John Muir Institute of the Environment

About the Speaker

Judi G. Schweitzer founded Schweitzer + Associates, Inc., which offers multidisciplinary consulting teams to help clients navigate the dynamic and often confusing world of sustainable development. The firm develops solutions for master developers, builders and homeowners to create the greatest value for its clients, resulting in the highest saving/return and most sustainable business solutions. Judi teaches USC's Sustainable Real Estate Development Course as a graduate and adjunct professor in their Master of Real Estate Development program. She is a member of the State Building Standards Commission, Green Building Code Advisory Committee, the Urban Land Institute Development Council and the US Green Building Council. Her publications include "Developing Sustainable Planned Communities," Urban Land Institute, (best seller 2007) and "Making Green Pay," Urban Land Magazine, 2006.

Event Details

Can professors, policymakers, and the private sector agree to agree on the common ground for climate change solutions? The concluding event of the John Muir Institute's Climate Change Solutions Speaker Series is the panel discussion, "A Climate for Shared Solutions." Mary Nichols, Chairman of the California Air Resources Board, opened the series with vivid descriptions of changes that a warming climate has already brought to the landscape. From January through May, representatives from water, transportation, fuels, agriculture and energy -- public and private -- have been serving up their weekly slice of the carbon pie chart. The series concludes with a panel of representatives that is charged with clearing the detail debris to find the "climate change commons." This lively discussion will engage the climate-wary audience with an approach that some will find refreshingly uncommon.

Moderator, Deb Niemeier, Director, John Muir Institute of the Environment

Panelists

• Ruth Coleman, Director, California Dept of Parks and Recreation, Sacramento
• Anthony Eggert, Science and Technology Advisor, Air Resources Board, Sacramento
• Bob Epstein, Founder, Environmental Entrepreneurs, San Francisco
• Ann Notthoff, California Advocacy Director, Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco
• Jackie Pfannenstiel, Commissioner, California Energy Commission, Sacramento

About the Speaker

Mary D. Nichols was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as Chairman of the California Air Resources Board in July 2007. The California Air Resources Board is the lead state agency for implementing AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act which requires that California reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Nichols? priorities include moving the state's landmark climate change program ahead through efforts to curb diesel pollution at ports and regulations aimed at providing cleaner air for Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley. As one of California's first environmental lawyers, she initiated precedent-setting test cases under the Federal Clean Air Act and California air quality laws while practicing with the Center for Law in the Public Interest. Nichols has a J.D. from Yale Law and a B.A. from Cornell.

Presentation Highlights

Climate change threatens to change the landscape of California, from bird migration to crops that are grown to mosquito-borne disease. California was forced to take action with AB32, the first bill of its kind enacted by a state legislature. It calls for a 28% reduction in six greenhouse gases by 2020.

Per capita GHG
Greenhouse gases emissions of 14 tons per capita will have to be reduced to 10 tons per capita. It is possible to do this, but will require considerable effort.

Global Support for California Actions: Several countries want to engage in bilateral agreements with California to implement early actions and performance based measures for cost effective reductions in greenhouse gases.

Positive Indicators for Collaboration:

• Improvements to the state fleet
• Partnerships with automakers to develop fuel cells in West Sacramento
• Partnerships with utilities for plug in hybrids at the state level
• “Transformative technologies” such as fuel cells need time to develop since they require changing infrastructure.

Federal Investment:

• President Bush has acknowledged that climate change is real, but there is no new federal money allocated for climate change, just a shifting of existing money. 
• The recent energy bill contributed no new funds for renewable energy and raised the fuel economy over ten years to 35 miles per gallon, not a challenging target compared to what could have been done.
• California was forced to take action with AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, the first of its kind enacted by a state legislature. It calls for a 28% reduction in six greenhouse gases by 2020.

