The Journey Ahead: Decarbonizing Industry and Heavy Transport in California

  • Tue, April 22
  • 2:00-6:00 p.m. PT
  • In-person
  • La Kretz Innovation Campus, Los Angeles, CA
Register

About This Event

California is a national leader in climate action, with state mandates to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. Southern California is already leading the way decarbonizing trucking, shipping, and ports and the State’s other heavy industries. Yet more work is needed to meet local and state climate goals.

Hosted by RMI, the Mission Possible Partnership, and the Bezos Earth Fund, this invite-only convening will bring together state, and local policymakers; project developers; community organizations; and members of the finance community to discuss the journey ahead for decarbonizing heavy industry and transport in California. The event will focus on stock-taking progress and identifying next steps to create points that unlock large decarbonization projects across aviation, shipping, trucking, cement/concrete, hydrogen, low-carbon fuels, and green electricity sectors – which, combined, account for 30% of the State’s total emissions today.

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of what needs to happen next and get an opportunity to network with relevant stakeholders and decision makers.

 

AGENDA OVERVIEW
Time
Agenda Item
2:00-2:30 p.m. Registration table opens, coffee
2:30-2:50 p.m. Event Opening & Welcome Remarks
2:50-3:30 p.m. PANEL 1 – Decarbonizing Shipping, Ports, and Trucking
3:30-4:10 p.m. PANEL 2 – Unlocking FOAK / NOAKs in California: The Industry Perspective
4:10-4:50 p.m. PANEL 3 – Creating the Enabling Ecosystem: Policy, Finance, Community Engagement
4:50-5:00 p.m. Call to Action & Closing
5:00-6:00 p.m. Networking Happy Hour

Speakers

Nocona Sanders

RMI (Panel 1 Moderator)

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Paul Gioupis

Paul Gioupis

Co-Founder and CEO, Zeem Solutions (Panel 1 Speaker)

Amber Coluso

Air Quality Environmental Specialist, Port of Los Angeles (Panel 1 Speaker)

Maggie Messerschmidt

Maggie Messerschmidt

Senior Project Manager, Green Shipping Corridors, C40 (Panel 1 Speaker)

Ben Skinner

RMI (Panel 2 Moderator)

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Steve Regis

Steve Regis

Chief Operating Officer, CalPortland (Panel 2 Speaker)

Dr. Joshuah Stolaroff

Dr. Joshuah Stolaroff

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mote (Panel 2 Speaker)

Corey Stewart

Corey Stewart

RMI (Panel 2 Speaker)

John O’Donnell

John O’Donnell

Founder & Chief Innovation Office, Rondo (Panel 2 Speaker)

Jane Sadler

RMI (Panel 3 Moderator)

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Daniel Adomian

Daniel Adomian

Associate Government Program Analyst, California IBank (Panel 3 Speaker)

Carmelita Kelly Miller

Director of Energy Equity, RMI (Panel 3 Speaker)

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Sean Knierim

Sean Knierim

Founder & Partner, SidePorch (Panel 3 Speaker)

Paul Bodnar

Paul Bodnar

Bezos Earth Fund

Bryan Fisher

Managing Director, RMI

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Julia Thayne

Senior Principal, RMI

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Carmelita Kelly Miller

Director of Energy Equity, RMI

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Resources

Industry | February 21, 2025

California Clean Industrial Hub

Learn more about our work in California to help advance heavy transportation and port decarbonization, low-emissions cement production, green hydrogen, and industrial electrification.

General | September 28, 2023

Decarbonizing Industry Resource Tool (DIRT)

Get the DIRT on industrial decarbonization incentives. This tool can help project developers, industrial companies, and investors discover the state and federal financial incentives that may be applicable to their heavy industry and transport projects.

Finance | March 22, 2024

Overcoming Three Finance Dilemmas for US SAF Producers in 2024

According to project finance experts, US-based sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producers will face three main dilemmas when financing commercial-scale projects in 2024: what feedstock to use, whether to get government loan guarantees, and how to de-risk operations.

Industry | September 17, 2024

Unraveling Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Aviation Fuel

A recent RMI survey shows airlines, logistics service providers, and corporate customers are willing to pay a green premium for SAF and SAFc and express preference for shorter contracts and waste-based feedstock.