UPDATE (3/30/21): The national coalition supporting the TEP stimulus proposal has now grown to over 100 organizations representing 18 states. On March 30, 2021, the coalition sent a letter to the new Biden Administration updating the White House and relevant agencies on the proposals and voicing support for President Biden’s American Jobs Plan which is in line with the coalition’s priorities. Please read the updated letter here and the updated proposal here.
Businesses and Organizations Representing 14 States Urge Congressional Leadership to Restart Economy Through Investments in Transportation Electrification
LOS ANGELES, CA – A growing national coalition of cleantech companies and organizations representing business, labor, and startup innovation has joined the call for the Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP)‘s $150 billion federal stimulus proposal, urging Congress to make unprecedented investments in the nation’s transportation infrastructure in direct response to the economic and health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Spearheaded by TEP & the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), the national coalition currently represents leaders from 14 states and DC calling for zero emissions vehicle manufacturing and innovation, infrastructure deployment, public and active transit, job training, high-quality workforce standards, and support for related startups and small business, prioritizing those started by underrepresented founders.
With the U.S. House of Representatives set to vote on stimulus measures this week, the national coalition sent a letter on Monday to promote new findings showing that TEP’s proposal could create up to 2.3 million jobs across the U.S.. The research from economic advisory firm HR&A estimates that the proposed $150 billion in stimulus investment would boost employment in all sectors, with 1.4 million jobs expected to build out our nation’s zero emissions transportation infrastructure alone.
“Distributed proportionally across the US in targeted communities, this type of investment is critical to providing immediate economic stimulus and job creation, as well as to creating a foundation for future economic development while creating more resilient communities,” the letter says.
“This growing national coalition understands that tackling the health and economic crisis requires bold action that reimagines our economy and restores the livelihoods of millions of Americans,” said Matt Petersen, chair of TEP and President and CEO of LACI. “The $150 billion proposal can clean our air, unleash our nation’s diverse startup entrepreneurs, put over 2 million Americans to work in high-quality jobs, and help the U.S. lead the world in clean energy and mobility manufacturing.”
LACI convenes TEP, which is an unprecedented regional collaboration to accelerate transportation electrification and zero emissions goods movement when the world arrives in Southern California for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games (see TEP Roadmap 2.0).
The national coalition’s letter reinforces TEP’s April 27th proposal which focuses on national job creation, startup innovation, clean air, and high-quality job standards and safety certification. The TEP federal stimulus proposal calls for:
- $25 billion investment in the assembly and adoption of electric and zero emissions vehicles along with supply chain development (e.g., producing domestic lithium for batteries, etc.);
- $85 billion for EV charging and related infrastructure investment;
- $25 billion for zero emissions public transit, active transit and safe streets;
- $12.5 billion for workforce development, safety standards and job training; and
- $2.5 billion in innovation ecosystems for cleantech startups and related small businesses, prioritizing those created by underrepresented founders.
Read the full national coalition letter to Congressional leaders and the job creation estimates on Medium.
Full original proposal can be found here.
About LACI
LACI is creating an inclusive green economy by: unlocking innovation through 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 its Department of Water & Power (LADWP), LACI is recognized as one of the most innovative business incubators in the world by UBI. Learn more at laci.org
About TEP
The Transportation Electrification Partnership (the Partnership) is an unprecedented multi-year partnership among local, regional, and state stakeholders to accelerate transportation electrification and zero emissions goods movement in the Greater Los Angeles region (LA) in advance of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The TEP Leadership Group includes Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti, Southern California Edison, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, County of Los Angeles, California Air Resources Board, LA Metro; the TEP Advisory Group includes BMW Group, Itron, PCS Energy, Engie Impact, Audi of America, Nissan Group of North America, Proterra, BYD Motors, IBEW 11/NECA, and many others.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Anthony Reyes – LACI
anthony@laci.org
Sunshine Sachs
laci@sunshinesachs.com
