8^ Outlook
Municipal Services committee 4-28-26 Agenda_ Public comment item #1 From PADRES PUSD
Date Tue 4/28/2026 4:54 PM
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Public Comment - Item 1
Zero-Emission Bus Rollout and Fleet Transition Strategy Rene H. Gonzalez
Good afternoon Chair and Members of the Municipal Services Committee, I want to begin by acknowledging the City's commitment to transitioning toward a zero-emission fleet.
This is the right direction, and the urgency is real. However, I respectfully urge the Committee to proceed with strategic caution before deepening long-term dependency on hydrogen as the primary solution.
According to the staff report, Pasadena is moving forward with 17 hydrogen fuel cell buses, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, and daily fuel supply logistics.
While this approach addresses range limitations, it also introduces a critical vulnerability: the City becomes a continuous consumer of externally produced hydrogen, much of which today is still derived from "grey" or transitional sources and transported into the city.
This raises three URGENT key concerns:
1. Energy Independence & Resilience
Hydrogen requires a supply chain. Batteries can be powered locally.
Pasadena should prioritize localized energy ecosystems, not fuel dependency models that rely on daily inbound delivery.
2. True Environmental Impact
While hydrogen is often described as "green," the reality is that not all hydrogen is green today.
Until supply is fully renewable and locally generated, emissions are simply shifted—not eliminated.
3. Long-Term Cost and Infrastructure Lock-ln
Hydrogen infrastructure is capital intensive and highly specialized. Once built, it limits flexibility. In contrast, Emergency-Use Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) integrate directly with solar, grid stabilization, and emergency backup—serving multiple citywide purposes beyond transit.
Recommended Path Forward
I urge the City to expand its strategy to include:
Large-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Enables true renewable integration (solar + storage)
Provides emergency resilience during outages
Reduces dependence on imported fuels
• Smaller, modular electric bus fleets
o Vehicles with swappable or modular battery packs
o Allows continuous operation without long downtime
o Aligns with evolving battery technology rather than locking into one system Hybrid innovation strategy (not just hybrid fleet)
Continue evaluating hydrogen, but do not overcommit infrastructure before the 2028 reassessment already planned by staff
0 0
0 •
0 o Pilot scalable battery solutions in parallel
Closing
Pasadena has the opportunity to lead—not just in adopting zero-emission transit—but in defining what true sustainability looks like.
A system powered by locally generated, stored, and distributed clean energy is more resilient, more adaptable, and ultimately more aligned with long-term climate goals than one dependent on continuous external fuel supply.
I respectfully ask the Committee to ensure that all viable alternatives—especially BESS and next- generation electric fleet models—are fully evaluated before further committing to hydrogen infrastructure at scale.
Thank you for your time and leadership.
Yours Truly
Rene Gonzalez
Rene H. Gonzalez
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Pasadena Association of dedicated Residents Educators and Students