Fall 2023

As the Bipartisan Infrastructure Reduction Act continues to spur and invest in America’s infrastructure – most especially, its many renewable and cleantech projects – the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program (ATVM), best known in its early days for its massive 456 million dollar loan to Tesla, has been revived and has been loaning billions of dollars into projects related to domestic vehicle manufacturing, including medium and heavy duty efforts. VX News shares an excerpt from a recent LACI & Milken sponsored event, featuring Senior Advisor for DOE Arnab Pal speaking with ATVM Loan Program Manager, Chelsea Sexton. The conversation covered the logistics of building and supporting the future of advanced vehicle production, as well as both the pursuit of domestic security in manufacturing, and the many supply chain challenges in need of addressing.

To inform readers on the challenges and the potential of the modular housing industry, VX News shares the take of Vamsi Kumar Kotla, founder and CEO of LA-based modular homebuilding company, ReMo Homes. Kotla provides his valuable insight into the obstacles that modular home builders are facing, and how those obstacles could be overcome.

The LA River is 50 miles long of, mostly, undeveloped land which touches 17 different municipalities. Many interested constituencies, for years, have hoped to take advantage of the potential opportunities of the waterway. In 1996, LA County developed its first master plan to address these opportunities. The plan, which was last updated in 2022, includes many goals, among them flood control, more parks and recreation, affordable housing and river access. VX News presents this excerpt from a ULI panel moderated by SOMOS founder Alfred Fraijo, featuring Mark Pestrella, the director of LA County Public Works, who updates the Plan’s buildout, the history of the waterway, civic engagement of stakeholders, governance issues, and the sheer amount of potential to be found along the LA River.

In Mid November at CoMotion LA, Michael Galvin of the Port of LA and Elise Zoli of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati shared valuable insights into the promise and significance of the seven newly funded hydrogen hubs. What follows is a transcript of the dialogue between Moderator John Rossant and the two panelists. The panel not only highlights the National Hydrogen Hubs awards goals', but also touches upon: the quest for zero-emission alternatives to battery electric, port decarbonization, the challenge of scaling demand, and the need for a consistent regulatory framework.

VX News, to inform our readers, spoke with Ted Bardacke, CEO of Clean Power Alliance, on the role that CCAs (Community Choice Aggregates) are playing in successfully bringing renewables to everyday power users and the regulatory decisions framing how consumers are being offered both greater choice re how their needs are met and more affordable electric rates. Bardacke also elaborates on CPA’s recent deal with SunZia, a massive wind farm project in New Mexico that will bring 3000 megawatts of wind energy to California; and, why the state should not abandon efforts to unify the power grids of the Western States.

This week, Mayor Karen Bass held a press conference to reflect on her first year in office as the City of Los Angeles' Mayor. VX News here shares a transcript to the Mayor’s full address and comments. In her address, the Mayor offered a progress report on her many initiatives: the Inside Safe program, her office’s executive directives “streamlining” affordable housing development, the commitments being made to building a green economy, as well as her many public safety initiatives.

At a panel at CoMotionLA’s recent convening in Los Angeles, featured panelists discussed just what their ideal next five years for the city might look like. VX News provides an excerpt of the panelist’s comments, including those offered by: Nancy Sutley, LA’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Hilary Norton, Commissioner of the California Transport Commission, Nik Karalis, CEO of Woods Bagot, and John Rossant, CEO of CoMotion. Amongst the topics discussed are sustainability and housing policy challenges; the future of mobility; public safety; and an Olympics 2028 wish-list.

David Abel, Chairman of VerdeXchange moderated a CoMotionLA panel that included Lynda Tran, DOT Director of Public Engagement and Andrew Rogers, FHA's Deputy Administrator, as well as TAE Power Solution's Rob Capaldi, and Petersen Automotive historian Leslie Kendell on the rapidly approaching transition. Panelists addressed the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program ($5 billion), the Discretionary Grant Program for Charging and Fueling Infrastructure ($2.5 billion), as well as the challenges of unifying the states re: standards.

Since the advent of Uber, Lyft, and other Transportation Network Companies (TNC’s), taxi businesses like Los Angeles Yellow Cab have been exploring ways to reinvent their business models and claim back lost revenue from their new, less regulated competitors. Over the last decade, with the passage of AB1069 which eased regulatory burdens on Taxis and a pivot to more contract work, taxi cabs have begun to recover. On the other side of the street, TNCs are now looking to fill the gaps in their own service by teaming up with the once-upon-a-time enemy cab companies, with Uber and LA Yellow Cab being the most recent of those collaborations. VX News spoke with Bill Rouse, CEO of Southern California taxi operations, about his new partnership and the collaborative benefits to be seen by taxi operators. Rouse also addresses the taxi industry future, the not-so-threatening robotaxi business, and future groundside operations at LAX.

The I-10 freeway, which stretches from California to Florida, passes through the U.S. Sun Belt and, along its way, many of the United State’s largest and most impactful urban cities, among them Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, and New Orleans -- cities which are simultaneously facing record homelessness, unprecedented weather, and housing crises. VX News recently interviewed Wellington Reiter, founder of 10 Across, a thought network committed to fostering sun belt city collaborations along the Interstate-10. Reiter elaborates on: an upcoming Los Angeles 10 Across Summit (Dec 5-7th); as well as ASU in DTLA; and of the obvious need for civic minded people addressing the nation’s challenges: water, climate mitigation, energy transition, resilience, affordable housing and governance.