Tag Archives: Air Quality

Decarbonizing California’s Transportation – Is It Working? 7/17/2025

The transportation sector is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and threatens healthy air quality in communities. What is working and not working in California? Join us for an update of strategies to improve it, and examples of local transportation decarbonization efforts.

Environmental Council of Sacramento Climate Change Committee Meeting: July 17, 2025
Decarbonizing California’s Transportation – Is It Working?
Hybrid meeting: On Zoom and at Mogavero Architects, 1322 T St., Sacramento
Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155 | To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155

The transportation sector is the largest contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and threatens healthy air quality in communities. What is working and not working in California? Join us for an update of strategies to improve it, and examples of local transportation decarbonization efforts.

6:30 PM: Social period (for those in-person)

7:00 PM: Welcome and Introductions

7:10 PM: California’s Climate Goals Are in Jeopardy! Neil Matouka, Net-Zero California

California’s ambitious decarbonization goals rely on several federal, state, and local implementation policies. This makes our goals vulnerable, given the change in federal administration, and the unpopularity of certain necessary actions at the regional and local levels. Neil Matouka will show us an indicators dashboard for statewide tracking of our climate goals (ZEVs, Renewable Portfolio Standard, land conservation, etc.), and show climate impact resources available to support decision makers and community members.

At Net-Zero California, Neil manages its Clean Power program, developing and implementing data-driven policies to address climate change challenges. Neil launched California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment at the Office of Planning and Research, and served as the Air Resources Board’s Local Government Climate Action Planning Liaison, working with communities to develop climate solutions and transition to an equitable, low-carbon future.

7:30 PM: Communities Matter! – Environmental imperative, safety imperative, socioeconomic imperative. Larry Rillera, California Air Resources Board

Larry Rillera will present key clean transportation regulations and incentives, and give examples – such as Sacramento’s Green Technical Education and Employment. Larry will also discuss outreach and engagement, and how we can get ready for an upturn.

At the Air Resources Board, Larry serves on interagency teams and public-private-partnership ventures, engaging with communities, tribes, and businesses to decarbonize the transportation sector, including heavy-duty vehicles. At the California Energy Commission, Larry developed financing solutions for solar panel manufacturers, electric vehicle charging stations, and ZEV manufacturing. He has also developed career pathway programs at schools and with community-based organizations.

7:50 PM: Join the discussion!
Questions will include:

  • What are opportunities and barriers to decarbonize the transportation sector?
  • What is the state of environmental justice in this work?
  • How can we at ECOS (and others) get involved?

After Q&A, we’ll have updates and announcements (open to all).

Click here to view the agenda (in PDF).

Sacramento’s council never approved an expansion study. Why did it happen? April 1, 2025, The Sacramento Bee

By Tom Philp | April 1, 2025 | The Sacramento Bee

Now opponents are crying foul before a decisive vote over this expansion proposal on Wednesday before the Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission, also known as LAFCO. They have good reason: This has all the fingerprints of Howard Chan, now the former city manager of Sacramento, acting yet again as if he was as powerful as the mayor when he most certainly was not.

Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/article303190516.html#storylink=cpy

ECOS Climate Committee Meeting feat. SACOG, 11/18/2024

SB 375 has been the “North Star” of regional climate action in California since Darrell Steinberg got it enacted sixteen years ago.
With half of State GHG emissions coming from vehicles, it requires State transportation funds to only go planning agencies (SACOG here) that show how they can fund transportation systems in a way that can achieve State-mandated GHG reductions.
This has been challenging, as we see Caltrans continue to expand freeways, and as Sacramento County supervisors continue to approve sprawl development.
After 16 years, a lot has changed — SACOG wants SB 375 to be paused until it can be revised.
On Monday, let’s hear why – from SACOG’s leader. And also – from an academic leader – should it be revised, and if so, how?

AGENDA

6 PM: Welcome and Introductions

6:10 PM: Why does SACOG want the State to pause its SB 375 target setting process?
CA Senate Bill 375 (Steinberg, 2008) provides the framework for reducing GHG emissions, requiring the Air Resources Board to set regional targets: for SACOG, 19% per capita vehicle GHG emission reduction, from 2018 to 2035. CARB is now working on establishing future targets for CA regions. In his last “State of the City” address, Sacramento Mayor Steinberg cited SB 375 as a notable legislative achievement.

  • James Corless, Executive Director, Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) will explain why he (and other regional planning agencies) asked CARB to pause its SB 375 target. Link to letter: https://calcog.org/why-are-mpos-seeking-a-pause-on-sb-375-target-setting
  • Amy Lee, postdoctoral scholar at UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies, will provide a perspective. Amy studied with UC Davis Prof. Susan Handy in Transportation Policy, including study of regional transportation planning and induced travel. Amy previously worked at SACOG.

7:20 PM: Q&A, Discussion

7:50 PM: Updates
• Lawsuits over Caltrans’ plan to add lanes to I-80 in Yolo County
• Sacramento County Climate Action Plan, & County’s Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force
• ECOS’ work with SacRT to highlight benefits of public transit
• Election Recap – Sacramento Region

Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155