Join Our Drive Electric Shopper Campaign
Calling All Planners
View Amazing Wildflowers of Channel Islands National Park in April
Join Our Drive Electric Campaign
By Kathryn Phillips
If you have a special interest in electric cars or in shopping, we have a great way for you to enjoy your interests while joining the fight for clean transportation.
Later this month, Sierra Club will launch a “Drive Electric Shopper Campaign” that gives you the opportunity to both check out electric vehicles (EVs) near you and help us understand how well automakers and auto dealers are doing to sell these cars.
The Campaign will run for just a few months, starting in mid to late March. We’ll be organizing people to check out, ask about, and possibly test drive EVs, and then fill out a brief questionnaire to report back to us about the experience.
The goal in California is to have at least 60 dealerships visited -- that’s 10 percent of the dealerships representing manufacturers who produce electric vehicles. Your simple survey answers will help us measure and advocate for best practices that encourage EV sales. We’ll applaud the dealers doing a great job and compile the full data to illuminate trends that point to ways to accelerate the market.
The information Club volunteers collect in the Drive Electric Shopper Campaign will help us, the auto industry, and government agencies learn what is working well and what could be improved in the EV marketplace. We can’t get more EVs on the road without you.
California is a leader in the United States on developing regulations to force auto makers to produce electric vehicles. The state’s zero emission vehicle (ZEV) regulations were first launched in 1990. Since then, they have been modified and readopted several times, and the number of other states that use California’s ZEV regulations to clean up their tailpipe emissions has grown to nine, including eight states in the northeast.
The technology for electric vehicles has advanced substantially in the last decade with more than 20 different models of electric vehicle available today. Governor Brown signed an executive order establishing a goal of putting 1.5 million electric vehicles on the road in California by 2025. Right now, we have about 150,000 EVs on the road here. That’s good -- but we must do better.
More electric vehicles mean fewer combustion-engine vehicles, which translates into substantially less smog and climate-forcing pollution, even factoring in the emissions from the electricity used to charge them. To help avoid the worst impacts of climate change and protect our communities, it’s critical that we see electric vehicles on California roads in record numbers.
We are counting on Sierra Club supporters like you across the country to show what’s working in the EV marketplace, and where we can do better. Only with first-hand accounts can we ensure that California’s EV goals are reached in time and that emissions standards are protected for years to come.
To sign up to visit a car dealership near you, contact Mary Lunetta at mary.lunetta@sierraclub.org.
By Kathryn Phillips
If you’re the type who enjoys people, loves planning events, and can be counted on to complete tasks, Sierra Club California’s convention planning committee wants you.
The convention attracts a hundred Club members from around the state every fall. They gather at a rustic camp tucked in the rolling hills of San Luis Obispo County to learn about environmental issues, exchange information, hear from prominent influencers, make new friends, and catch up with old pals.
This year’s convention will occur the weekend of November 11th through the 13th. Convention planning has just begun, and there is still time to become part of the team that determines the theme and agenda to make this one a fun and stimulating event.
All you have to do to volunteer is fill out an online form and a Club leader will be in touch with you. Be sure to note on the form that you want to volunteer for convention planning.
And even if you don’t volunteer, plan to attend the convention. Watch for details in future newsletter issues.
View Amazing Wildflowers of Channel Islands National Park in April
By Meg Gunderson
Join Sierra Club California members and supporters for a 3-day, 3-island, live-aboard tour of the enchanting Channel Islands April 3 through 5 to view wildflowers at their best.
There will also be lots of opportunities to watch bird and whale migrations, and the waters will be teeming with seal and sea lion activity. Hikers will experience the windswept trails, and everyone will have a chance to explore the coastline by kayak.
Participating in the tour benefits the political work of Sierra Club California, the environment's strongest voice in the State Capitol. A portion of the trip revenue goes to Sierra Club California’s coffers.
The cruise departs from Santa Barbara, California. The cost, $650, includes an assigned bunk, all meals, snacks, and beverages plus the services of a ranger/naturalist who will travel with us to help lead hikes, point out items of interest and give evening programs.
To reserve space, send a $100 check, written to Sierra Club, to leader Joan Jones Holtz, 11826 The Wye St., El Monte, CA 91732. For more information contact her at: 626-443-0706 or jholtzhln@aol.com
Follow Us:
  |
Thank you for being a part of our work! You may securely donate online or by sending a check to Sierra Club California at 909 12th Street, Suite 202, Sacramento, CA 95814.
