12100.70.
The Legislature finds and declares that California is the national leader in the adoption of electric vehicles, with a market share of nearly 50 percent of all electric vehicles on the road in the United States. California’s leadership on electric vehicle policy has helped spur a strong and growing transportation electrification and zero emissions goods movement industry, with electric vehicles recently becoming the state’s number two export. With the current health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19, California needs to help put Californians back to work, restart our economy, and clean up the dirtiest air in the nation plaguing many communities across the state, primarily communities of color and disadvantaged communities. Accelerating progress in transportation electrification and zero emissions goods movement can respond to all these challenges while
prioritizing equity, job training, and a long-term economic benefit of leading the world’s efforts to transition to zero emission vehicles. A recent assessment by HR&A Advisors found that, on average, a one-million-dollar ($1,000,000) investment in zero-emissions transportation can support approximately 15 jobs.12100.71.
The California Electric Vehicle Authority is hereby established within the Governor’s office. The authority shall have the following responsibilities:(a) Funding and financing programs, as separately authorized by the Legislature, including, but not limited to, incentives, rebates, tax credits, loan guarantees, seed funds, and matching grants to start early stage markets such as heavy-duty trucks, lower the cost of capital, unlock private capital, and address gaps in the market to accelerate the transition to a zero emissions transportation system including:
(1) Charging infrastructure buildouts, including customer and utility upgrades, as well as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) for vehicle charging of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, such as initial minimum guaranteed funding and extended
equipment warranties via pooled insurance funds for zero emissions goods movement.
(2) Light-duty vehicle adoption such as charging infrastructure in multiunit housing and for renters in single family homes in low-to-moderate income and disadvantaged communities.
(3) Electric vehicle research, design, development, and manufacturing and supply chain support, such as lithium from the Salton Sea for battery supply chain, to create export opportunities as well as assist current businesses operating in the state and encourage new businesses and new market players to locate in the state.
(4) Public and private sector fleet procurement including municipal sedans, trucks, emergency response vehicles, transportation network companies, refuse trucks, and drayage trucks in and around ports.
(5) Funding dedicated to address both infrastructure and vehicle needs in disadvantaged communities as well as reduction
of pollution in disadvantaged communities.
(b) Coordination among state, regional, and local government entities to facilitate and accelerate the transition to a clean transportation system including the following:
(1) Serve as the state coordinator of transportation electrification and zero emission goods movement efforts to remove barriers and friction to accelerate transportation electrification by coordinating among the California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, California Independent System Operator, California Public Utility Commission, and the California Transportation Commission, along with load-serving entities and electric distribution utilities, air quality boards, public agencies, and local municipalities.
(2) Review existing state targets and propose needed updates across all agencies to reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and track progress on reaching those targets.
(3) Align permitting and other implementation processes, such as interconnections, with state statutory goals.
(4) Establish electric-vehicle-related job training programs, safety certificates and skilled jobs to help ensure sufficient skilled workers for high-quality jobs for the buildout of a clean transportation system.
(5) Ensure equity in access to zero emissions mobility options in disadvantaged communities.