The 2035 Initiative at UC Santa Barbara × Union of Concerned Scientists
California State Capitol, Sacramento
Convening · Sacramento, CA

Evaluating Policy Scenarios for California's Fuel Markets

DateFriday, September 11, 2026
Time9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Reception 4:30 – 6:30 PM
LocationUC Sacramento Student & Policy Center, 1115 11th Street, Sacramento, CA

Join us for a full-day convening bringing together faculty, students, and researchers from across the UC system and Stanford alongside state government and non-profit policymakers to analyze and discuss policy options for addressing California's fuel market challenges.

The program will include opening remarks, research presentations, a policy keynote address over lunch, an afternoon panel discussion, a government roundtable, and a concluding workshop session. Sessions will share previous research and tee up new conversations, including how the state should respond as more of California's oil refineries move toward closure.


Convening hosts

Photo of Dr. Paasha Mahdavi
Dr. Paasha Mahdavi
Associate Professor of Political Science; Director, Energy Governance and Political Economy (EGAPE) Lab; Co-Founder, The 2035 Initiative at UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Barbara
Photo of Dr. Jeremy Martin
Dr. Jeremy Martin
Director of Fuels Policy & Senior Scientist, Clean Transportation Program
Union of Concerned Scientists

Researchers and panelists from UC Santa Barbara, Stanford, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, USC, and state and non-profit partners will be announced as the full lineup is confirmed.


Program for the day

TimeActivity
9:30 – 10:00 AM Welcome! Opening remarks
10:00 – 11:50 AM Research presentations
11:50 AM – 12:00 PM Lunch served
12:00 – 1:00 PM Policy keynote address (during lunch)
1:00 – 1:45 PM Org / NGO panel
1:45 – 2:30 PM Government roundtable
2:30 – 2:40 PM Break
2:40 – 3:40 PM Workshop
3:40 – 4:00 PM Closing remarks
4:30 – 6:30 PM Reception

Session timing is preliminary and may shift slightly as the final program is confirmed.