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California's Water from VERDEXCHANGE on Vimeo.
Michael Allman, President and CEO of Southern California Gas Co., writes on the important role natural gas should hold alongside solar and wind as the Golden State steps into a clean energy future.
Excerpts from a panel titled Climate Finance Show Me the Money? from VX2011 Los Angeles follow the jump. This panel has taken place all four years of the conference, proving to be one of the most popular panels among attendees of the conference, even if the mood has changed substantially in that time. At VX2011, the panel had good news to report in terms of fund performance, despite lagging clean tech investment due to the effects of the global recession. The panel included moderator Allan Emkin, PCA Managing Partner and panelists included; Brian Rice, CalSTRS investment officer; John Babcock, partner, Rustic Canyon; and Jon Naimon, founder and managing partner, Light Green Advisors.
The political winds in Washington D.C. shifted in November. Just when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was expanding its powers to regulate carbon emissions in lieu of comprehensive federal legislation, the U.S. House of Representatives moved the “Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011,” which would effectively strip the EPA of the power to regulate carbon emissions under the authority of the Federal Clean Air Act. After the jump is an exclusive op-ed with California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols, who details the consequences of such legislation.
Jim Kelly, senior vice president of Regulatory and Environmental Policy for Southern California Edison, details the fun and frustration of the process of building-out a smart electricity grid for California electricity consumers.
VX2011 Luncheon Plenary
How Do New and Mature Renewable Technologies Get Introduced into California’s Energy Marketplace? from VERDEXCHANGE on Vimeo.
VX2011 Monday Morning Plenary
Post Election Mega Trends - U.S. & California Renewable Policy from VERDEXCHANGE on Vimeo.
In November, California voters soundly rejected Prop. 23, a ballot initiative that would have rolled back regulations arising from AB 32, the landmark greenhouse gas emissions reduction law that has positioned California as a worldwide leader in green policy and technology. In December, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved one of the most significant portions of AB 32’s policy mechanisms—cap-and-trade regulation for business and industry.
On Dec. 13, 2010, the newly-created Plug-In Vehicle Collaborative released a report called, “Taking Charge: Establishing California Leadership in the Plug-in Electric Vehicle Marketplace.” The report includes 30 suggested actions to develop an electrified transportation system in California. VerdeX presents excerpts from a series of presentations at a press conference at Universal Studios announcing the Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative and the report.
While large cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco get a lot of attention for their efforts in greening operations and infrastructure, smaller cities around the state of California have been quietly making strides in adopting innovative technologies and policies at the local level. One such innovative city is Huntington Beach. In order to detail the programs and technologies enabling this local success story, VerdeX was pleased to speak with Huntington Beach Energy Project Manager Aaron Klemm.