The transportation sector accounts for 38 percent of California’s greenhouse gas emissions, the largest source of pollution in the state. Four out of 10 Californians live close to a freeway or busy road. As a result, Californians face an increased risk of asthma, cancer and other pollution-related health hazards. There are now twice as many people dying from trafficrelated pollution as from traffic related accidents.
Californians spend $70 billion on gasoline and diesel annually — $40 billion of which leaves the state in payments to oil companies and foreign oil-producing countries. These oil companies have a chokehold on our democracy. They use deceptive tactics and spend billions of dollars lobbying policymakers to defeat clean energy initiatives.
The state’s million electric vehicles (EV) goal can help us reduce carbon emissions, clean up the roads, and redirect investments back into our economy. By growing the electric car market, we can help keep investments in the state, stimulating the economy and insulating family budgets from gas price spikes. Money spent charging electric vehicles stays in California’s economy, creating 16 times more jobs than money spent on gasoline.