Propane Plays Critical Role In California Clean Air Now Legislation

SACRAMENTO, CA (March 21, 2019) – California Clean Air Now, joined by legislative authors Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton), Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Orange County) and Assembly Member Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach) today at the State Capitol, introduced a series of bills designed to ensure California meets its current clean air goals through the use of proven technologies and available clean-air solutions, including:

• SB 216 (Galgiani) – Used Truck Exchange Program

• AB 1115 (Quirk-Silva) – Fuel Neutral Protections for LCFS

• AB 1406 (O’Donnell) – Fuel Neutral Protections for the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP)

“Every year California, according to the American Lung Association, consistently ranks as having the worst air pollution in the country, while spending billions of dollars on air quality and climate change programs. Yet none of our state’s Air Quality Districts are on track to meet federal clean air goals,” said Thomas Lawson, president, California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition. “We are excited to support this bill package to help California change course and focus on meeting its clean air goals today with experienced technologies and solutions that are currently available but not well utilized.”

California Clean Air Now is working closely with legislators who are promoting clean air legislation and pushing to allocate existing resources where they are most needed to ensure that California’s air quality significantly improves. Throughout the legislative session, the coalition will highlight bills and legislators who are working hard today to impact clean air across the state.

“With nearly 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions created by the transportation sector, and almost 90 percent of NOx emissions in the Central Valley produced by trucks and buses, we know that focusing on this area will get exponentially more clean air reductions,” said Senator Galgiani. “SB 216 takes an important step by seamlessly removing older diesel trucks from California’s highways and replacing them with low-emission clean trucks.”

“California has a variety of carbon-neutral clean fuels available, and many of them are already being used to reduce carbon emissions and clean our air. AB 1406 will make sure all fuel options are considered for the ARFVTP program, ensuring continued development and refinement of existing alternative fuels that can clean the air today and tomorrow,” said Assembly Member O’Donnell.

“While most people may associate propane with backyard barbecues, our fuel represents a reliable alternative source of clean energy that heats homes, generates electricity and powers everything from forklifts to school buses,” said Joy Alafia, president of the Western Propane Gas Association. “With next-generation propane expected to be 100 percent sustainable, propane will continue to play a critical role in helping California achieve its greenhouse gas reduction and air quality goals.”

If passed, these bills would get older, polluting trucks off the road, promote fuel neutrality for the state’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) and use current, effective alternative low-carbon or carbon-neutral fuels and technologies as immediate air pollution solutions today.

“The state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) has done a tremendous job of leveling the economic playing field for alternative, low carbon fuels. AB 1115 will ensure that the program remains fuel-neutral — no picking winners or losers. The cleanest fuel that can clean the air the fastest wins,” said Assembly Member Quirk-Silva.

“I’m proud to co-author SB 216 to help get some of California’s dirtiest polluting trucks off the road,” said Assembly Member Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove). “In areas like the Central Valley, where air quality ranks near the worst in the nation, SB 216 will have an immediate impact.” “We are fighting to give all Californians a breath of fresh air by cleaning our air now,” Lawson added.

About California Clean Air Now

California Clean Air Now is a coalition working hard to ensure that California can meet its clean air goals by supporting legislation in the current legislative session that offers tangible, effective short-term air pollution solutions that can positively impact climate change in the long term. For more information, please visit CalCleanAirNow.org.