SANTA BARBARA, CA - The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) Board of Directors voted unanimously today to set a goal of 100% clean, quiet zero emission buses by 2030. The District decided to join Los Angeles Metro - with one quarter of the state's buses - along with five other California transit agencies in setting a 2030 goal, 10 years earlier than the 2040 goal expected to be set this January by California’s Air Resources Board.
Clean Transportation
Clean Transportation
Revolutionizing our transportation systems is a crucial piece of Sierra Club's work to ensure we all can live in healthy communities, move around safely, and build a future powered by renewable energy.

What is clean transportation?
We all want to breathe clean air and protect our families from toxic pollution and climate change. Unfortunately, transportation is currently our nation's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and a major source of air pollution. To build a livable future, we must shift away from fossil fuel-powered vehicles and towards clean, renewable transportation.
Right now, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress want to make it harder to drive clean cars, which will increase how much money you spend at the pump. We can stop them, but we need your help to protect access to public transportation, electric vehicles, and other clean transportation options.
Over the lifetime of the vehicle, a gas car puts out 4.5x more carbon pollution and infinitely more toxic tailpipe air pollution than an electric car.
Why is clean transportation essential?
We all want to breathe clean air and protect our families from toxic pollution and climate change. Unfortunately, transportation is currently our nation's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and a major source of air pollution. To build a livable future, we must shift away from combustion vehicles and towards clean transportation.
Victory!
In a landmark legal win for clean transportation, a federal court has permanently barred the Trump administration from freezing funds for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program – that is, a $5 billion federal initiative to build reliable, high-speed electric vehicle charging stations along America's highways!
The ruling means all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico now have the legal certainty they need to move forward building a nationwide charging network, free from unlawful interference. Sierra Club and partners brought this case on behalf of members who were directly harmed by the freeze.
This is what people power looks like: Sierra Club members standing up to protect clean transportation investment, cleaner air, and better access to affordable electric vehicle driving for everyone.
Press Releases
Washington, DC -- Earlier today, the EPA said it was planning to craft new standards to limit smog-forming pollution from big rigs and other heavy-duty trucks. The process to strengthen current emission standards began under the Obama Administration before disgraced former EPA Chief Scott Pruitt pumped the brakes upon taking office. In response, Sierra Club Clean Transportation for All Deputy Advocacy Director Andrew Linhardt released the following statement:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following on the heels of an Environmental Protection Agency report to Congress documenting wide-spread habitat loss following enactment of U.S. biofuels policy in 2007, environmental and conservation groups today filed a petition with EPA, asserting the agency has illegally allowed millions of acres of wildlife habitat to be converted to corn and soybean crops to satiate federal biofuels policy under the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Washington, DC -- Early this morning, General Motors released their proposed plan to create a national zero emissions vehicle program. This proposal came just hours before the end of the comment period for the rollback of the clean car standards -- a rollback lobbied for in part by GM. In response, Sierra Club Clean Transportation for All Campaign Director Gina Coplon-Newfield released the following statement:
Washington, DC -- Today, the Sierra Club, along with environmental and consumer advocacy organizations and millions of Americans, submitted extensive comments on the Trump Administration’s proposed rollback of the clean car standards. The current car standards, agreed to under the Obama Administration, were part of a deal between automakers, NHTSA, EPA, and the California Air Resources Board, with buy-in from labor unions and environmental groups.
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Donald Trump is expected to announce that he is disregarding the Clean Air Act to allow the year-round sale of 15-percent ethanol blends in gasoline. This comes just before Trump leaves for a day-long campaign event in Iowa, and after Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley pushed through Trump’s Supreme Court nominee.
Dearborn, MI -- Today, citizens from across Michigan voiced their opposition to Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s and NHSTA’s Acting Administrator King proposed rollback of the clean car standards at a public hearing. Hundreds of Michiganders attended, including former EPA and auto industry employees, speaking out strongly in support of the standards.
DEARBORN, MI -- Shortly before the start of today’s federal public hearing on a proposed rollback of the clean car standards, Sierra Club and Public Citizen delivered a wake-up call to Ford – literally – that working with the Trump administration to put the standards in reverse is unacceptable.With an installation of several dozen vintage-style alarm clocks, the groups sounded the alarm that it is past time for Ford to stand with American families and dump the Trump rollback.
FRESNO, CA -- Today, citizens from across California voiced their opposition to Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s and NHSTA’s Acting Administrator King proposed rollback of the clean car standards at a public hearing. Hundreds of Californians attended, including former EPA and auto industry employees, speaking out strongly in support of the standards.
WHAT: Press conference with dial-in option and display outside a federal hearing at which activists will call on Ford to support the clean car standards, also known as fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards. As part of the White House’s planned rollback of the standards, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are holding a hearing in Dearborn, Mich., on Tuesday to hear public opinion.