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I was born in Los Angeles but had to leave my home city because of
air pollution. But I cannot leave the earth, which now exhibits
rapid and undeniable effects from climate change. California is a
major contributor to those effects.

I support California's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
by 174 million tons/year by 2020, which means cutting vehicle
emissions by about 70 million tons/year. The plan that the Board
is considering would eliminate an average of only 291,000
tons/year by 2017 through its Zero Emission Vehicle Program. We
need more than 200 times that progress by 2020! The plan also
eliminates only a fifth of the smog-forming emissions from
tailpipes that doom thousands of people to lung disease and
death.

California needs bolder action and a more effective Zero Emission
Vehicle Program. Only California is allowed to set tougher
tailpipe standards than federal regulations, and other states can
follow, so California must lead the way.

Please require automakers to offer 100,000 zero-emission vehicles
for sale in 2012-2014 (less than 2% of the market) to get us
moving in the right direction. That's fewer than 6,000 vehicles
per year from each of the six largest car companies. They can do
it.

We cannot wait. Global warming is threatening the planet. Air
pollution sickens and kills thousands of people each year. Please
support higher numbers of zero-emission vehicles, and sooner.

Sincerely,

Rita Summers