California Secure Transportation Energy Partnership (`CalSTEP') Announced at CALSTART'S ``2020'' Conference.

LOS ANGELES -- Diverse New Public, Industry Partnership to Develop and Implement Action Plan to Significantly Increase Transportation Efficiency and Alternative Fuel Use in California 

Responding to the urgent need to reduce petroleum consumption in California as well as citing the benefits that come with this reduction, a diverse array of California leaders, including former Secretary of State and Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institute George Schultz, have agreed to form a partnership dedicated to making statewide progress on a secure transportation energy future for California.

The "California Secure Transportation Energy Partnership," or "CalSTEP," was unveiled during a featured session of the CALSTART "2020: California's Transportation Energy Future Conference" in Los Angeles. The Partnership is founded on the concept that by becoming a model state for transportation energy consumption by 2020, California can become more secure and prosperous.

Despite 32 years of federal energy independence initiatives, the nation and the state of California are more reliant than ever on an increasingly unstable world oil market. The CalSTEP effort is the first major initiative focused on a single state developing its own transportation energy security action plan.

"The technologies, fuels and strategies that can make a difference in transportation energy are available today, and all Californians will benefit from their greater utilization," said CalSTEP member S.M. Shahed, vice president, advanced technology, Honeywell Turbos. Shahed helped unveil the formation of the new group together with James D. Boyd, commissioner of the California Energy Commission. Added Boyd: "By industry, the public sector and others coming together to form a meaningful plan of action for the state, we can build support to ensure our energy future is more secure and sustainable."

Founding members of the CalSTEP include:

--James D. Boyd, Commissioner, California Energy Commission

--Tim Carmichael, President and Chief Executive Officer, Coalition for Clean Air

--Bill Jones, Founder and Chairman of the Board, Pacific Ethanol 

--Fred Keeley, former Speaker Pro Tempore, California State Assembly 

--Doug Linney, President, The Next Generation

--Lars Erik Lundin, Vice President of VMCC, Volvo Car Corporation

--Dr. S.M. Shahed, Vice President, Advanced Technology, Honeywell Turbo

--Dr. Jim Sweeney, Professor of Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University 

--George Shultz, former Secretary of State and Distinguished Fellow at the Hoover Institute

--John Boesel, President and Chief Executive Officer, CALSTART.

The group's "Framework for Action" was presented during the conference. It outlines the goals and organizing principles of the partnership and the focus of its actions. CalSTEP intends to develop a California Action Plan over the next twelve months that would outline and seek agreement on the actions needed to achieve the goal of secure transportation energy by 2020. This framework states an agreement by the group's members to "work together to develop and implement a California Action Plan focused on state-level legislative measures, local initiatives, corporate actions and/or enhanced public awareness."

The long term goal of the Action Plan is to lead to a "sustainable reduction in the overall on-road petroleum fuel consumption in California to at least 15 percent below 2003 levels by 2020 while increasing the proportion of alternative transportation fuels in the state to at least 20 percent of total on-road transportation fuel demand." The partnership believes developing and utilizing more efficient transportation technologies and systems and a broader mix of fuels, many produced by companies in state, will make a stronger state economy and job market while also addressing waste and pollution issues.

California has led the nation in the past on issues including energy efficiency and automotive emission standards. CalSTEP's Action Plan will focus on how the state can provide the same leadership by reducing its petroleum dependence and securing its transportation energy future. The Partnership foresees four main areas of focus for the Action Plan: diversifying the fuel supply; increasing vehicle efficiency; applying smart growth and advanced transit; and educating on the benefits of and needs for action.

"By developing new fuels and more efficient transportation technologies, we can create an economic advantage for California," said CalSTEP member Boesel. "There are already a number of existing California companies showing how a shift away from oil will create new jobs and economic opportunities."

In order to build this program as well as consensus, the group agreed upon a set of principles that the Action Plan will follow, including:

--benefiting state and local businesses and economies;

--promoting sustainable growth;

--focusing on multiple transportation fuels, technologies and platforms;

--maintaining and/or improving environmental quality and public safety;

--building upon previous efforts (when applicable);

--focusing on state level actions and measures;

--empowering local stakeholders and governments.

The Partnership will be operated and managed by CALSTART, which is the California operating division of WestStart-CALSTART, North America's leading advanced transportation technologies consortium. It is a fuel neutral, participant-supported organization of more than 120 companies and agencies, dedicated to expanding and supporting a high-tech transportation industry that cleans the air, creates jobs and improves energy efficiency. WestStart-CALSTART is playing a leading national role in facilitating the development of advanced propulsion systems and alternative fuels in the transit and heavy-duty vehicle industry and in new systems for personal mobility. Visit www.calstart.org for more information.