EMA October Newsletter
EMA Newsletter
2019 EMA Honors Benefit Gala Sizzle Reel
From climate action to saving sharks to altering our diets for the planet, the 2019 EMA Honors Benefit Gala covered a lot of ground. We could spend the time recapping all of the inspiring moments, but we thought it's best to let the Honorees do the talking! Please watch and share our Honoree speeches and check out our photo gallery.
EMA Honoree Speeches
LADWP is Plugging LA into Cleaner Air
Imagine eight lanes of bumper to bumper traffic, spanning endless miles. Exhaust rises as cars idle, waiting patiently for a break in the congestion. If you live in LA, then you are all too familiar with this scene. It's one of the reasons why we have the worst air pollution in the country. Thankfully, LADWP is working hard to find a solution.
LADWP supports electrifying transportation in car-dependent Los Angeles, where there is also a lot of goods movement and public transportation. Electrifying transportation will significantly reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, both critical to our fight against climate change. LADWP's goal is to be ready for 145,000 electric cars in LA by 2022, 500,000 by 2028, and 580,000 by 2030. Last year, LADWP increased funding to support electrifying transportation thirteen-fold to $23 million.
To achieve this, LADWP has provided more than $17 million in residential and commercial charger rebates since 2011. They are also now offering a rebate of $1,500 for used EVs—the highest in Southern California. In addition, LADWP offers the following commercial charger rebates:
Direct current fast chargers (DCFCs) to charge light-duty EVs, up to $75,000 per charging station depending on its power output.
Alternating current (AC) charging stations to charge medium and heavy-duty EVs, up to $30,000 per charging station depending on its power output.
Direct current (DC) charging stations to charge medium and heavy-duty EVs, up to $125,000 per charging station depending on its power output.
LADWP is also embarking on key partnerships to promote further adoption of electric vehicles. For example, LADWP is working with the Port of LA towards $15M in funding for electrification efforts over the next five years in support of the port's Clean Air Action Plan. All the activity in one of the busiest seaports in Northern America has some environmental impacts. Still, LADWP's partnership will help reduce emissions from ships, trucks, trains, harbor craft, and cargo-handling equipment, with zero-emission alternatives, whenever feasible.
To help support the electrification of buses, LADWP is currently finalizing an MOU with the LA Department of Transportation to provide a significant amount of funding for the cost of installing the charging infrastructure for their battery-electric buses. Current plans include putting 155 new electric buses in service by 2021 and an additional 345 by the end of 2030. Charging infrastructure is being planned for four LADOT yards throughout the city.
We support LADWP's bold plan! Here's to a breath of fresh air in LA.
Social Sunday Highlights
Each Sunday, the EMA community shares an optimistic story on social media. From a new plastic ban to a conservation win, these stories are meant to give people hope among a news cycle that's too often doom and gloom. Click the images below to share!
Our mission is to provide a unified voice for our planet through
entertainment, storytelling, and education.
Go Plastic-Free With an EMA x Pela Phone Case!
Get Your Limited-Edition EMA x Pela Phone Case
One area we are happy to help reduce waste is with how you protect your phone. Our friends at Pela have designed a limited-edition EMA phone case that features our Waste Less philosophy. The EMA x Pela Phone case is made from plants, not plastic, and is 100% compostable.
Go plastic-free and give yourself a daily reminder to "waste less" with our EMA x Pela phone case. Click the link below to purchase your case (a portion of the profits go to supporting our programs).
Click here for AmazonSmile and then search Environmental Media Association from its list of organizations. For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate to EMA, which will help fund our ongoing programs.