Gary Yowell spent more than thirty years with the California Energy Commission (CEC), including two years with the California Air Resources Board (CARB). He has been involved in government partnerships with the transportation fuels and vehicle industry, implementing clean fuels and vehicle regulations and legislation. As a technical aid to policymakers, Gary provided technical analysis and guidance to the executive and legislative officers. As an engineer, he analyzed California’s vehicles energy use, emissions, and the impacts of clean fuels and CO2 emissions.
Gary has worked extensively with the automotive industry from a regulatory perspective at CARB and in public-private partnership with the CEC. He has developed a keen understanding of the governmental and industry perspectives in response to governmental initiatives. Additionally, Gary has invaluable knowledge in the areas of vehicle emissions and fuel impacts on the environment. During his time at the CEC, Gary developed a greater understanding of consumer acceptance of new technologies and the economic implications of various state goals. Optimization and strategic planning are two of his key interests. Gary has worked closely with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the auto industry on many projects and issues.
Gary has contributed to several CEC energy policy reports and wells-to-wheels analyses. He pioneered several analytical tools for the CEC, quantifying the state’s transportation energy use, vehicle miles travelled, and emissions. These tools were used to build automotive forecasting models, quantifying criteria pollutant emissions, energy use, and CO2 emissions. In 2018, Gary developed a light-duty plug-in electric vehicle calculator that forecasts their energy use and emissions. This tool is presently being used by the utility industry to quantify the benefits of EVs used in their service territory. In addition, Gary pioneered an analysis of internal combustion vehicles’ net emissions. This new analysis finds some clean gasoline and diesel vehicles are as clean or cleaner than zero-emission vehicles on criteria pollutants.
Gary received a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from California State University Sacramento 1987. He interned at the Department of Transportation Laboratory Ridged Pavement Section in Sacramento. After receiving his Mechanical Engineering degree, he worked for CARB in El Monte, CA working in the new vehicle certification section and then later with the aftermarket parts section.
Gary and his wife reside in Lincoln CA. Gary’s hobby is working on cars, particularly his Lotus Esprit.