COP26 UN CLIMATE TALKS, BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE, AND  INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA)

Los Angeles, November 12, 2021 – Upon return from the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP) Chair and Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) CEO Matt Petersen released the following statement in response to COP26 negotiations and President Biden’s  Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to be signed Monday: 

“Having just returned from COP26, it is obvious that the outcomes in the negotiating rooms have not yet matched the urgency demanded by the climate crisis. However, there have been many important outcomes at COP 26 that are worth celebrating, including: the US-China pledge yesterday to commit to hold global temperatures increase to 1.5 degrees C, a joint pledge to end deforestation by 2030 and achieve carbon-free electricity in the US by 2035; the commitment by an alliance of dozens of nations, cities and states––including Los Angeles and California––and companies to phase out internal combustion engines; the $130 trillion Global Finance Pledge; and the Global Methane Pledge led by the US and the EU.

Certainly the energy on the streets of Glasgow was full of optimism—as I joined an estimated 25,000 young and old alike marching for bold climate action, I felt a rise of hope and a sense of urgency. Inside the official climate talks I spoke at the official US Pavilion and joined the Deputy Secretary of Energy Dave Turk and NREL officials to call for a $1 billion cleantech city innovation fund while pushing for commitments to transportation electrification to improve mobility for disadvantaged communities and reducing air and climate pollution. LACI’s commitment is represented by our unique model and creation of our $50 million in climate innovation funds.

Here in the US on Monday, the President will sign the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which provides important funding including: $2.5B for zero-emission school buses, $1.5B for zero-emissions transit buses, $2.25B for port infrastructure—key for the LA region given 40% of the nation’s goods come through our two ports making goods movement the largest single source of air pollution in our region, $6.1B for battery manufacturing, and $7.5B for public EV charging. These investments, passed by Congress, represent an important down payment in our climate future with an infrastructure package that includes a portion of the $150 billion stimulus transportation electrification proposal that LACI and our 100 plus member coalition of automakers, business organizations and cleantech incubators from 18 states originally put forward in April 2020.  

Yet we can and must do more. We have an opportunity and an obligation to accelerate our transition to zero-emission cars, trucks, and buses, today––especially for low-income communities and communities of color who are disproportionately impacted by transportation pollution. On behalf of our coalition, I urge Congress to quickly adopt the Build it Back Better Act to ensure that our nation makes the additional investments needed to reduce emissions, create green jobs, and make the U.S. the leader in the move to equitable zero-emissions mobility, goods movement solutions, and public transit.”

As LACI identified in the December 2019 “Cleantech Cities” report, cities around the globe can create a $5 trillion market and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by removing barriers to funding for startups. Based on the strategies identified in the report, LACI’s Transportation Electrification Partnership partnered with the City of Santa Monica to invite corporate and startup innovations to work together to create the US’ first Zero Emissions Delivery Zone pilot in Santa Monica. During COP26, Petersen called for a $1 billion cleantech cities pilot fund to support similar initiatives across the globe, alongside Actor Brian Cox, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Caroline Choi of Southern California Edison, Spencer Reeder of Audi, and former California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols. LACI’s announcement on the call to action can be found here.

TEP Partner Spotlight: BMW Group

One of the earliest industry leaders to join the Transportation Electrification Partnership in 2018, BMW has made bold strides in reaching a sustainable future through its efforts in transportation electrification. As an initial signatory of the California Clean Car Framework Agreement in 2019, the company has committed to annual reductions of vehicle greenhouse gas emissions through the 2026 model year, encouraging innovation to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, providing industry the certainty needed to make investments and create jobs, and saving consumers money. In addition to their 2019 commitment, BMW has recently announced its goal to have electrification account for 50% of its global sales by 2030, expecting markets with attractive EV conditions to see a higher share. With bold policies being made on the local, regional, and state level, California is leading the way in this endeavor, and TEP has the right levers in place to move the LA region towards a zero emission future as we work to reach our Roadmap 2.0 goals by 2028. 

To reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, BMW has made clear that electrification is the path forward. With the all-new BMW iX in the mid-size SUV range and the BMW i4 as a 4-door sedan, electromobility has become an integral part of the BMW brand. Both models embody the company’s approach towards creating a sustainable product, as they are not only emission-free vehicles, but are also sustainably produced with regards to sourcing, production, recycling, and use of materials. Production on both vehicles has started and they will be available in the United States in the first quarter of 2022. By 2023, the BMW Group will offer a total of 25 electrified models globally (13 all-electric and 12 plug-in hybrids) which will cover 90% of all of the company’s vehicle segments. Thiemo Schalk, Government Affairs representative from BMW of North America says: “A great strength of BMW always was to have the right offer at the right time. We are very proud to be bringing the BMW iX and i4 to the U.S. market very soon, both will meet our customers’ expectations and pave the way for our all-electric product offensive to come real soon.”

