California introduces bills focused on clean air, alternative fuel

California Clean Air Now introduced a series of bills aimed to ensure California meets its current air goals through the use of technology and other available solutions.

From left, state assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), state assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Orange County), Joy Alafia and California Sen. Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton). Photo courtesy of Western Propane Gas Association

California Clean Air Now is a coalition working to ensure the state meets its clean air goals through legislation support. The organization works closely with legislators promoting clean air legislation and pushing to allocate existing resources where they are most needed to improve the state’s air quality.

Joined by legislative authors California Sen. Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton), state assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Orange County) and state assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), the bills include: SB 216 (Galgiani) – Used Truck Exchange Program; AB 1115 (Quirk-Silva) – Fuel Neutral Protections for Low Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS); AB 1406 (O’Donnell) – Fuel Neutral Protections for the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP).

Based on data from the 2016 Sales of Natural Gas Liquids and Liquefied Refinery Gases published in 2018

“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,” says Thomas Lawson, president of the 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.”

According to Galgiani, about 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are created by the transportation sector and about 90 percent of NOx emissions in the Central Valley, California, is produced by trucks and busses. She adds that SB 216 aims to replace older diesel trucks with low-emission clean trucks.

Based on data from the 2016 Sales of Natural Gas Liquids and Liquefied Refinery Gases published in 2018

“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,” says state assemblymember O’Donnell. “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.”

Propane is an alternative fuel that can aid in carbon emission reduction.

“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,” says 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.”

Based on data from the 2016 Sales of Natural Gas Liquids and Liquefied Refinery Gases published in 2018

If passed, these bills would remove older trucks from the road, promote fuel neutrality for the state’s LCFS and use current, alternative low-carbon or carbon-neutral fuels and technologies as immediate air pollution solutions.

“The state’s LCFS has done a tremendous job of leveling the economic playing field for alternative, low carbon fuels,” says state assemblymember Quirk-Silva. “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.”

SB 216 aims to take polluting trucks off California roads.

“In areas like the Central Valley, where air quality ranks near the worst in the nation, SB 216 will have an immediate impact,” says state assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove). “We are fighting to give all Californians a breath of fresh air by cleaning our air now,” Lawson adds.

*Featured photo courtesy of Joy Alafia