Overview

In early December, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) and the Electric Innovation Initiative (EII) convened state and local lawmakers from 18 states in California for the Bay Area Electrification Tour. Over two days, participants took part in policy discussions and cutting‑edge site visits that showcased how electrification lowers costs, strengthens reliability, and accelerates decarbonization. Elected officials left with new connections and valuable insights to help drive the clean energy transition forward in their regions.

From Factories to City Hall: An Immersive Tour

The Tour included visits to companies such as Viridi, Copper Home, and Monarch Tractor. Engaging with these innovative companies allowed attendees to see on-the-ground electrification solutions related to homes, buildings, battery manufacturing, electric vehicles (EVs), and agriculture. The Tour also consisted of working breakfasts to ground attendees in electrification topics, a visit to San Francisco City Hall to hear from the San Francisco Mayor and local officials, as well as dinner events for reflections from state and industry partners.

Day One: Energy Storage, Home Electrification, and Financing

The first day centered on the foundations of electrification, beginning with a breakfast session led by NCEL CEO Dylan McDowell, Hawaii State Senator Chris Lee, California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild, and CEO of Rewiring America Ari Matusiak. NCEL and EII leadership welcomed attendees by sharing electrification examples from California, insights on bipartisan progress, and further context for the Tour’s site visits.  

The first site visit took place at Copper Home and Gradient in Berkeley, where demonstrations showcased electric stoves and modular heat pumps that deliver savings, grid stability, and healthier households. The Tour then visited Viridi’s advanced battery manufacturing facility in Richmond. At Viridi, participants took part in a facility tour, electric construction demonstrations, and a discussion on how local battery production creates jobs while advancing decarbonization.

Afterwards, participants crossed the Bay by ferry while hearing about San Francisco Bay Ferry’s plans for a 100% electric fleet. Upon arriving in San Francisco, the Tour visited City Hall for a special session with Obvious Ventures and Elemental Impact on electrification financing. At City Hall, attendees also heard from Mayor Daniel Lurie and other city officials about the value of advancing affordability and climate action in tandem. 

The day concluded with a dinner hosted by California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, where attendees reflected on lessons learned alongside leaders from PG&E and Southern California Edison, as well as California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin.

Day Two: Transportation and Rural Electrification

Day two of the Tour expanded the focus on transportation and rural economies. The day began with a breakfast session on EV deployment and state-based electrification policy solutions, featuring updates from Veloz and NCEL leadership. 

Site visits included Zum in Oakland, where lawmakers saw school bus electrification and vehicle‑to‑grid technology firsthand. Next, Tesla’s Fremont factory offered insights into large‑scale EV manufacturing and charging infrastructure. The afternoon featured a visit to Monarch Tractor in Livermore, demonstrating how electric agricultural equipment and automation are creating scalable decarbonization solutions for rural economies.

The Tour concluded with a closing dinner in Berkeley, where attendees reflected on the site visits and heard from Georgia State Senator Chuck Hufstetler, California State Senator Josh Becker, and others on the crucial role of state leadership in accelerating the clean energy transition.

Looking Ahead: Inspiring Electrification Policy Solutions

Over two days, the Bay Area Electrification Tour gave lawmakers firsthand exposure to how innovation and policy intersect to deliver scalable electrification across sectors. By connecting policymakers with innovators and peers nationwide, the Tour provided attendees with both inspiration and practical knowledge to lead on electrification policy in their home states.

To learn more about electrification and decarbonization for your state, visit NCEL’s website to explore the issues we work on, or contact NCEL’s Climate and Energy Manager, Ava Gallo.