Preliminary Agenda

This two-day conference will provide both plenary and breakout sessions complemented by networking opportunities, social events, and a world-class exhibit hall featuring the technologies and talent designed to facilitate the transition into a lower carbon future.

Sessions will run from 8:00am on Monday, August 30 through 5:00pm on Tuesday, August 31, 2010. All sessions are designed to equip attendees with the knowledge and information needed to make proactive and progressive decisions for their businesses and communities.  The CAPCOA Climate Change Forum is an exceptional opportunity to engage with industry and policy leaders and join in the climate discussion.

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Monday, August 30, 2010


 8:30 a.m. Welcome Remarks

  • Mayor Gavin Newsom, City of San Francisco (Invited)

  • Mat Ehrhardt, President, California Air Pollution Control Officers Association

 8:40 a.m. Introduction of Highlighted Speaker

  • Brad Wagenknecht, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Bay Area Air Quality Management District and County Supervisor, Napa County

 8:45 a.m. Highlighted Speaker

  • Alec Loorz, Founder, Kids vs. Global Warming

 9:00 a.m. Plenary Session, Opening Panel - “Setting the Stage - The Harmonization of California and Federal Climate Programs”

Objective: “Set the stage” with a current look at actions taking place at the Federal, State and local levels to implement climate change policies with an eye toward harmonization, as well as important perspectives from non-governmental entities

Moderator: Jack Broadbent, Executive Officer/Air Pollution Control Officer, Bay Area Air Quality Management District

  • Mary D. Nichols, Chairman, California Air Resources Board – “AB32 Scoping Plan and Its Integration with Federal Policy”

  • James Boyd, Commissioner, California Energy Commission

  • Jared Blumenfeld, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, “The Federal Perspective: The Importance of Harmonization”

  • Snuller Price, Partner, Energy Efficiency and Climate Policy, E3: Energy + Environmental Economics – “Reaching for 2050: The Path for California”

  • Bruce Riordan, Founder, Elmwood Consulting & Climate Bay Area - “Success Stories from Local Governments”

11:15 a.m.Networking in the Trade Show Hall

11:45 a.m.Luncheon

12:15 p.m.Luncheon Keynote Address

  • Van Jones, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress and Founder, Green for All

 1:15 p.m. Day One Breakout Session: “Green Business Strategies — Good for the Economy and the Community” (3-5 rooms)

Objective: Provide a venue for conference stakeholders, sponsors, and presenters to put forward ideas regarding the most effective green businesses, technologies and products currently available or under development within their communities.

Format: 4 concurrent sessions; each session (1-3) will feature a moderator and 4-5 speakers.

  1. Energy Independence Through Clean and Renewable Energy

  2. Industry & Green Job Development

  3. Land Use & Sustainable Communities

  4. Transportation Strategies & Fuels

 2:45 p.m. Coffee Break and Networking in the Trade Show Hall

 3:30 p.m. Afternoon Keynote Address

  • Hunter Lovins, President, Natural Capitalism Solutions

 4:00 p.m. Plenary Session #1 - “Addressing Climate Change Through Effective Land-Use Planning”

Objective: Elaborate on opportunities that exist at all levels of government for integrated land use and transportation planning that would reduce energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions.

Moderator: To Be Announced

  • Douglas Ito, Manager, SIP and Local Government Strategies, Air Quality and Transportation Planning Branch, California Air Resources Board – “CARB’s Guidelines on SB 375”

  • Steve Heminger, Executive Director, Metropolitan Transportation Commission “Financing/Pricing for Smart Growth and Sustainable Communities”

  • Mike McKeever, Executive Director, Sacramento Area Council of Governments – “The Far-Reaching Impacts of SB 375: Setting the Example for the Development of Federal Policies, including the Reauthorization of the Federal Highway Bill”

  • Autumn Bernstein, Director of ClimatePlan - “A View from the Front Lines - the Importance of Land Use Decisions at the Local Level: An Opportunity for Positive Change”

 5:30 p.m. “Cool the Earth Kids” Present the Climate Protection and Adaptation Award

  • Eight students from around Northern California, ages from 7–11 will present and perform their Eco-Rap song customized for the Governor’s leadership

 5:45 p.m. Day One Closing Remarks

  • Larry Allen, Air Pollution Control Officer, San Luis Obispo Air Pollution Control District