This type of auto manufacturer commitment is a key driver in promoting the use of electric vehicles. By providing consumers with reliable zero emission vehicle options, EVs will become more accessible and attractive to consumers. 

Furthermore, BMW Group’s sustainability goals extend beyond the sale of electric vehicles; the company has taken a holistic approach not only to transportation electrification, but also to the sustainability of their supply chain and production process as a whole. The goal is a cut of at least 50% of GHG emission by 2030. The recently presented BMW Group i Vision Circular vehicle, for example, presents new ideas of how future BMW Group vehicles can merge sustainability with mobility through the circular economy principles: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. With the aim of achieving 100% use of recycled materials alongside bio-based raw materials, this vehicle will be a model for the company’s commitment to circularity, and thus decarbonization. 

The BMW Group is the first automotive manufacturer to set concrete company targets for reducing CO2 emissions in its supply chain by 2030, making it a pioneer in auto manufacturing circularity.

“The electrification of our products is one important way to reduce GHG emission,” says Thiemo Schalk. “Yet, real sustainability is more than that – we must avoid a shift of these emissions into the supply chain and battery production, and have to ensure ethical labor conditions and compliance with environmental standards all at the same time. The BMW Group has taken measures already to achieve this, and with our circularity strategy we keep on driving it even further.”

With these bold plans for transportation electrification and incorporating circularity in the production process, charging infrastructure will become increasingly important in the years ahead. For this reason, the automaker is among TEP partners that are keen to develop the right charging solution for everybody – at home, at work, on-street, and super-fast DC charging at hotspots and along all routes. Making electromobility available to everybody is the main task of this decade, the BMW Group believes. The more abundant and accessible charging infrastructure is, the sooner and easier the shift towards EVs will be.

Though work remains to achieve decarbonization and widespread electrification, with close cooperation between providers, utilities, government, and other stakeholders, a sustainable future becomes closer to our reach.

“We believe that there is more than enough innovative spirit and tangible solutions to tackle the challenge, much of which are gathered in TEP. This makes us a proud part of TEP, and together we will succeed,” Thiemo Schalk said. 

The BMW i Vision Circular. Source: BMW Group

LA Cleantech Incubator (LACI) calls for $1B global cleantech city pilot fund & announces LACI’s $50M US climate innovation funds to accelerate equitable climate action at COP26

Helping Cities Invite Innovation Through Global Pilot Fund & Creating Regional Collaboration Such as the Transportation Electrification Partnership Can Help Unlock $5T & Slash GHG Emissions by 35%; LACI Funds Include First in U.S. National Cleantech Debt Fund to Improve Access to Capital Particularly for Underrepresented BIPOC and Female Founders

During a panel session on Accelerating Equitable Climate Innovation and Action today, Brian Cox joined host and LACI CEO & President Matt Petersen, Phoenix, AZ Mayor Kate Gallego, Edison International SVP Caroline Choi, Audi of America Director of Government Affairs & Sustainability Spencer Reeder, and former California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols to call for a $1 billion Global Cleantech Cities Climate Fund and announce LACI’s $50 million cleantech innovation funds–including the nation’s first ever cleantech startup debt fund–to accelerate equitable cleantech innovation in cities.

As identified in the December 2019 “Cleantech Cities” report released by LACI, PwC, and C40 at COP25 in Madrid, if cities can better invite innovation and remove barriers to funding for startups there could be a $5 trillion market created and and an increase in reduction of GHGs by 35% can be realized. Based on the strategies identified in the report, LACI’s Transportation Electrification Partnership partnered with the City of Santa Monica to invite corporate and startup innovations to work together to create the US’ first Zero Emissions Delivery Zone pilot in Santa Monica.

In issuing the call to create a $1B Global Cleantech City Pilot Fund and urging the modeling of regional public private collaborations such as the Transportation Electrification Partnership, Petersen discussed how cities & regions across the globe can: 

  1. Invite innovation from startups and corporates to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve services, and improve equity for underserved, disadvantaged communities who are overburdened with air pollution and climate impacts; 
  2. Co-fund pilot innovation (using budget and in-kind resources from cities and local governments) with Pilot Fund sources secured from federal governments, finance agencies, philanthropic sources, and possibly corporate dollars; and
  3. Scale successful solutions through needed policy and business model interventions

Please contact Regan Keller at laci@antennagroup.com to schedule an interview with Petersen.