Campus Emissions:

• UC Davis is one of the 800 largest emitters in California required to report emissions to the state
• campus success in securing energy efficiency funds, the
• R4 recycling program,
• a new zero waste stadium,
• LEED Platinum facility at Lake Tahoe
• UC Davis has worldwide leaders in research for reducing VMT (vehicle miles traveled)

Educational Opportunities:

• Invited UC Davis to send the best and the brightest graduates to break down institutional barriers and settle turf battles between energy and transportation agencies
• Looking at the world through carbon redefines everything
• Student should becoming “multi-lingual” – to speak across academic discipline language barriers to solve societal problems

About the Speaker

Cynthia L. Cory is the Director of Environmental Affairs, Government Affairs Division, for the California Farm Bureau Federation. She has been a Farm Bureau advocate for over seventeen years, working on a wide variety of state and federal matters. Her responsibility currently includes air quality, biotechnology, climate change, transportation and crop protection issues. Previously, she worked for several organizations over a ten-year period on short and long-term agronomic research projects throughout Africa. Ms. Cory has a M.S. in International Agricultural Development (emphasis Agronomy/Genetics) and a B.S. in Agronomy.

Presentation Highlights

Cory served on the ETAAC (economic and technology advancement advisory committee, AB32) whose final report will be incorporated into the state scoping plan. Agriculture emissions of 28 MMT of CO2e carbon dioxide equivalents increased from 5% to 6% of statewide emission total. To meet 2020 goals, agriculture will have to reduce emission 8-9 MMT to equal 1990 levels.

Research targets:

• manure management
• orchard, vineyard and row crop carbon storage
• reforestation of riparian ecosystems on farms and ranches
• biomass and biofuels
• fertilizing, water usage and enteric fermentation.

Research and investment needs:

• improved agricultural practices that include life cycle analysis
• best practice protocols
• reducing nitrous oxide emissions
• national network of on-farm soil measurements
• national inventory to establish baselines for soil and carbon markets.

Policy and Research funding:

• USDA through recommendations by the USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force
• $15 million in funding requested for research in the 2007 farm bill
• Establish protocol standards for measurements and verification of emissions for carbon credits that can be included in the Farm Bill.

Private Investment Concerns:
Average farm vehicle was manufactured in 1988, and is used for 40-50 years for 2-3 months per year. CARB proposal to restrict heavy duty diesel vehicles in 2014 to those with engines that meet 2007 emission standards would require additional farmer investment. (exemption for vehicles driven less than 1000 miles per year.)

About the Speaker

Timothy Quinn is executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), a statewide association whose 450 local public water agency members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. Quinn became executive director in July 2007 and has more than 22 years of experience in California water issues. Prior to joining ACWA, he served as deputy general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Presentation Highlights

Quinn describes managing water as managing change, and climate change is only one of a series of changes that water agencies have to manage.

Southern California water agencies have turned to local investment to decrease demand for water. In addition to promoting water saving appliances, Metropolitan Water District is spending $6 million per year to promote drought tolerant landscaping.  (Southern California residents may be eligible for rebates from local water providers on rotating sprinklers, smart sprinkler controllers, water-saving toilets and high efficiency clothes washers.)

Water management, transfer and storage needs:

• More integration in Northern California between of flood control, drinking water, wastewater treatment and land use to facilitate problem solving.
• The Bay Area was slower to integrate water connections to facilitate water transfers, eg. San Joaquin Valley’s Friant-Kern Canal and the California Aqueduct. 
• Managing surface and groundwater conjunctively.
• Need more storage to regulate river temperatures and flows for fish, agencies have lost up to 50% of their stored water to endangered species

Investment considerations:

• Water contractors are prepared to pay 100% of the cost of a peripheral canal
• Practices in water reuse will become the reservoirs of the future
• New or expanded reservoir sites identified include Sites Reservoir (Sacramento River), Temperance Flat Reservoir (San Joaquin River) and the Los Vaqueros Expansion Project in Contra Costa.
• 19% of California water is related to electricity generation, half of which is used by water agencies to pump and manage water transfers, while the other half goes to end users, therefore more storage is related to sustainable power generation
• Agencies are looking at whether water energy can be managed using renewable energy from wind, solar, wave, biogas or other investments.

Research Targets:

Agencies are asking if restoring a Delta island would sequester enough carbon to reduce their carbon footprint.

