Electric Car Mandate Sparks Legal Questions
A new state requirement that auto makers begin selling electric cars in California came under scrutiny Tuesday night at a hearing, where some state legislators said the mandate would not help low-income communities.
Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar), who chairs the Assembly’s Budget Committee, said he called the hearing at Pacoima Middle School over concerns that the California Air Resources Board’s vote last month might also have failed to include input from these communities.
Such input is required under a state environmental justice law signed by the governor two years ago. The law, written by then-state Sen. Hilda Solis, also requires state agencies to ensure that low-income and minority communities aren’t adversely affected by such health or environmental decisions.
“My concern is that there is so much focus on zero-emission [vehicles], no one is paying enough attention to the other responsible pollution-reducing alternatives,” Cardenas said before the hearing, which drew fewer than 70 people.
Alan Lloyd, chairman of the state Air Resources Board, denied that the agency had violated the state’s environmental justice law. “We take that requirement seriously,” he told the panel, which included Assembly members Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) and Marco Firebaugh (D-Los Angeles).
But, Lloyd added: “I would be the first to admit that it’s not enough if local communities don’t know what we’re doing and don’t get the opportunity to participate.”
Maria Vega, a member of an environmental group in Val Verde, northwest of Santa Clarita, urged officials to look at other problems that degrade the health and well-being of residents.
Some environmentalists and electric car proponents said the hearing may be an indicator that California’s so-called zero-emission vehicle mandate is in the cross hairs of the auto industry. The auto makers, they said, are using the environmental justice theme as a tactic to delay the electric car requirements.
“We’re concerned this is a coordinated effort to try to stir up environmental justice concerns,” said Kevin Finney of the Coalition for Clean Air.
Tom Soto, president of the public relations and lobbying firm PS Enterprises in Santa Monica, said General Motors had hired his firm to review the state’s new electric car requirements.
Soto said he has talked to Cardenas and other leaders about the new rules, environmental justice and other types of technology “that have greater health quality and air quality benefits.” Communities of color, Soto said, were not adequately involved in the lawmaking process.
Cardenas denied he called the hearing because of his conversations with Soto.
“I’m holding this as someone who has had 30 dump sites in my area,” Cardenas said. “I’m not concerned about what GM likes. I’m concerned about what we can do to expedite air quality in California.”
