Takes on the News | Policy Institute

California plans on world’s largest wildlife bridge

June 06, 2022

In April, conservationists and state officials alike celebrated the groundbreaking construction of a $90 million dollar wildlife bridge, the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, in Los Angeles. The 210 foot long, 170 foot wide structure will span the 10-lane U.S. Highway 101 when completed, connecting two sections of the Santa Monica mountains – making it the largest bridge of its kind on Earth.

Photo of a construction site for a building

California considers a bill to address greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in building materials

April 26, 2022

Decarbonization

Building materials, especially concrete, play a major role in the world’s carbon emissions – but, they may be able to help play a role in sequestering carbon, too.

Communities around the country are considering fare-free transit service

April 06, 2022

Transit ridership has dramatically declined during the pandemic, and efforts like fare-free service have been considered by many agencies as important to getting people back on the bus, light rail and train.

Big Transportation Policy Announcements from the Federal Government

March 16, 2022

Electric Vehicles

The federal government recently announced a suite of measures to tackle the nation’s pollution from transportation, particularly from heavy duty vehicles like trucks and buses.

In-state oil refiners consider life after petroleum

January 03, 2022

Low Carbon Fuels

Two major Bay Area refineries, owned and operated by Phillips 66 and Marathon Petroleum, announced in 2020 that they were planning to convert from producing petroleum to biofuels – specifically, the renewable diesel (RD) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Are rideshare companies failing to support disabled riders?

December 15, 2021

The Justice Department has filed a legal complaint against Uber for violations of the American Disabilities Act. Disability activists claim that not only Uber, but various rideshare companies, often overcharge and offer little support to disabled riders.

Governor seeks to address infrastructure shortcomings in new Executive Order

November 15, 2021

Policy

On October 20th, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order N-19-21 to address infrastructure shortcomings resulting in supply chain bottlenecks.

Update on the fate of legislative bills

October 29, 2021

The 2021 Legislative session produced several notable sustainable transportation bills, some signed and some vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom. As the summer recedes into memory, it’s a good time to look at bills that came close to becoming law this year, and may return in 2022, perhaps in modified form.

Google launches feature to track flight emissions

October 15, 2021

Decarbonization

Google recently announced that their Google Flights platform will show the amount of carbon emissions each flight produces, allowing users to compare the environmental impact of their flight options. Many consumers choosing lower-carbon flights could push airlines to invest in more efficient aircraft and sustainable aviation fuels.

2022 UC Davis Environmental Justice Fellowship

October 13, 2021

To immerse community expertise into academic research and public policy, the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies and Energy (ITS), the Energy and Efficiency Institute (EEI), the Center for Regional Changes, in collaboration with members of the Transportation Equity and the Environmental Justice Advisory Group (TEEJAG), are launching the Environmental Justice Fellowship program (EJF). This fellowship program will benefit participating fellows, the communities they serve, and the university researchers they engage with.

Key environmental bills await Newsom's approval

October 09, 2021

California’s Governor Newsom is deliberating hundreds of bills, including several key policies to advance sustainable land use, bike safety, vehicle electrification, and accessibility.

Airplane with yellow coated cable inserted near landing gear

Jet fuel made from plastic waste

June 10, 2021

Low Carbon Fuels

New research shows a promising method for tackling worldwide plastic pollution through fuel production. Researchers have found a new approach to convert a common plastic, polyethylene, into jet fuel in about an hour. Plastic pollution is a major environmental and public health concern, and technological innovation will be critical to solving this seemingly intractable problem.

Governor Jay Inslee vetoes a bill banning gas powered vehicles by 2030

May 14, 2021

Jay Inslee vetoed a bill from the Washington State Legislature that would have phased out gasoline powered vehicles requiring all light-duty vehicles sold, bought, or registered in the state to be electric by 2030.

President Joe Biden meets with members of Congress to discuss the American Jobs Plan

Biden Climate Plan and the American Jobs Plan Are Two Important Pieces of the Puzzle – but do they go far enough?

April 26, 2021

Biden’s climate pledge demonstrates the type of ambitious climate leadership that can encourage real policy change. However, on its own, this commitment is insufficient. The real action happens in the policymaking that will help meet these commitments.

Aerial photo of cars on a freeway overpass

How to decarbonize California transportation by 2045

April 22, 2021

A team of transportation and policy experts from the University of California released a report today to the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) outlining policy options to significantly reduce transportation-related fossil fuel demand and emissions. Those policy options, when combined, could lead to a zero-carbon transportation system by 2045, while also improving equity, health and the economy.