About the Speaker

Hal LaFlash is the director of emerging clean technology policy in the energy procurement organization at Pacific Gas and Electric Company. His duties include assessing the state of technologies that will affect how PG&E fills its future resource needs, which includes understanding, evaluating, and supporting emerging renewable energy and other clean energy technologies. Hal has been at PG&E for 28 years where he has held various positions in energy efficiency, non-utility generation, gas transportation, resource planning, and renewable energy policy. He also held positions at PG&E Corporation in corporate development and business planning.

Hal has been a judge in the California Clean Tech Open business plan competition; he was a member of the Solar Task Force of the Western Governors Association?s Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative; he co-authored ?Hedging Carbon Risk: Protecting Customers and Shareholders from the Financial Risk Associated with Carbon Dioxide Emissions,? which was published by the Electricity Journal; and he is currently a co-chair of the Utility Committee of the American Council on Renewable Energy. Hal has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration.

Presentation Highlights

PGE Response to climate change: 

• PGE assembled a portfolio of 1000 MW of renewable power solutions through 2007. In 2004, 22% of California GHG emissions were from electrical power generation, 12% generated outside the state, including some coal derived power.
• Metrics for PGE are 489 lbs CO2e per megawatt/hour (MWh), compared to 879 lbs. statewide and 1363 lbs. nationally. 
• In 2006 PGE delivered 50% of its power carbon-free.
• Only about 1% is from coal sources. 
• PGE sources renewable power from every viable source, including wind, solar and has filed two permits for wave energy generation offshore. 

Investment and research needs: 

• PGE will access CPUC’s public funds for RD&D in energy innovation. 
• PGE’s climate smart voluntary program asks customers to fund investment in projects to reduce (and offset) greenhouse gas emissions.  Pending climate smart investments waiting for CPUC approval include dairy methane capture, reforestation, urban forestry and truck stop electrification.
• PGE will offer $950 million in solar subsidies over 10 years. Statewide goal for solar is 3,000 MW by 2016, after which solar would be free from subsidies.
• Power storage technologies are needed to balance demand gaps including pumped hydro, compressed air, sodium sulfur and flow batteries, flywheels, and storing power in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Investment barriers: 
One-year cycles for tax credits on renewable energy projects and the gap between proof of concept and investment for demonstration in the commercialization of new technology.

About the Speaker

R. Gregg Albright, Deputy Director, Planning and Modal Programs, California Department of Transportation, has over 30 years of experience in state government service within planning, project delivery, project management, local programs, community involvement and administration. Most of his early career emphasized establishing substantive transportation solutions that reflected community values and upheld environmental stewardship responsibilities. With his recent appointment as Deputy Director, Gregg has expanded opportunities to promote effective stakeholder involvement in the planning and development of transportation solutions to advance proactive and strategic behavior within the department. This emphasis on enhancing staff skill sets and organization competency has also engaged him at the national level, particularly in the area of promoting the principles of Context-Sensitive Solutions.

Presentation Highlights

Caltrans represents Business, Transportation and Housing Agency on the California Action Team (CAT) and has their own Climate Action Plan (June 2007) in response to AB32.

• Caltrans estimates that it can reduce 1.68 MMT GHG by 2010 through improvements in its own operations, and 8.7 MMT by 2020. 
• More efficient state transportation systems could reduce 1.04 MMT by 2010 and 9.97 MMT by 2020.
• Caltrans manages 26 transportation corridors in California, and their land use decision makers. Corridor System Management Plans (CSMPs) integrate management of travel modes and roadways so as to facilitate the mobility of people and goods within California's congested transportation corridors. Use Prop 1B funds to look at how the state transportation invests in sustainability
• The Land Use Transportation Commission is charged with reduction of single operator vehicles and reducing VMT

Short and Long term reports, projections, assessments, developments or guidance on:

• GHG outcomes from bond investment.
• Inventory of practices and GHG savings
• GHG emission factors in transportation planning and project development
• Impact of the Goods Movement Action Plan
• Three year training plan for Caltrans employees
• Sea level rise in Bay Area
• Vulnerability inventory and adaptation measures
• Cement
• Smart growth
• Fleet efficiency
• Energy conservation plan
• Transportation models
• Technical Studies

