Collaboration between state and local governments will help long-term sustainable growth 

Interview with California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi

Lt. Governor John Garamendi

Q. How would you build conservation into the California infrastructure in the future?

A. Conservation is the cheapest and most effective way of saving resources and preserving the environment. Effective conservation requires that individuals understand how to use less and live well. Schools, local communities, utilities and public agencies can foster this understanding through education and public awareness campaigns.

Building efficiency into the infrastructure and built environment ensures future conservation of precious resources. Project design must be evaluated in this context. The thoughtful use of environmental review processes is the first step. Requirements to review greenhouse gas production have already begun to produce more sustainable projects. 

Q. What are the biggest challenges you see for cities and counties in California when it comes to reducing greenhouse gases?

The current economic downturn and California’s resulting budget crisis threatens resources for innovation. While the State considers withdrawing revenue from local communities in order to address California’s budget deficit, private investors remain reluctant to commit capital to state and local governments struggling with economic decline, cash flow challenges and deteriorating bond ratings.

In this environment, it will be challenging to ensure that policy leaders do not abandon environmental protection for unsustainable short-term growth. I am hopeful that federal recovery investments can help us to avoid this scenario.

Q. How will cities and counties know when they are going far enough in addressing climate change in their local plans and programs?

A. We can no longer afford the luxury of assuming that there is an endpoint representing “enough” attention to sustainable living. Addressing climate change will require constant reassessment of strategies and technologies. Our relationship to the environment is a dynamic one, and we must constantly ponder the costs and benefits of our actions. Although our resources to address the challenges of climate change are not limitless, investments in sustainability will provide savings for reinvesting.

Q. Which collaborative solutions have been most beneficial so far in assisting California to achieve the environmental goals of SB 375?

A. SB 375 is a complex and sometimes vague piece of legislation. Communities have experienced both frustration and successes in trying to implement it effectively. I am favorably impressed, for example, by efforts of Vacaville, Fairfield and Benicia to jointly define areas appropriate for development. Such approaches offer the potential to significantly increase open space while promoting denser and more sustainable development.

I would like to see increased collaboration between the State and local governments. In my view, the State should provide support and guidance and also serve as a clearinghouse to make innovative ideas immediately available to communities throughout California.

Q. What type of policies and incentives do you see to encourage businesses and residents to implement sound environmental practices?

A. I favor a carefully crafted blend of mandates and incentives, combined with education and outreach. The first task, of course, is to put the right price on carbon. Doing so will dictate the necessity for remaining mandates and incentives.

Mandates should include fuel efficiency standards, strict building code requirements, land use restrictions, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for waste management, and proper progressive rate structures for water and energy consumption.

Incentives will include tax benefits and other financial support as well as smart government procurement standards.

Q. What is it the most enjoyable part of your job?

A. The best part of my job is meeting and learning from the creative problem solvers in every local community. As Lieutenant Governor, I have been privileged to meet with local leaders who are moving sustainable local development initiatives forward. I am convinced that our society is in the midst of a major positive transformation. While formidable challenges with the potential to threaten our survival lie ahead, I believe in the Californians I have met. I have confidence that they will lead us to a sustainable future. 

Q. How would your role be different in addressing environmental issues as a Lieutenant Governor versus as a U.S. Congressional Representative?

A. What I have learned as Lieutenant Governor has prepared me to make an important contribution on environmental issues at the national level. I intend to work collaboratively with my colleagues in Congress to share the lessons that California is learning as it blazes the trail for U.S. policy responses to global climate change. I also intend to do all I can to ensure ongoing federal financial support for our continuing efforts.

America's Greenest Campuses

Universities compete to reduce their carbon footprints

Campuses around the nation are competing to go green. Climate Culture, a Web site dedicated to helping people make smarter choices to reduce their impact on climate change, has created a competition for college campuses around the nation to reduce their carbon footprints and improve sustainability by October 5, 2009. The America’s Greenest Campus (AGC) competition is the first nationwide contest of its kind, and it gives college campuses a chance to recognize their impact on the earth and make long-lasting lifestyle changes and improvements.

The contest is catching on quickly. In the few short weeks since it was launched, AGC has signed up over 6,000 students at over 400 universities, and it is shaping up to be the largest measurable youth environmental campaign in U.S. history. Currently, students who have signed up have committed to reduce their annual carbon emissions by 4 million pounds, reduce 1.5 million gallons of water usage each year, and avoid using a total of over 25,000 gallons of gasoline. 

The leader board on the Web site keeps track of the school with the most members and the amount of carbon reduced. Currently, University of Maryland-College Park, George Mason University and Rio Salado University are in the lead. Winning schools will be eligible for prizes such as $5,000 to the school with the most participants (students, alumni, faculty, staff), $5,000 to the school with the largest percentage of carbon emissions reduced, and $10,000 to the winner of the SmartPower Energy Smart Ad Challenge.

The America’s Greenest Campus competition is partnered with SmartPower, GlobalGrind.com and the U.S. Department of Energy to help support the campuses pledging to go green. You can view the school rankings at www.americasgreenestcampus.com and watch America’s universities make record-breaking progress in this grassroots go-green campaign.

State takes action by providing incentives for utilities and homes

As the world rushes to combat climate change, developing wind and solar power have become top priorities for all sectors of the community. Though converting to greener energy may seem like an expensive and daunting task to most states and their constituents, the state of California has been very successful at encouraging public and private entities to explore alternative sources of power through various lucrative tax incentives, legislation, and mandates.

Most recently, on June 18, the state approved a plan, the California Solar Initiative, to implement the largest solar project in the United States. The project involves installing solar panels at 150 sites across Southern California over the next five years and is expected to generate about 250 megawatts of power. This is extremely significant, considering a single megawatt can power approximately 650 average-sized California homes. Other action taken by the state includes requiring utility companies to produce 20 percent of their power from renewable resources like solar and wind power. To take it a step further, the state even provides a 30 percent tax credit for utilities that want to build solar installations.       
For example, Sacramento Municipal Utilities District has made solar power available for purchase to all of its customers through its Solar Shares program. The utility works with developers to create "Solar Smart" homes that have integrated solar and several energy efficient features.  It also provides incentives for customers to install residential solar energy systems.

Following the lead of utility companies and government, more and more private residents, as well, are becoming aware of the generous rebates provided by the state that can be received after installing solar panels. Refunds which can come from the state government for the homeowner can range anywhere between 20 percent and 50 percent of the cost of a system, and that doesn’t even include the incredible savings in energy bills.

California’s approach to greener energy shows that there is something for everyone when it comes to sustainability and conservation. Using solar power is a great and cost-effective way to go green and take part in the energy conservation movement.

ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE ONE CARBON FOOTPRINT AT A TIME.