State’s Congressional Members Unanimously Back CALSTART : Transportation: Consortium is supported in its bid for up to $30 million to fund 21 clean-air programs.

In an unusual show of unity, the entire 52-member California congressional delegation has backed a Burbank-based consortium’s request for federal funding to develop an advanced transit industry in Southern California.

In a letter to the federal Defense Technology Conversion Council, the state’s congressional representatives unanimously supported CALSTART’s bid for up to $30 million to fund 21 advanced, clean-air transportation programs.

The conversion council, which oversees a federal effort to convert defense-related technology to non-military uses, is expected to distribute $472 million by October.

CALSTART, which opened its doors a year ago, is a nonprofit partnership, representing more than 70 businesses, utilities, and public agencies that have united to use defense industry know-how to build electric cars and other high-tech transit vehicles.

The July 28 letter supporting CALSTART was circulated among representatives and senators by Rep. Howard Berman (D-Panorama City) and Rep. David Dreier (R-San Gabriel Valley). It describes the partnership as a “model defense conversion project” that “represents one of the paths to the future for the return of economic vitality in California.”

Getting the entire state’s delegation to unite on any issue is unusual, particularly during recent partisan disputes over ways to improve the economy, according to Berman aides. The last time the entire delegation came together on an issue was last year when the lawmakers all recommended $4 million in federal funding to launch CALSTART, they said.

“It just shows that CALSTART is becoming a statewide consortium that the members see will support the state economy,” said Doug Campbell, a Berman legislative assistant.

Dreier agreed. “It should say to funding reviewers not only that the whole state of California stands to benefit, but that we have statewide confidence in CALSTART’s ability to deliver meaningful projects that push an entire industry forward,” he said.

Federal funds for defense conversion projects attracted more than 500 applications from partnerships and agencies throughout the U. S. Only CALSTART received unanimous support by California lawmakers.

The CALSTART participants hope to use the money to launch 21 advanced transportation projects, including the development of hybrid vehicles that can run on electricity or natural gas; a lightweight electric vehicle chassis that could be used in either electric trucks and cars with minor modifications; and an in-car computer system that plots a route to help drivers avoid traffic congestion.

Last month, CALSTART received more than $3.6 million from the state to fund 13 separate projects.