Obstacles to implementation:

• Smart growth policies which could reduce per capita travel by 10-30 percent, but growth decisions are made by local governments and outside of Caltrans’s jurisdiction
• Regional blueprint planning is advocated and funded by the department but there is no way to force compliance with the regional plan

• Half of the state highways are congested beyond built capacity,
• Operational improvements would reduce emissions during stop and go speeds.
• Speeds over 55 mph increase GHG. 
• market based strategies such as toll roads are used to reduce fuel consumption

Investment:

• Fleet greening requires investment in efficient vehicles and alterative fuels, under control of General Services, however the department reports their own emissions.
• Link transportation to health:  cost of pills and surgery compared to prevention from safe biking and walking.

Collaborative Goals:
Committed to a cross agency policy framework between Caltrans and CalEPA, ARB and CEC.

Comparison to International goals: UK department of transportation set goal of 48 mpg by 2012.

About the Speaker

Gemma Heddle holds the position of Carbon Management Advisor with Chevron?s Corporate Health, Environment and Safety department in San Ramon, CA. In this role, Gemma supports Chevron?s strategic actions on climate change, with responsibility for leading the development and deployment of Chevron?s next-generation energy and emissions inventory system, and the US focus area of the company?s carbon markets team. Gemma has a dual Masters of Science degree in Technology and Policy, and Civil and Environmental Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Prior to joining Chevron in 2005, Gemma worked as a Technology Policy Analyst with the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies in Australia, and, more recently, as a Senior Associate with ICF International in Washington, DC.

Presentation Highlights

Chevron supports and monitors the work of the IPCC on climate change science, whose findings help to inform their business planning.  They initiated their first climate change action plan 2001 to reduce long-term growth in GHG emission while providing affordable energy. Chevron’s “Four Fold Plan of Action on Climate Change,” is integrated into Chevron decision making.

1. Increasing energy efficiency and reducing GHG
2. Supporting flexible policies that protect the environment
3. Investing in R&D and improved technology
4. Pursuing business opportunities in innovative energy technologies

Chevron publicly stated and met their annual enterprise-wide GHG emissions goal for each year since 2004, though they haven't publicly released their long-term GHG emissions forecast. 

Chevron expects fluming and venting emissions (F&V) reduction projects to produce significant GHG reductions by 2010, as they comprise around 25% of their enterprise-wide GHG emissions. 

• All F&V emissions reduction projects (Angola, Nigeria and Kazakhstan) are still in the process of being implemented. 
• The Sanha Condensate Project in Angola (2005) is still not at full production.

Another GHG R&D strategy is to improve the cost and efficacy of CO2 capture and storage via geologic formations and the pursuits of business opportunities in geothermal and hydrogen.

• Energy efficiency improved by 27% per unit production between 1992 to 2007.

• Chevron consumed 900 Trillion BTU, or $5.3 billion of energy in 2006. Their GHG emissions ranged from 59 to 62 MMT between 2002-2007 for their operations in 180 countries.
• This does not include the 400 MMT from the combustion of the fuels they produce. Cogeneration of power and steam has been incorporated in their operation since the 1990s.

Regulatory:

• Chevron complies with EU Emissions Trading Scheme and develops projects that earn credits under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), an example is the 110 MW expansion of the Darajat III Geothermal Project to meet electricity demands of Java, Madura and Bali.
• In California they will be complying with AB32 and low carbon fuel standards.
• Chevron has reported emissions since 2002.  Chevron donated their emission reporting software SANGEA to the American Petroleum Institute (API) in 2004 to help standardize GHG emissions accounting across the oil and gas industry.  The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) received SANGEA last year in conjunction with the WRI/WBCSD GHG Reporting Protocol to help refineries in China calculate their GHG emissions.
  

