May 2022: Decarbonizing Transportation- Public and Private Sector Views on EV Charging Station Deployment

Ariana Vito, Electric Vehicle Program Coordinator, City of Santa Monica

Ariana Vito is the EV Program Coordinator for the City of Santa Monica and works on the Office of Sustainability & the Environment’s on the Climate and Energy Team. She authored the City’s first EV Action Plan (adopted in 2017) and leads the implementation of EV infrastructure projects, pilots, rebate programs, policies, and outreach to support transportation electrification in Santa Monica. She has a background in transportation planning and environmental policy and holds a Master of Urban & Regional Planning from UCLA and a BA in Environmental Studies and International Affairs from Northeastern University. Ariana chairs the Sustainability Committee for the International Codes Council (ICC) Los Angeles basin chapter.

Kevin Auerbacher, Assistant General Counsel, Tesla

Kevin is an Associate General Counsel at Tesla based in Washington DC where  he counsels the North American Policy and Sales Teams. Before Tesla, Kevin was a Senior Director at Solar City, then the largest residential solar company in the US. Before Solar City, Kevin was Senior Counsel for Energy and Transportation at US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of General Counsel in Washington. Kevin served in a variety of capacities at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office , including Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Environmental Practice Group.

Buck B. Endemann, Partner, K&L Gates

Buck Endemann co-leads the firm’s power and renewables practice group and focuses on developing, buying, and selling renewable energy projects throughout the Western United States, with an emphasis on California. He provides comprehensive counseling on energy, energy storage, hydrogen, RNG and remediation projects and regularly advises clients on air, water, species, waste and land use issues, and represents clients in related litigation and administrative proceedings. Buck has a particular expertise before the California Public Utilities Commission and counsels clients on California Independent System Operator (CAISO) issues. He also is involved in the firm’s bioenergy initiative and helps clients navigate the federal Renewable Fuel Standard and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard.