If there were ever any doubts that Oakland is a hotbed of activity for the
clean energy revolution, they would have been erased at the Clean Power, Healthy Communities conference, which started today and runs until Thursday, February 11. A who’s who of local NGOs, municipal, statewide and regional governing bodies, private sector businesses and community organizers turned out for today’s sold out conference.
Stanford Professor Mark Jacobson, for whom the ‘Jacobson Effect’ was named, popped the cork on previously held CO2 assumptions. Jacobson shed light on the “CO2 domes” that hover over the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Central Valley — the result of ‘locally produced’ CO2. He received applause when recognizing that the main assumption behind cap-and-trade, that CO2 impacts are the same regardless of where CO2 is emitted, is incorrect. And, I think he surprised a few folks (including myself) when he announced that while California is leading the way in environmental policy, it has 6 of the most polluted cities in the U.S.
Bruce Riordan of Climate Bay Area challenged the audience to think about three things when considering climate change and related policy:
1. The Climate Gap — because the impacts of climate change and climate change policy will not fall evenly on everyone. He suggested we do something to ensure that those disproportionately impacted by climate change will not fall through the cracks, and take into consideration the effect on health care, jobs, cost of goods, and the triple bottom line.
2. What regional story are we telling in regards to climate change?
While the state of California has legislated a reduction in greenhouse gases, there is no pre-determined strategy for us to undertake. The result — every region, county and city is working feverishly to accomplish the goal, re-creating the wheel at every turn.
3. What are the 2 -3 things we can do in 2010 to allow initiatives to coalesce into a movement, and how can the Bay Area best contribute to the movement?
There is a wealth of vision, activity, motivation and resources in the Bay Area. Imagine the collective power and strength that can be funneled into tackling several key initiatives!
On the policy development front, Randy Hayes of World Future Council outlined recommendations for California’s energy policy. He suggested we develop policy that:
- Decentralizes the production and consumption system
- Primarily serves the local economy and leads to self-reliance
- Reduces consumption
- Generates green jobs
- Democratizes who holds and produces power, and
- Delivers massive quantities of renewable energy quickly
Sponsored by the Local Clean Energy Alliance, a coalition at the forefront of the East Bay’s clean energy movement, the sessions feature experts in the arenas of climate change, clean power generation and financing, community mobilization, sustainable development, and beyond.
The sold out conference is being streamed live online at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/clean-power
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