CalSTEP Applauds Governor's Global Warming Fuel Standard as Excellent First Step Action
PASADENA, Calif.--CalSTEP, a diverse partnership of the state’s industry, government, academic and non-profit leaders from automakers to conservation groups, today lauded the Low Carbon Fuel Standard announced today by the Schwarzenegger Administration.
“One of the most important ways to increase our energy security and address the concern for global warming is in the fuel,” said Reg Modlin, Director of Environmental and Energy Planning, DaimlerChrysler and a CalSTEP partner. “CalSTEP’s partners applaud the governor’s action as a great first step – and then encourage that he and the state continue the momentum into the full range of actions needed in the years ahead.”
CalSTEP, the California Secure Transportation Energy Partnership, plans to release next week a comprehensive, fifteen-year action plan to increase California’s transportation energy efficiency and alternative fuel use, while growing the economy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the overall welfare of Californians. This report is the result of an 18 month-long process among CalSTEP partners to identify the most effective, politically viable and economically beneficial steps the state can take to secure its transportation fuel future. The action plan lays out specific steps for California to take to increase its fuel diversity, improve vehicular efficiency and reduce the need to drive through more efficient communities.
“The Governor is leading the growing effort for California to secure its energy future, and today’s announcement is well aligned with the actions CalSTEP calls for,” said CalSTEP partner Fred Keeley, Treasurer for the County of Santa Cruz, former Speaker Pro Tempore of the California State Assembly and Executive Director of the Planning and Conservation League. “Fuel diversity is good for California’s economy. But we also need our vehicles to be more efficient and our communities to be smarter so we do not need to use as much fuel and drive as much. The Governor’s fuel standard is a great first step of many that are needed.”
The expanding CalSTEP Partnership includes these distinguished members:
- Tim Carmichael, President and Chief Executive Officer, Coalition for Clean Air
- Maurice Gunderson, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Nth Power
- George Shultz, former Secretary of State and Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institute
- Dr. Jim Sweeney, Professor of Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University
- Fred Keeley, former Speaker Pro Tempore, California State Assembly
- Jan Hedegaard-Bloch, Vice President of VMCC, Volvo Car Corporation
- Reginald R. Modlin, Director of Environmental Affairs, DaimlerChrysler Corporation
- Maxine Savitz, Director, The Washington Advisory Group
- Beverly Scott, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, Sacramento Regional Transit District
- Dr. S.M. Shahed, Vice President, Advanced Technology, Honeywell Corporation
- Lee H. Stein, Managing Member, Virtual Group L.L.C. (Investment Co.)
- James D. Boyd, Commissioner, California Energy Commission
- Paul S. Zorner, Ph.D., Senior Director of Business Development, Diversa Corporation
- John Boesel, President and Chief Executive Officer, CALSTART.
CalSTEP welcomes additional partners who are committed to its framework and goals. Look for the complete Action Plan when it is released next week. Visit www.calstep.org for more information.
The Partnership is an independent project of CALSTART, a fuel neutral, participant-supported organization of more than 130 companies and agencies, dedicated to expanding and supporting a high-tech transportation industry that cleans the air, creates jobs and improves energy efficiency. Visit www.calstart.org for more information.