Electrifying Transport: How California is Leading the Way in Electrification of the Medium-and-Heavy-Duty Sector

Laura Renger

CalETC

United States

Laura Renger is the Executive Director of CalETC, a non-profit association committed to the successful introduction and large-scale deployment of all forms of electric transportation. Prior to this role, Laura worked as an executive at Southern California Edison and Edison International in a variety of roles, including Director of the Edison International President and CEO’s Office as well as the Director of Electrification Policy. Laura holds a B.A. from Occidental College and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.

Chris Shimoda

California Trucking Association

United States

Chris Shimoda is the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the California Trucking Association. He has been with CTA since 2007. Chris manages the legislative, political, regulatory and public affairs work for nation’s largest statewide trade association representing trucking and serves on the Association’s executive management team. Throughout his career Chris has worked with the California legislature and agencies, including the California Air Resources Board and California Highway Patrol on the development and implementation of major programs impacting the trucking industry. He is a graduate of UC Davis.

Hannon Rasool

California Energy Commission

United States

Hannon Rasool is the director of the Fuels and Transportation Division at the California Energy Commission. The Energy Commission leads the state in zero-emission vehicle infrastructure deployment for electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. It makes key investments in ZEV infrastructure for passenger cars, trucks, and buses, and invests in manufacturing, workforce development, and fuel production. Rasool, who joined the Energy Commission in July 2020, has more than 13 years of experience in the energy industry, including the regulated utility space and government. He has an extensive background in regulatory affairs and electric vehicle infrastructure. His work history includes clean transportation, renewable energy, net metering, energy storage, and distributed energy technologies.

Paul Arneja

CARB

United States

Melodee Black

Southern California Edison

United States

Melodee Black is a senior policy advisor in the Air and Climate Policy Department at Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the nation’s largest electric utilities that delivers power to 15 million people in 50,000 square-miles across central, coastal, and Southern California. Working closely with numerous stakeholders, Melodee leads the development of SCE’s policy position on various Transportation Electrification proceedings, including the California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Fleets Rule, Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and the California Public Utilities Commission’s Transportation Electrification Framework. Melodee has also served as a regulatory case manager for SCE’s Transportation Electrification programs, including helping to obtain CPUC authorization for SCE’s Charge Ready Light-Duty program, a $436 million program that is expected to support the installation of over 30,000 EV charging ports at workplaces, destination centers, and multi-unit dwellings.