Carlos is an incumbent member of the East Palo Alto City Council. He operates an economic development consulting practice and brings deep experience in economic development, housing, finance, and equity. Carlos was instrumental in the founding of EPA CAN DO, leading and supporting numerous economic development initiatives and organizations. This included working with both EPA CAN DO and EDEN Housing to secure $20 million in funding to renovate and expand a housing project that includes energy-efficient building, electric bus service, and new sidewalks and bikeways. 

Carlos has championed the approval of building decarbonization reach codes, adopted in 2020, and an updated “performance” code, in 2024, making East Palo Alto at that time only the second city in the county to adopt the new code. Carlos also led the charge on the City Council to require office and multifamily residential developers to install some public-facing EV chargers as a condition of their receiving entitlements. 

Low-income and working-class communities are always at the forefront of Carlos’ decision-making. Sixteen years ago, as a planning commissioner, he worked with community organizers to close down the Romic chemical recycling plant, a major success for environmental justice.

Carlos supports the Air Quality Management District’s “zero NOx” rules, to phase out polluting methane gas appliances, and seeks ways to incentivize residents to use PACE programs to install rooftop solar, which can speed up the transition away from fossil fuels and the adoption of all-electric appliances.

Website: https://carlosromero4epa.weebly.com