Research Investments:

• Their investment in alternative energy from 2002 to 2006 was $500,000/yr, which that increased to $800,000/yr from 2007-2009.  Chevron considers GHG in capital projects over the facility’s lifetime and in view of national policies on emission limits, carbon trading, and offsets. 
• At the Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) development project off the Australian coast, Chevron has gained environmental approvals to develop one of the largest CO2 sequestration programs in the world making it one of the most GHG-efficient LNG projects. Since the concept was introduced in 1998, the theoretical tons of CO2e/ tonne of LNG has been reduced from 0.9 to 0.35 with the potential for further improvements down the road.
• Chevron is  selling a B5 Biodiesel Blend (consisting of 5% biodiesel and 95% petroleum diesel, on a volume basis) at all of its retail locations in Portland, Oregon, that sell diesel. 
• Chevron’s partnership in UC Davis research in second generation biofuels is an example of their investment in promising technology.
• Chevron and AC Transit (Bay Area) have launched a pilot program that is using B20 Biodiesel Blend as one of the test fuels.
• They sponsor five hydrogen fueling stations including one in Alameda for fueling transit buses. They invested in a solar mine technology in Midway Sunset Oil Fields and continue to look at other energy solutions.

Investment linked to social responsibility and community

• Chevron action through its subsidiary, Chevron Energy Solutions (CES), has provided energy efficiency expertise through the installation of renewable energy projects to external entities
• About 800 CES projects since 2000 have involved energy efficiency or renewable power have been completed for education, government and business customers in the US.  A 2007 project in which CES partnered with the San Jose Unified School District and Bank of America involved a 5-MW solar power and energy efficiency program, which is expected to save about $25 million in energy costs over the lifetime of the solar power project.

About the Speaker

Andrew Altevogt is Climate Change Program Manager in the California Environmental Protection Agency?s Office of the Secretary. Dr. Altevogt is responsible for assisting the Secretary in coordinating the Climate Action Team and related greenhouse gas mitigation and adaptation initiatives. His work includes coordinating climate change policy implementation across state government. Prior to arriving at Cal EPA, Dr. Altevogt spent 15 years as an academic environmental researcher. His research experience includes, most recently, 5 years in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Princeton University as part of the Carbon Mitigation Initiative. Dr. Altevogt also has research experience in theoretical fluid dynamics, groundwater modeling and aquatic chemistry. Dr. Altevogt has a Bachelor?s and Master?s degrees in Environmental Engineering from MIT and a PhD in Hydrology from UC Davis.

Presentation Highlights

• Assembly Bill 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 creates a comprehensive, multi-year program to reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020.
• The AB 32 Scoping Plan contains the main strategies California will use to reduce the greenhouse gases (GHG) that cause climate change. The Plan, when it is completed, will have a range of GHG reduction actions which can include direct regulations, alternative compliance mechanisms, monetary and non-monetary incentives, voluntary actions, and market-based mechanisms such as a cap-and-trade system. The Plan will go to the Board for adoption in November, 2008.
• AB 32 requires ARB to identify early action greenhouse gas reduction measures by June 30, 2007, to be developed into regulatory proposals, adopted by ARB, and made enforceable by January 1, 2010. Early actions: low carbon fuel standard, landfill methane capture, restriction on high GWP refrigerants, PFC reduction from semiconductor manufacture, SF6 reductions in the non-electric sector, reduction of high GWP GHG in consumer products, SmartWay truck efficiency, tire inflation program, and green ports.
• Air Resources Board leading AB32, Cal/EPA and Climate Action Team continue coordinating statewide climate policy while authority of other agencies preserved

Climate Action Team (CAT) 12 members
CAT subgroups have identified from 100-150 proposed measures, voluntary and regulatory

• Created under Executive Order
• Cabinet Level Members
• Coordinate the Process
• Subgroups: Agriculture, Cement, Energy, Forestry, Green Buildings, Landfills, Land Use, State Fleet, Water/Energy, Economic Analysis, Scenario Analysis

Likely Global Warming Impacts in California

• 75% loss in snow pack
• 1-2 foot sea level rise
• 70 more extreme heat days/year
• 80% more “likely ozone” days
• 55% more large forest fires
• Twice the drought years

Statewide 2004 GHG Emissions (480 MMTCO2e Net Emissions) and gains since must be reduced to 1990 GHG Emissions (427 MMTCO2e Net Emissions)

• “Business as Usual” estimate for 2020 is ~600 MMTCO2e
• need ~173 MMTCO2e avoidance to meet 1990 levels

Challenges:

• How do we manage growth in transportation (VMT) due to population growth and sprawl?
• Improvements in energy storage—may be key to success of alternative energy
• CEQA—How do we account for GHG impacts within a broader environmental framework?
• Taming the carbon markets—The Wild West needs a Sheriff.

