Business Network Event: A Conversation With Assemblymember Rick Zbur: California Climate Legislation in 2026

This event is by invitation only. RSVP via the form below is required.

You are invited to join Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur as he offers an exclusive perspective on making energy more affordable while reaching California’s climate goals. Adam Mohabbat, LACI’s Director of Transportation Electrification, and Mary Leslie, LABC’s President, will join Barry Vesser, The Climate Center’s Chief Program Officer, for a brief preview of what lies ahead in the California state legislature in 2026.

In many ways, these are challenging times for climate ambition. This is Governor Newsom’s last year in office, California is facing a significant budget deficit, electricity bills continue to rise for the vast majority of Californians, and the state must accelerate action to meet our statutory climate goals.

This forum will provide the unique opportunity to discuss the vital relationship between climate legislation and a prosperous, clean energy economy. It is more important than ever that California, now the fourth-largest economy in the world, creates policies and markets that will keep us globally competitive and serve as a model for the country.

This event is co-sponsored by The Climate Center, the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, and the Los Angeles Business Council. Coffee, fruit, and light pastries will be served. A tour of the LACI campus will be offered after the program.

Speakers

Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur

California State Assemblymember, District 51

Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur was elected to the California State Assembly in November of 2022 to represent the 51st Assembly District…

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Adam Mohabbat

Director of Transportation Electrification, LACI

Adam Mohabbat is the Director of Transportation Electrification at LACI, where he leads the Transportation Electrification Partnership (TEP), a public-private partnership dedicated to accelerating zero emission transportation in the Los Angeles region ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Mary Leslie

President, LABC & LABC Institute

Mary was elected to serve as chair of the Board of Trustees of California Independent System Operator, a nonprofit that is the only independent electricity grid operator in the West, coordinating the distribution of energy resources for 80% of California and part of Nevada. She was also named to Mayor Karen Bass’s transition advisory team.

Barry Vesser

Chief Program Officer

Barry joined The Climate Center in 2005 and has held positions as Deputy Director and Financial Officer. He currently leads The Climate Center’s program and policy development and implementation teams. In 2018 Barry began working with a group of energy experts and advocates envisioning a more decentralized energy system that was clean, affordable, resilient, and equitable. He then championed the development of The Climate Center’s Community Energy Resilience project, which has culminated in the creation of a new $170 million Community Energy Resilience investment program by the California Energy Commission in August of 2022.