In November 2013, University of California President Janet Napolitano announced the Carbon Neutrality Initiative, which commits all of UC to emitting zero greenhouse gases from its buildings and vehicle fleet by 2025, something no other university system has done. In working toward attaining this goal, UC Irvine hosted a workshop to explore low-carbon (and potentially zero emission) bus technologies and various incentives that might be available to institutions should they wish to pursue this option for their own fleets.
On Wednesday, June 22, transportation, procurement, and energy managers from the UC system came together for an examination of electric school bus technologies. We heard from the Clinton Global Initiative’s Electric Vehicle ǀ Vehicle-to-Grid School Bus Working Group, the California Air Resources Board, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and CALSTART, along with several equipment manufacturers. Attendees had the opportunity to check out a number of electric buses onsite.
Please see the agenda and presentation slides from the workshop below.

Introduction ǀ University of California’s Carbon Neutrality Initiative

Wendell C. Brase
Co-Chair, University of California Global Climate Leadership Council
Vice Chancellor, Administrative and Business Services, UCI

The Economic Case for Zero-Emission Bus Ownership: Things to Consider
Clinton Global Initiative Electric Vehicle ǀ Vehicle-to-Grid School Bus Working Group

Kevin Matthews
Co-Project Director
Clinton Global Initiative Electric Vehicle ǀ Vehicle–to-Grid School Bus Commitment
and Managing Director, National Strategies, LLC

Stephen Crolius
Project Co-Director
Clinton Global Initiative Electric Vehicle ǀ Vehicle-to-Grid School Bus Commitment
and Vice President, Alliance Consulting Group

Joshua Goldman
Vice President, Business Development, TransPower USA

Niki de Leon
Distributed Generation Project Manager, NRG EVgo

Current Technology

BYD – Justin Scalzi
Complete Coach Works – Ryne Shetterly
First Priority GreenFleet – Elizabeth Cooper
GreenPower Motor Company, Inc. – Mark Quinlan
New Flyer of America Inc. – Mark Fisher
Proterra – Robert Aguirre

State of California Funding Incentives

Lisa Jennings
Air Pollution Specialist
California Air Resources Board

Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program

Ranji George
Program Supervisor
South Coast Air Quality Management District

Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program (HVIP)

Kristian Jokinen
Project Manager
CALSTART