Daniel Sperling - Key CARB Member - Hip Deep For Decades In Auto, Oil Money Through Fundraising

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When the state Air Resources Board met two weeks ago for an important vote, one member -- Daniel Sperling -- took center stage. At issue was whether the board would revise a mandate requiring automakers to produce 25,000 emission-free vehicles from 2012 through 2014. After hours of public comments, a board member proposed cutting that number to 10,000. Sperling went further, calling for 7,500. His plan, projected on a screen, indicated that it would save carmakers more than $1 billion a year compared with current rules.

Debate lasted less than five minutes. "My heart is in the direction of just raising it to a higher level," said Chairwoman Mary Nichols. "But I . . . need to acknowledge that I'm not the expert on the technology." All seven members present voted for Sperling's proposal -- stunning environmental and transportation activists. "This is a very significant giveback to automakers," said V. John White, head of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies.

Though Sperling has emerged as the board's central arbiter in regulating auto emissions, he has long had a different relationship with the car and oil industries. For 17 years, he has overseen the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis and has helped the institute raise millions of dollars from companies including Nissan Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., General Motors Corp., Chevron Corp. and Exxon Mobil Corp. From mid-2000 through the end of last year, the institute raised $7.9 million from petroleum and automotive companies, according to UC Davis records. From July 2006 through the end of 2007, the institute brought in $1.6 million from those industries -- 15.5% of its overall fundraising and 64% of all private contributions. Most of its funding comes from the government.

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The air board is required to have an automotive specialist. Sperling's predecessor, Patricia Pineda, resigned two years ago amid concerns that she was also employed as a vice president at Toyota. Her tenure lasted less than two years. Before that, the seat was held for a decade by Joseph Calhoun, who had been assistant director of auto-emissions control for General Motors. In September, the board's new chairwoman -- Nichols -- sold off stock in 23 companies that may have presented a conflict of interest, including oil companies Chevron, BP and Royal Dutch Shell, after the holdings were revealed in The Times and other newspapers.

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http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-airboard11apr11,0,6966342.story