ATTN: California Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies

We have a moral obligation to end the climate crisis. As a historic leader on environmental issues and the fifth largest economy in the world, California is uniquely positioned to create a just and equitable model for addressing climate change. Yet, without drastic action, our state will miss its own 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions goals. While California is already leading the nation in clean car sales, we need to accelerate our transition to prevent the worst impacts of the climate crisis. SB 1230 supercharges the clean car revolution by eliminating two of the biggest barriers to adoption: cost and access to charging. It puts equity front and center, improving existing state programs and investments to ensure that low- and moderate-income communities lead the way to a clean energy future. I urge you to support SB 1230, which will:

• Simplify and speed up the process of applying for and accessing thousands of dollars in state clean transportation incentives and rebates, removing roadblocks like long approval times and rebate waiting periods to make these funds actually accessible to low- and moderate-income residents. With this change, Californians would receive clean car rebate money at the point of sale.

• Initiate the rapid build out of new electric vehicle charging infrastructure, with priority given to construction in disadvantaged communities and chargers that make the grid stronger and more reliable, such as those powered by on-site solar panels and battery storage. More chargers in more neighborhoods will give drivers confidence that an electric car could work for them. It would also create the kind of good-paying, green jobs that Californians want and need.