CALSTART Media Contact: Maverick Williams, mwilliams@calstart.org

In light of a significant shift in federal direction on clean transportation and climate policies, the 12^th annual CALSTART California Summit will convene on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Sacramento to bring together key stakeholders to strategize on how California can continue to lead the clean transportation industry while achieving its ambitious climate and air pollution goals. The summit will focus on fortifying California’s leadership in advancing zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption, clean infrastructure, and innovative policies that drive economic growth and the transition to a clean transportation future.

Through dynamic panels and discussions, the summit will:

• Emphasize California’s unique role in driving clean transportation policies.
• Explore opportunities to leverage the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) to scale clean transportation technologies, support underserved communities, and address critical infrastructure challenges such as battery recycling, grid reliability, and energization timelines.
• Serve as a critical forum to confront the growing threat to California’s waiver authority under the Clean Air Act, emphasizing the need to defend this essential tool for setting stringent emissions standards that have long driven national progress.
• Foster collaboration between CALSTART members and state agencies like the California Air Resources Board (CARB), California Energy Commission (CEC), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to address cross-sector challenges and opportunities.

This event serves as an unparalleled opportunity for CALSTART members, policymakers, and industry experts to align strategies, shape the future of California’s clean transportation ecosystem, and reaffirm the state’s role as a global and national leader in the fight against climate change.

After the summit concludes, participants are invited to network at a CALSTART-hosted reception and award ceremony that honors leading trailblazers in clean transportation with CALSTART’s signature Blue Sky Award.

WHO (subject to change):

Keynote speakers include:

• Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (District 11-CA)
• David Hochschild, Chair, CEC
• Hector De La Torre, Assembly Appointed Board Member, CARB

Leading experts include:

• Liane M. Randolph, Chair, CARB
• Nancy Skinner, Commissioner, CEC
• Jamie Callahan, Senior Counselor on Infrastructure, Office of the Governor (CA)
• Christine Casey, Deputy Secretary of Freight, California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA)
• Ryan Dominguez, Supervising Hazardous Substance Engineer, Department of Toxic Substances Control (CA)
• Kristi McKenney, Executive Director, Port of Oakland
• Tyson Eckerle, Senior Advisor, GO-Biz
• Jessica Johnson, Manager of Heavy-Duty Incentive and Training Section, CARB
• Robert Salls-Morneau, Zero Emission Heavy-Duty Program Manager, CPCFA
• Adam Browning, VP of Policy, Forum Mobility
• Jacqueline Torres, VP of Finance, Forum Mobility
• Tom Van Heeke, Senior Policy Advisor, Rivian
• David Castle, Senior Manager of Grid Policy, Southern California Edison Company
• Caitlin Odom, Co-Founder and Director, Eclipse Energy Partners, Co-Founder and Director, Eclipse Energy Partners
• Logan Tarbox, Strategic Energy Manager, Terawatt Infrastructure
• Cole Jermyn, Attorney – Energy Transition, Environment Defense Fund
• Jungwoo Lee, Chief Technology Officer, South 8 Technologies, Inc.
• Ronnie Tao, VP of Business Development & Marketing, Amprius Technologies
• Vivas Kumar, CEO & Co-Founder, Mitra Chem
• John Boesel, President & CEO, CALSTART
• Linda Zhong, President, LiCAP Technologies
• Serhat Cicekoglu, Managing Partner, Sente Ventures

WHAT: A full day featuring dynamic panels, discussions, and networking opportunities focused on fortifying California’s leadership in advancing ZEV adoption, clean infrastructure, and innovative policies that drive economic growth and the transition to cleaner technologies. Register Now   

WHEN: Monday, March 24, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. PST

WHERE: Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel: 1230 J. Street, Sacramento, CA, 95814

Additional information:

Lunch is included for registered attendees.

Award Reception and Ceremony: CALSTART’s Blue Sky Award was first presented in 1996 to General Motors and has since been awarded annually to leading companies, organizations, and individuals for their achievements in the clean transportation industry. Honorees are carefully selected by CALSTART’s Board of Directors and staff for their work in advancing clean air, energy efficiency, clean vehicles, and technology development.

Note: Members of the media can request a complimentary pass. Please reach out to Calvin Fleming at goodpr. to reserve yours: calvin@goodpr.com.

About CALSTART
A mission-driven industry organization focused on transportation decarbonization and clean air for all, CALSTART has offices in New York, Michigan, Colorado, California, Florida, and Europe. CALSTART is uniquely positioned to build the national clean transportation industry by working closely with its 285 member companies and building on the lessons learned from the major programs it manages for the State of California. CALSTART manages more than $1 billion in vehicle incentive and technical assistance programs in the United States and is leading a global effort to build the zero-emission commercial vehicle market.