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
TimeConvening 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Reception 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
LocationUC Sacramento Student & Policy Center, 1115 11th Street, Sacramento, CA

As California's fuel markets continue to shift, policymakers face difficult tradeoffs with real consequences for consumers, workers, and communities. This convening kicks off an initiative to give state policymakers a shared factual grounding in how California's fuel markets work ahead of the next legislative session. We will bring together researchers from universities across California, public interest and community organizations, labor and state government to discuss how to balance competing goals related to affordability, public health, environment, competitive markets, jobs and economic development.

The program includes research presentation panels on the state of California's fuel markets, a policy keynote, a stakeholder perspectives panel featuring voices from communities, workers, and public health and environmental groups, and a government roundtable. We'll wrap up with an open discussion to synthesize takeaways toward a shared menu of policy options.


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, Clean Transportation Program
Union of Concerned Scientists

Researchers and panelists from UC Santa Barbara, Stanford, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, 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 AM – 12:00 PM Research presentation panels
12:00 – 1:00 PM Policy keynote address (during lunch)
1:00 – 1:45 PM Stakeholder perspectives
1:45 – 2:30 PM Government roundtable
2:40 – 3:40 PM Open discussion
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.