State Research Efforts

• Climate Change Impact Modeling—Regional Basis
• Sector Based Impact Analysis
• CEQA—Considering GHG impacts in the environmental review process
• Statewide coordination of research efforts
• PUC’s California Institute for Climate Studies

Research Needs

• Increasing understanding of mechanisms of climate change
• Adaptation—across all sectors
• Behavioral Science
• Environmental Justice
• 2050 Goal—How do we get there?
• Higher resolution climate modeling
• Economic impacts of climate change and climate change mitigation

About the Speaker

Steve Shaffer is Director of the Office of Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship for California Department Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the position he has held since November 2000. The office is comprised of an outstanding group of scientists who address environmental issues related to agriculture using a multidisciplinary approach. In this capacity, Steve represents CDFA on a number of environmental, energy and natural resource management, planning, implementation and monitoring activities as they relate to agriculture. Steve is currently serving on the Delta Protection Commission, the board of the CA Biomass Collaborative, on the Interagency Bioenergy Workgroup, and the Climate Action Team. He has represented CDFA on the last three updates of the State Water Plan (Bulletin 160) and has been involved in land use, air, water, energy, wildlife and pest management policy related to agriculture, including the support of the production and use of biofuels since 1981. Steve graduated UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology. He will soon celebrate thirty-three years at CDFA, serving the public, agriculture, and the environment.

Presentation Highlights

Climate change must be considered within the context of California agriculture which can be typified by these characteristics:

• The complexity of biological systems and their impacts on climate change, examples are NO2 emissions how the use of nitrogen fertilizers impact these
• The geography of CA is such that it is made up of microclimates
• Rate of climate change is unknown and will be in constant revision, ex. Are there tipping points? And will the changes in climate be an advantage or disadvantage to a biological system?
• CA agriculture relies on predictable weather patterns, so cost and risks will change.
• There are some climates, such as the Napa Valley, where weather is become less variable than more variable due to climate change.  Too soon to tell what other regions will see.
• Growers are ahead of the state, they are experts at working with risk, they are highly adaptable and respond quickly to change

Sustainability issues go beyond climate change, food production is also critical.  Agriculture functions as a system with interlinked issues:

• Land use, soil quality, water use, air quality and biodiversity
• Biotechnology and its acceptance to the public, bioengineered yeast are accepted, but transgenic crops are not.
• Government credibility for regulating crops and pest has suffered, e.g. apple moth
• Sociological issues are more problematic than the technology issues of climate change
• Sustainable certification is a concept that is being established by ARB with the new “low carbon fuel standard.”

Greenhouse Gas Emissions due to Agriculture

• 28 MMT CO2e from Ag (not including manufacture or hauling fertilizers)
• 5-6% of total emissions in CA
• 8.3% from soil management
• 7% of ag emissions from enteric fermentation
• 6.9% from manure management
• 4.9% from energy and fuel combustion
• 0.6% from rice cultivation
• 0.08% ag residue burning

Threats to Ag from climate change

• Water supply
• Flooding
• Levee failure
• Drought
• Fire
• More extreme and frequent heat events - animal and plant stress
• Loss of chill hours
• Reduced pollination
• Degradation of air quality
• Invasive species and diseases
• Worker health and productivity
• Loss of micro-climates
• Cost of inputs and regulations

New Opportunities from climate change

• Carbon trading
• Bio-Energy production
• Providing habitat and other environmental services
• New consumer appreciation (Tom Tomich and sustainability workshops at UC Davis)
• Sustainable practices and development – potential to reduce risk and costs
• Sugar beets and sweet sorghum, vegetation management in the Klamath Basin
• Habitat corridors and rice straw in the Sacramento Valley
• Reinventing agriculture on the 500,000 acres of Delta ag lands
• Growing rotational crops in high value systems
• San Joaquin Valley opportunities to produce bioenergy with dairies and drainage impaired lands

