Lauren Lantry (858) 334-5634 lauren.lantry@sierraclub.org
Watts, CA -- On Saturday, hundreds of people in and around Watts will gather in front of the community’s historic 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. There are only two publicly accessible chargers in Watts, and no quick charging stations. This disparity is an inconvenience for families who might want to or already have bought an electric car.
WHAT: National Drive Electric Week event held in Watts, CA, bringing the community together to highlight the benefits of owning an electric car. The event is part of the fifth annual National Drive Electric Week. The Watt’s event is one of more than 100 across the country.
WHEN: Saturday, September 16, 2017, 10am - 4pm
Program begins at 11am
Workshops at 12pm and 1pm
WHERE: St. John's United Methodist Church, 1715 Santa Ana Blvd N, Los Angeles, CA 90002
WHO: Program speakers
Pastor Larry Dozier, St. John’s United Methodist Church
Rev Mac Shorty, Watts Neighborhood Council
Kent Minault, My Generation Campaign, Sierra Club
DWP Commissioner William Funderburke
Valerie Gonzalez, Center for Sustainable Energy
Marta Membrano, Plug in America
Leor Alperon, Replace Your Ride
How to Get an EV Workshop Presenters
Paul Scott, Plug In America
Kent Minault, Sierra Club
VISUALS: A dozen electric vehicles, Watts Tower, colorful banners and balloons, movie screening of EVOLVE: Driving a Clean Future in Coal Country, Workshop
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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. www.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.