 6:00 p.m. Social Mixer and Tradeshow

 7:30 p.m. Day One Adjourns

Tuesday, August 31, 2010


 8:30 a.m. Day Two Opening Remarks and Introduction of Keynote Speaker

  • Mat Ehrhardt, President, California Air Pollution Control Officers Association

 8:40 a.m. Keynote Address

  • Arianna Huffington, Co-Founder & Editor in Chief, The Huffington Post

 9:40 a.m. Plenary Session #2 - “The Economics of Climate Change – How Non-Regulatory Approaches and Market Mechanisms Drive Green Jobs, Clean Technology, and Energy Independence in California and Beyond”

Objective: Examine “on the ground” market-based solutions that are being developed or already implemented throughout California and how these promote energy efficiency, green technology, and job growth.

Format: This session format will combine 4 presentations with a moderated roundtable discussion. Presenters will provide brief (5 to 10 minute maximum) overview talk / presentation on the topic. The panelists will then be joined on stage by an additional 3-4 people for the discussion (additional 3 to 4 will likely be representatives from private industry / top event sponsors). This session will be interactive and discussion based. The active participation of a skilled moderator will be essential.

Moderator: To Be Announced

Presenters:

  • Anthony Eggert, Commissioner, California Energy Commission – “State Green Job Stimulus through Energy Efficiency Programs and California’s Alternative and Renewable Vehicle and Fuel Technology AB118 Program – Accomplishments to Date and Future Opportunities”

  • Kristine Mazzei, Project Manager Green Capital Alliance – “Growing California’s Clean Tech Center: Workforce Training and Education Programs Designed to Support Green Job Growth”

Industry Representatives for Roundtable Discussion

  • Utility

  • Transportation

  • Energy Company

  • Agriculture

  • VC Firm

  • Start Up Green Tech

11:00 a.m.Coffee Break in the Trade Show Hall

11:15 a.m.Day Two Breakout Session: Harmonizing a Path Toward the Future (3-5 rooms)

Objective: Allow for discussion and interactive process on looking forward toward harmonizing state and federal climate policies in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

Format: Each of the concurrent breakouts will be facilitated by expert moderators in order to engage the speakers and audience around a number of critical paths to success, key questions and core issues. One or two (at most) key questions will be developed in this session and brought back to the final Plenary Session panel where it will be used to lead the dialogue and receive answers from the experts panelists in the conference wrap up session. (Each panel will include EPA, state, local representatives, plus industry/academia/other as appropriate.)

  1. Energy Independence Through Clean and Renewable Energy

  2. Industry & Green Job Development

  3. Land Use & Sustainable Communities

  4. Transportation Strategies & Fuels

12:45 p.m.Luncheon

 1:15 p.m. Luncheon Keynote

 2:00 p.m. Plenary Session #3 - “Coming to Terms with Climate Change: Adapting to Actual and Expected Changes in Our Environment”

Objective: Provide a background framework from which to approach adaptation to climate change and elaborate on the existing programs currently in place to mitigate its near and long-term effects.

Moderator: Will Travis, Executive Director, Bay Conservation and Development Commission

  • Tony Brunello, Deputy Secretary for Energy and Climate Change, California Resources Agency – “California’s Adaptation Assessment and Climate Adaptation Strategy”

  • Mark Jacobson, Senior Fellow, by courtesy, Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University – “Climate Change’s Impact on Local Air Quality Attainment and Public Health”

 3:30 p.m. Plenary Session, Closing Panel - “Climate Dialogue: Panel Responses to Questions Developed in the Breakout Sessions”

Objective: Provide a summary closing discussion of key issues arising from the conference with views on how to effectively move forward.

Moderator: To Be Announced

  • James Goldstene, Executive Officer, California Air Resources Board

  • Wade Crowfoot, Political Director, West Coast, Environmental Defense Fund

  • Larry Greene, Executive Director/Air Pollution Control Officer, Sacramento Air Quality Management District

  • Joel Makower, Chairman and Executive Editor, GreenBiz.com

 4:30p.m. Program Adjourns

*Acronyms:
AB32 = California Assembly Bill 32 (Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006)
ACES = American Clean Energy and Security Act
CEQA = California Environmental Quality Act
FCAA = Federal Clean Air Act
NEPA = National Environmental Policy Act

Copyright © 2010 CAPCOA. California Air Pollution Control Officers Association.