Energy Sheds  (opportunities within a region to promote local self reliance)

• Closing the loop in the dairies to use the energy in manure
• Polyculture gas systems
• Ethanol production from sugar cane production and processing in Imperial Valley as a way to send water to San Diego, to ensure drainage water to the Salton Sea
• Water recycling may be possible now that was not allowed 15 years ago
• Doesn’t makes sense to use coal to process ethanol fuel in Midwest, but if feed for dairy cows is already being imported it makes sense to use that for ethanol since the wet feed byproduct saves 30% of the cost
• Current ethanol production is one half billion gallons

Policy Drivers for change:

• AB 32 Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/cc.htm
• Bioenergy Action Plan http://www.energy.ca.gov/bioenergy_action_plan/index.html
• AB 1007 ARB / CEC Alternative Fuel Report http://www.energy.ca.gov/2007publications/CEC-600-2007-011/CEC-600-2007-011-CTD.PDF
• Governor’s Exec. Order S-01-07 for a Low Carbon Fuel Standard http://www.energy.ca.gov/low_carbon_fuel_standard/index.html

Need science to verify protocols for types, values and costs

• Can ag provide offsets for power generation that are permanent, quantifiable, and transparent and reduce emission from business as usual?
• Most certain –both positive and negative impacts
• Less certain – the extent, magnitude and rate of change; winners and losers; costs and benefits.
• Mitigation and adaptation are both needed and must be done well
• Informed policy based on continuous research and development
• Strategies that achieve multiple benefits
• Public policies that recognize multiple benefits and internalize external costs for all climate change actions

About the Speaker

Richard L. Haberman is a Supervising Engineer at the Drinking Water Program, of the California Department of Public Health. The Drinking Water Program regulates public drinking water systems to assure the delivery of safe drinking water to all Californians. Haberman is certified as a Professional Civil Engineer, Member of American Water Works Association, and Member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering and M.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Iowa.

About the Speaker

Judi G. Schweitzer founded Schweitzer + Associates, Inc., which offers multidisciplinary consulting teams to help clients navigate the dynamic and often confusing world of sustainable development. The firm develops solutions for master developers, builders and homeowners to create the greatest value for its clients, resulting in the highest saving/return and most sustainable business solutions. Judi teaches USC?s Sustainable Real Estate Development Course as a graduate and adjunct professor in their Master of Real Estate Development program. She is a member of the State Building Standards Commission, Green Building Code Advisory Committee, the Urban Land Institute Development Council and the US Green Building Council. Her publications include ?Developing Sustainable Planned Communities,? Urban Land Institute, (best seller 2007) and ?Making Green Pay,? Urban Land Magazine, 2006.

Event Details

Can professors, policymakers, and the private sector agree to agree on the common ground for climate change solutions? The concluding event of the John Muir Institute's Climate Change Solutions Speaker Series is the panel discussion, "A Climate for Shared Solutions." Mary Nichols, Chairman of the California Air Resources Board, opened the series with vivid descriptions of changes that a warming climate has already brought to the landscape. From January through May, representatives from water, transportation, fuels, agriculture and energy -- public and private -- have been serving up their weekly slice of the carbon pie chart. The series concludes with a panel of representatives that is charged with clearing the detail debris to find the "climate change commons." This lively discussion will engage the climate-wary audience with an approach that some will find refreshingly uncommon.

Moderator, Deb Niemeier, Director, John Muir Institute of the Environment

Panelists

• Ruth Coleman, Director, California Dept of Parks and Recreation, Sacramento
• Anthony Eggert, Science and Technology Advisor, Air Resources Board, Sacramento
• Bob Epstein, Founder, Environmental Entrepreneurs, San Francisco
• Ann Notthoff, California Advocacy Director, Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco
• Jackie Pfannenstiel, Commissioner, California Energy Commission, Sacramento