About Us
Our Mission
Our Vision
To accelerate an equitable and efficient transition to alternative fuels and other multi-modal transportation strategies to reduce air pollution and support the Central Coast’s clean transportation future.
C5 strives to achieve our mission and vision by:
- Accelerating the transition to alternative fuels, alternative fuel vehicles, and emerging transportation technologies to improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and displace petroleum consumption
- Improving the clean fuel corridors between Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the San Joaquin Valley by increasing the number of alternative fuel vehicles and expanding the alternative fuel infrastructure in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties
- Increasing awareness by sharing reliable information about alternative fuels and funding opportunities available to support the transition to alternative fuel vehicles
- Identifying local fleets and educating stakeholders of the federal and state mandates regarding alternative fuel vehicle requirements
Our History
Since its inception in 2002, Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition (C5) has committed to promoting the use of alternative fuels across California’s Central Coast region through collaboration with a diverse group of local stakeholders. Through partnerships with private fleets, fuel and vehicle providers, local governments, non-profit organizations, schools and universities, and individuals and support from the Air Pollution Control District’s of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, C5 has helped displace over 2.7 million gasoline gallon equivalents (GGE) and reduce approximately 30,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
In 2006, C5 was designated as an official Clean Cities and Communities Coalition by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO), joining a network of more than 75 coalitions nationwide. Coalitions serve as the foundation of the National Clean Cities and Communities Program by creating networks of local stakeholders to advance affordable domestic transportation fuels, energy efficient mobility systems, and other fuel-saving technologies and practices. Since the launch of the Clean Cities and Communities Program in 1993, coalitions have achieved a cumulative energy use impact equal to nearly 13 billion gasoline gallon equivalents through a variety of on-the-ground transportation efforts.
Meet Our Team
Meet the folks who keep our wheels turning towards a cleaner future.
Alex Economou
Santa Barbara County APCD
Planning Division Manager
Sydney Rouse
Santa Barbara County APCD
Air Quality Specialist
Stacey Kawabata
Clean Cities University Workforce Development Program
UCSB Undergraduate
Board of Directors
C5 is guided by a dedicated group of volunteer Board Members with diverse experience in the transportation sector.
Larry Allen
San Luis Obispo County APCD
Former Executive Director – Retired
Arjun Sarkar
University of California
Santa Barbara
Sustainable Transportation Coordinator
Kelly Heffernon
City of Arroyo Grande
Former City Planner & Water Conservation Coordinator – Retired
Aeron Arlin Genet
Santa Barbara County APCD
Executive Director
Peter Rodgers
San Luis Obispo
Council of Governments
Executive Director
Jim Petroni
State of California
Retired
Our Stakeholders
C5’s Stakeholder Spotlight series aims to highlight our local stakeholders and their efforts to support the coalition’s mission of supporting transportation across California’s Central Coast.
San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District
San Luis Obispo County APCD, a C5 member, is a long-time stakeholder and historically served as the coalition's host agency. SLO County APCD supports C5's mission through various efforts, such as by offering grant funding for alternative fuel infrastructure, zero- and near zero-emission school buses, and other clean transportation projects. C5 greatly values collaborating with SLO County APCD to promote the use of alternative transportation and cleaner skies across the Central Coast region, and thanks the District for supporting the coalition.
Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance
VCREA is a long-standing stakeholder of C5 and member of the Electric Drive 805 coalition, a group of partners that work to expand equitable access to plug-in EVs on the Central Coast. In February 2023, C5 and VCREA partnered to launch the Power Your Future Scholarship, which provides local electricians with the opportunity to become EVITP-certified at no cost. C5 is excited to continue collaborating with VCREA to promote alternative transportation and cleaner skies throughout the Central Coast region!