FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2016
(PDF)

Contact:
Air Pollution Control District: Lyz Hoffman, Public Information & Education Specialist (805) 961-8819
Community Environmental Council: Cameron Gray, Energy Program Associate (805) 963-0583 x111

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District and Community Environmental Council, along with other supporters and vehicle owners, will celebrate the opening of True Zero’s Santa Barbara hydrogen fueling station on Friday, May 13. Supporters include the California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, California Governor’s Office, Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition, and California Fuel Cell Partnership.

“We are grateful to our supporters for working with us to develop one of California’s first hydrogen stations in Santa Barbara,” said Joel Ewanick, Founder and CEO of True Zero. “This station is an essential part of our hydrogen network, which shows that hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles can be driven throughout the state, just like gasoline cars, but with zero tailpipe emissions.”

This is the first retail hydrogen fueling station in Santa Barbara County and on the Central Coast. The station will allow drivers of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) to travel between Los Angeles and the Bay Area on Highway 101, and the station increases the range of travel for all FCEV drivers in the state. As more FCEVs replace traditional cars on California’s roads, air quality will improve and greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants from transportation will decline.

“The opening of this station puts Santa Barbara County on the map. We support fuel and vehicle technologies that provide clean-air solutions,” said Aeron Arlin Genet, Director of the Air Pollution Control District. “It’s great for fleets and local residents who want to drive cars with zero tailpipe emissions, and it strengthens California’s clean-fuel corridor.”

“More than a third of all greenhouse gas emissions in California are from transportation. Transitioning from petroleum to cleaner fuels, including hydrogen, is one of the most effective ways that regions like the Central Coast can reduce their contribution to climate change,” said Sigrid Wright, CEO/Executive Director of the Community Environmental Council. “The hydrogen fueling station — part of a larger effort to lower the carbon footprint of transportation in the Tri-Counties region — stands as a great example of how groups are coming together to create local solutions to climate change.”

What: True Zero hydrogen fueling station ribbon-cutting

Where: 150 S. La Cumbre Road, Santa Barbara, 93105

When: Friday, May 13, 10am

Who: Aeron Arlin Genet, Director, Air Pollution Control District; Sigrid Wright, Executive Director, Community Environmental Council; Chief Pat McElroy, Santa Barbara City Fire Department; Peter Adam, County Supervisor and Air Pollution Control District Boardmember; and representatives from True Zero, California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, and California Energy Commission.

Visuals: FCEVs on static display and on the road

Read more about hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.