6/19/10
Jiangsu-California MOU Update
As I posted before, California and Jiangsu Province signed a landmark, subnational agreement on energy cooperation in October 2009 (MOU, here, here, here), Since then, California has quietly initiated a range of activities, bodies, work plans. At least 2 Calfornia delegations have visited China and in April there was California-Shenzen conference. Nanjing University and UCSB have begun cooperation on efforts to effect community energy reductions. NRDC will do a building/DSM study in Jiangsu.
Although the Calfornia governor's legal office has blocked release of all documents related to the MOU (also here), some of the pieces can be put together through information obtained from various State agencies via CPRA requests, the California Public Records Act. Early on, Susan Kennedy, of the Governor's Office, and Dian Grueneich of CPUC, acknowledged knowledge of the MOU and activities but did not returned repeated phone calls or emails.
CalEPA and CARB have dragged their feet for months, including accusations of defamation, but did release limited information on June 8 in response to an April CPRA request. They have not explained omissions or responded to subsequent emails to obtain the remainder. They also redacted a document while I was looking at it, which said in part "I don't think I can put him off much longer", a reference to me.
Similarly the Energy Commission and CPUC have released limited information, but only under the CPRA.
Similarly the Energy Commission and CPUC have released limited information, but only under the CPRA.
Below is a brief summary of some of the California-China activities. The original goals of the MOU are quite good: to work together on policies, technologies, standards that would lower GHG and energy. Some of projects (NRDC, UCSB) seem quite encouraging. As information beomes clearer on the State's polcies I will update and post on this DOE energy wiki.
Besides the State of California, several non-profit organizations play active, but poorly understood roles in California-China relations: Ex: CFEE, iCET, ecolinx.
CFEE's Study trips abroad are reported by Tom Knudson of the Sacramento Bee. (7/26/2009). Ecolinx.org is a foundation of Margaret Kim, China Program Director for CalEPA.
The reason for California state government's acute sensitivity to an energy and environmental MOU is not known. The situation at this moment is to obtain missing information from CalEPA,CARB. I think preferable the State of Government disclose all of its China efforts and include public participation; unfortunately, it has chosen this route.
Caution: Much of the following information has been obtained by CPRA, and I have reason to believe that the State of California is withholding key information which may shed additional facts and interpretations to this information. However, what I write I have physical paper to back up or credible second or third-party websites to support. Nor is this a complete list of activities.
Clarification is needed.
October 2009
-California-Jiangsu MOU signed
-Calfornia Regulatory & Legislative Delegation visits China and Jiangsu, includes Jeffrey Bryon (CEC) and Michael Peevey (CPUC), California business leaders, legislators. Trip paid by CFEE, includes:
John Perez $7,847 gift
Bonnie Lowenthal $8037 gift
Carol Liu, $7469 gift
Curren Price, $8259 gift
John Perez $7,847 gift
Bonnie Lowenthal $8037 gift
Carol Liu, $7469 gift
Curren Price, $8259 gift
November 2009
-UCSB and Nanjing University researchers report on opportunties (under MOU) for coordinated, joint research. (Based on visit to Suzhou Industrial Park and Nanjing on October 28-30, 2009)
December 2009
-CalEPA, NRDC, WRI meet in Copenhagen to discuss MOU implementation
-Chinese delegations visit CEC (several each year)
Februrary 24, 2010
-C3 (and earlier?) organized by CalEPA, meets privately at Energy Foundation in SF. [I was not allowed to attend, listen or obtain information.] Sponsors?
March 2010
Following verbal request to CARB and Mary Nichols, Margret Kim, China Program Director, released minimal C3 information, accused me of 'defamation.' Neither she nor Mary Nichols return emails seeking additional C3 or MOU information, or the role of Ms. Kim's non-profit ecolinx.org.
April, 2010 (CalEPA omits April information from CPRA request; many questions)
-California Delegation visits China, led by Linda Adams, CalEPA, and James Boyd, CEC.
includes at least these 3 distinct conferences
-members of California delegation - unknown;
-other activities in China - unknown;
-who pays - mostly unknown;
-objectives, outcomes - unknown
-process by which CalEPA approves these activities is unknown, not public
April 16-18, 2010 - "2010 International Low-Carbon Development Forum - Shenzen - California", including "deliverables": [from CPRA response]
-"California-Shenzhen PKU Energy Efficiency Research Centers" [established by State of California, University of California (Davis) and Shenzhen City.]
-"California-China Clean Tech Initiative (C3) hub in Southern [sic] China" (State of California is 'partner')
- Low Carbon Sister City relationship between Shenzhen city and Sacramento, California
- "US-China Low-Carbon Industries Alliance (UCLCIA) formed, includes the State of California,
-Shenzhen signs C3, R20?
-Keynotes include:
Dan Sperling, UCD, CARB
Michael Siminovitch, UCD
Linda Adams, CalEPA
Nancy Skinner, California Legislator [Rep Skinner's office said she did not visit China; emails and phone calls were not returned]
-April 19 - 20, 2010 - "energy and clean transportation conference and strategy meetings" (UC Davis - Institute of Transportation Studies), CalEPA requests Boyd attend (Shanghai, Chongming Island - ZEV), payment by UC Davis. MOU pending?
-April 21 - 23, 2010 - study tour, Jiangsu & Beijing, solar PV, manufacturing, joint venture discussions. CalEPA requests Boyd attend, paid by iCET
May 2010
- DSM Management and Building Efficiency Study/Analysis Agreement (paid by NRDC)
(NRDC & Jiangsu Research Institute of Building Science Co, Ltd & State Grid DSM Instruction Center) to be completed by 12/2010 - thanks to Barbara Finamore of NRDC who provided this.
(2 year workplan - details coming - CPRA - CalEPA)
-MOU Steering Committee formed (1 member ?? - James Boyd)
June 2010
Bren School, UCSB and Nanjing U. begin cooperation
(also CPRA info)
===
Organizations mentioned in this article (partial)
CFEE
C3 (invitation), C3 (ecolinx)
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council - US NGO)
JRIBS
Bren School of the Environment, UCSB also: http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/
Links mentioned in this article (partial)
Open energy wiki, (The Open Energy Information initiative (OpenEI) is a platform to connect the world’s energy data. Run by US Dept of Energy; public)
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