Join our panelists as we:
- Break down the new Clean Trucking rules which can be adopted by state governments.
- Discuss the economic, environmental, and public health impacts of adopting these rules.
- Explain the timeline for Colorado to consider adopting these rules, as well as other states in WRA’s region considering the Clean Trucking rules.
Panelists
Sam Appel
California State Manager
BlueGreen Alliance
Sam Appel is a labor, climate, and racial justice organizer and advocate based in the Bay Area, by way of New York and Los Angeles. Most recently, his research and strategy helped steer United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW 770) labor and social equity policies on cannabis in Southern California and state regulatory agencies. His policy research with the UC Labor Centers and an assembly member in 2016 laid the groundwork for the CA EMS Workers Bill of Rights (AB 263).
Sam holds a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA. His capstone at UCLA, the Community Scholars Program, launched his interest in California climate justice policy, bringing together labor groups (ILWU, IBT, Warehouse Workers United) and EJ organizations (CBE, EYCEJ) to analyze policies for transforming the goods movement system.
William Barrett
Director, Advocacy, Clean Air
American Lung Association
Will Barrett leads the American Lung Association’s work on clean air and climate change policy in California, focusing on vehicle emission standards, smart growth and clean fuels policies. Will represents the American Lung Association before the California Legislature and federal, state, regional and local agencies engaged in clean air and climate policy. Will has served as a public health representative on advisory panels convened by the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission and other public agencies, and serves on the steering committee of ClimatePlan and the board of directors for the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies. Will is a graduate of The Evergreen State College and completed the Yale School of Public Health Climate Change and Health certification program.
Aaron Kressig
Transportation Electrification Manager
Western Resource Advocates
As Transportation Electrification Manager, Aaron leads WRA’s work across the region to develop and implement policies which will accelerate the widespread adoption of electric vehicles and other technologies with the potential to significantly reduce emissions from the transportation sector. His work focuses on securing policies and plans which will maximize the environmental and economic benefits that electrified transportation can offer the intermountain West. Aaron is based in Denver but works on transportation electrification policies across all of WRA’s states.
Marcie Willard
Marketing Coordinator and Grants Specialist
Lightning eMotors
Marcie Willard has worked as part of the Lightning eMotors team since November 2020. Her role includes advocacy, government relations, event planning, grant management and business development. She is proud to be part of the industry leading commercial vehicle company and to have the platform to be able to educate people around the value of electrification- traveling to participate in events, providing vehicle demonstrations, and doing presentations. Prior to Lightning, Marcie worked in Economic Development focusing on tech transfer, public-private partnerships, and creative sector development support from roboticists to artists. She has also owned her own business and served as a consultant for the State of Colorado.
Deyanira “Deya” Zavala
Executive Director
Mile High Connects
As Executive Director, Deyanira Zavala leads the development and implementation of Mile High Connects’ strategic direction. She is responsible for fundraising and relationship management to advance the Mile High Connects collective priorities.
Prior to joining Mile High Connects, Deyanira dedicated her career to supporting aspiring Black, Latinx and immigrant entrepreneurs in Colorado and Texas as a pathway to community asset & wealth building. She also brings national experience having worked with NALCAB- National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, where she facilitated a variety of community economic development projects in support of member organizations, including resource development and capacity building activities.
Deyanira is the first in her family to graduate from high school and college, holding a Masters of Public Administration from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Arlington. Deyanira is trained Technology of Participation (ToP) facilitator and alumni of the NALCAB Fellowship and Young Nonprofit Professionals Network Elevate Fellowship programs. She currently serves as a Governor appointee to the RTD Accountability Committee, Reimagine RTD Community Advisory Group, All-In Denver Board, and the Denver COVID-19 Mobility Task Force.
Moderator
Deborah Kapiloff
Transportation Electrification Policy Analyst
Western Resource Advocates
Deborah advocates for policies which reduce emissions in the transportation sector, focusing on transportation electrification and the adoption of electric vehicles in all of WRA’s states. Deborah’s policy work seeks to maximize the environmental and economic benefits of transportation electrification for communities across the West.
Additional Resources:
In order to avert the worst impacts of climate change, we must rapidly shift all forms of transportation that are currently powered by fossil fuels to electrified transportation. This means not only electrifying our personal vehicles but ensuring that larger vehicles—from mail delivery trucks to long distance 18-wheelers—are also electrified. While the electrification of personal vehicles has gained lots of attention as automakers increasingly look to shift to electric models, less attention has been given to date on the electrification of larger ground transportation vehicles.
However, new policies are emerging which would accelerate the transition to electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The Clean Trucking rules include a trifecta of regulations which collectively would ensure a transition to 100% electric trucks by 2050.
We cannot protect our planet from climate change and reduce the life-threatening air pollution which chokes many of our urban communities without electrifying our medium- and heavy-duty trucks.
Thank you to WRA’s sponsors
