OVERVIEW
In 2021 Gridworks asked our partners “how can we ensure that the growth of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) industry in California is sustainable, accessible, and equitable?” Policy-makers and representatives of labor, the environment, and social justice took up the challenge. Gridworks convened these leaders four times over 10 weeks to facilitate their discussion of labor and equity concerns related to the ZEV industry. The insights gained through their collaboration led to the development of a new framework for high road standards for zero-emission transportation.
THE CHALLENGE
California’s policies, goals, and investments in the ZEV industry have set a clear pathway for industry growth in the coming years. However, without strategic intervention, growth of the ZEV industry is likely to widen the existing clean energy gap between low- and middle-income Californians and those with more wealth. Further, while ZEV industry growth is projected to create new jobs, the location, quality, and type of those jobs is unclear, and undirected job creation has the potential to perpetuate existing trends in wage stagnation and income inequality in California.
APPROACH
Over 10 weeks Gridworks convened our partners to discuss how California’s ZEV industry could take the high road to advance sustainability, accessibility and equity. These industry leaders had some experience working with each other individually; however, the group as a whole was a new composition with some folks working together for the first time.
The following flow chart shows Gridworks’ project approach.
OUTCOMES
This initiative led to the following outcomes:
- Published “Advancing High Road Standards in Zero-Emission Transportation,” addressing standards for hiring and wages, compliance, training and apprenticeship, organizing, public spending, and domestic sourcing;
- Bridged gap between advocates and policy leaders;
- Shared presentation and promotion of high road standards to state leaders through targeted communication channels.
The outcomes contribute to a new direction towards a high road economy for California.
ABOUT GRIDWORKS
Gridworks facilitates difficult discussions and collaboration between policymakers, decarbonization advocates, energy providers and utility operators. We work with these groups to determine the best approach to meet decarbonization goals. Our work has eased the shift toward clean energy in the Western U.S. We’re expanding to further our mission and invite you to work with us to navigate your clean energy challenges.
At least 26% of California’s end use greenhouse gas emissions are produced in buildings, primarily in heating space and water. While the state has made significant progress removing emissions from power generation through a transition to clean energy, progress from the diffuse and challenging building sector has been limited. In 2018, a plan for tackling this challenge was needed. The plan needed to advance the use of clean, renewable electricity in buildings, taking the place of emissions from burning conventional gas. The strategy needed to educate customers, equipment and service providers, and policy-makers on why building decarbonization was imperative and why they should act now to address the challenge.
investments were typically engineered to support one-directional flow of power and communication, and serve predictable load patterns. Over the past decade, these historic practices have been challenged as customers increasingly adopt technologies like rooftop solar and electric vehicles, while communities demand more choice in their energy future. These trends have called utilities to open their decision-making processes to the public, while challenging regulators to facilitate more transparent, robust and holistic stakeholder processes. 
the California Energy Commission warned that without a transition plan for a low carbon future, rates for customers remaining on the gas system could rise from about $1.50 per therm today to as much as $19 per therm by 2050. Compounding the potential for unacceptable rate increases, the lack of a transition plan for the gas system puts the security of low-income customers and critical utility workers at risk.
Outcomes
