Lauren Lantry, lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org, 858-334-5634
Lizette Hernandez, lizette.hernandez@sierraclub.org, 323.646.7300
Watts, Cali.– Today, hundreds of people in and around Watts will gather at St. John's United Methodist Church, across from the community’s historic Watts Towers to hear about the benefits of electric vehicles, learn about programs that support electric vehicle purchasing and identify the roadblocks that make it harder for low-income families to go electric.
People living in Watts are breathing some of the worst air pollution in the country. Meanwhile, the community’s access to electric vehicle charging stations is woefully low compared to the rest of Los Angeles. Out of 107 chargers in Los Angeles, there are only twelve publicly accessible chargers in Watts and the South LA region, and no quick charging stations. The majority of LA’s public charging stations and quick chargers are in higher income neighborhoods such as Beverly Hills, West LA, West Hollywood and the Fairfax district. This disparity is an inconvenience for families who might want to buy or already have bought an electric car.
“Air pollution such as soot and smog that comes from cars and trucks disproportionately impacts communities of color, like Watts, but electric cars can help clear the air,” said St. John's Pastor Larry Dozier. “From all-electric buses to electric cars, plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) are a clean alternative to the traditional vehicles that pump out dangerous pollution that makes our air dirty and our families sick. And the generous state and regional rebates available make both new and used EV’s more affordable than their gas-powered counterparts, we just need places to plug them in.”
While the event was an opportunity to learn more about electric vehicle and the resources available to purchase one, it was also an opportunity for the community to collectively call on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to bring more charging stations to Watts. Creating a clear roadmap of opportunities offered by the burgeoning clean energy industry that is accessible to Watts and surrounding communities is an important step in reversing the damages from long-standing environmental injustices the community has faced for decades.
“Until every car, bus and truck has a plug and every plug is powered by the earth, the wind and the sun, families will continue to feel the perils of pollution,” said Reverend Mac Shorty. “While many wealthy parts of LA have an abundance of electric vehicle chargers, we’re not seeing the same investments in communities like Watts. That needs to change.”
This event is one of hundreds held across the country to give people of all ages an opportunity to drive in or ride an electric car. Photos can be found below.
The Watts Clean Air and Energy Committee and the Watts Neighborhood Council teamed up with National Drive Electric Week national organizers, Plug In America, the Sierra Club, and the Electric Auto Association to put on today’s Watt’s event.
For more information about Los Angeles Drive Electric Week, click here.
For a complete list of National Drive Electric Week events, click here.
About Plug In America: Plug In America is the nation’s leading independent consumer voice for accelerating the use of plug-in electric vehicles in the United States. Formed as a non-profit in 2008, Plug In America provides practical, objective information collected from our coalition of plug-in vehicle drivers, through public outreach and education, policy work and a range of technical advisory services. Our expertise represents the world’s deepest pool of experience of driving and living with plug-in vehicles. The organization conceived National Drive Electric Week and has advanced workplace charging by pioneering ride-and-drive events at such leading corporations as Google, Mattel and Paramount Pictures. We drive electric. You can too. pluginamerica.org
About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization with more than 2.4 million members and supporters and chapters in all 50 states. The Sierra Club’s national Electric Vehicles Initiative advocates for a switch to EVs as one important way to reduce emissions and cut oil consumption. Sierra Club is proud to have been one of the three national groups organizing National Drive Electric Week since its inception in 2011. www.sierraclub.org/EVGuide.
About the Electric Auto Association: The Electric Auto Association, formed in 1967, is a nonprofit educational organization with 75 chapters worldwide that promotes the advancement and widespread adoption of electric vehicles. www.electricauto.org.
About the Watts Clean Air and Energy Committee: Formed in 2016 with the vision to support Watts community leaders in defending and protecting the environment in which residents live, work and play, the Watts Clean Air & Energy Committee works to create an empowered community who will work together to achieve environmental justice by improving the quality of air they breathe and creating a clear roadmap of opportunities offered by the burgeoning clean energy industry accessible to Watts and surrounding communities. In their first year of work, they have held large townhalls bringing attention to air quality disparities affecting Watts residents through dialogue with regional officials from the DWP and AQMD and civic engagement of residents on various city and statewide clean air and energy-related policies.. This will be their second annual NDEW event.