Santa Cruz Green Watch: California Energy

The massive Gulf oilspill was a called a "Game Changer" by Catherine Reheis-Boyd, of the Western States Petroleum Association, an oil industry group, at a recent Climate One - Commonwealth Club event on May 21, 2010.

Four panelists and a moderator spoke on a wide range of energy policies and technologies. They were

-(DM) Dan Miller, Managing Director, Roda Group

-(CRB) Catherine Reheis-Boyd, President, Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA)

-(MB) Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club

-(JB) Jim Boyd, Vice Chair, California Energy Commission (CEC) [Mr. Boyd and Ms. Reheis-Boyd are related by marriage.]

-(MOD) Greg Dalton, Moderator

Although Michael Brune (Sierra Club) and Catherine Reheis-Boyd (WSPA) disagreed on many things, both did agreed this oilspill is "Game Changing." At least as interesting were the nuanced policy differences between Jim Boyd (CEC) and Michael Brune (Sierra)

The full audio is here plus some video clips. Climate One website is here.

A few summaries by topic:

Off-Shore Drilling

JB: Did support off-shore drilling; now is cautious; but seems to like new slant technology oil drilling which would generate State revenues, including funds for education.

MB: Wants permanent off-shore drilling ban.

Plan to move away from oil

JB: "our most optimistic projections show that we are going to be using petroleum for a long, long time." And added it be nice if all domestically produced, but not realistic.

MB: We will use oil as long as we allow ourselves to use oil. Instead, he suggested immediately create policies - policies to electrify transportation (rail, cars), switch heavy trucks to natural gas, green the grid.

Electric Vehicles

JB - Likes PHEV (ARB opposed?), likes Chevy Volt, says he wanted 40 mpg in 2003

MB - electrify transportation, beginning with fleets (like postal service)

California ZEV policy

JB - Was instituted on his 'watch.' Battery technology disappointed. Favors PHEV. [California pioneered ZEV regulations; but withdrew and car companies removed models. It may now be making a comeback at ARB.]

Biofuels

JB - insufficient but likes; hydrogen is in the future

MB - environmental concerns about water use and full life cycle GHG emissions

DM - With right rules and investment, can be done by 2015.

[CEC was criticized at recent Biofuels workshop]

Canadian Coal Tar Sands

JB - Better we use it then send it to China because we will get air pollution back because of their unregulated use.

[Mr. Boyd led a Calfornia delegation to China in April to discuss low-carbon economy, solar, ZEV, policy, etc.]

MB - Global problem, need global leadership

Natural Gas - fossil source

JB - cleanest fossil fuel, wants Combined Cycle (heat & power), use as bridging fuel; concerns about shale gas

MB - natural gas industry must be cleaner; increase regulatory standards for drilling and production

On energy policy

JB - Target #1 in California is building -not just home - efficiency

MB - Wants goals and use criteria: fastest, cleanest, cheapest, quickest

On electricity generation for the grid

JB - defers to MB

MB - No new coal; retire old coal plants; loading order is (1) energy-efficiency (2) small scale distributed generation (solar, wind, etc.) (3) large scale solar/wind (4) if necessary, large Natural Gas

[CEC has a policy of supporting CCS]

Investment

MB - $1 Trillion will be invested in the energy in next 10 years. How to apportion it?

Nuclear

JB - against for waste, cost

MB - nuclear comes in last on his criteria (fastest, cleanest, cheapest) - so no nukes

DM - nukes vs. coal - which is worse?

I think the game change is presence of Michael Brune. He seems to have clear objectives.

Climate One at the CommonWealth Club

http://www.climate-one.org/

http://www.climate-one.org/node/343 (all details)

-mp3