President-Elect Obama Mentions Continued Support for Climate Change Cap and Trade System

President-elect Barack Obama, speaking today via YouTube to the Bi-Partisan Governors Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles, reaffirmed his support for a federal cap-and-trade system that would sound very similar to California’s cap and trade system currently being developed by the California Air Resources Board as a part of its AB 32 mandate.

In his remarks, he endorsed a federal cap and trade system, and marked his support for reducing GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
Also notable in his remarks was what he didn’t say. During the presidential campaign, he frequently mentioned a litany of new and old energy technologies, including solar power and wind power and others. Today, while he said we should “tap nuclear power while making sure it’s safe, and develop clean coal technologies,” he left out any mention of “limited offshore oil drilling” as he had mentioned during the campaign – or of any oil drilling for that matter.

Marin Clean Energy Launches Public Education Phase in Drive to Create Green Power Agency

My most recent project is working on Marin Clean Energy, the effort to set up a green, renewable power agency in Marin County to replace PG&E.

In attendance at the press conference for the kickoff the public education campaign were Supervisors Charles McGlashan and Hal Brown, MMWD Board President Larry Russell, and Sausalito City Councilmember Jonathan Leone.

As the Marin Independent Journal reported, "the plan to create Marin Clean Energy, a power alternative to Pacific Gas and Electric Co., could make Marin the first county in the state to cut greenhouse gases by 15 percent, said Marin Supervisor Charles McGlashan." read more

The S.F. Chronicle also reported that Marin Clean Energy "would pool the energy needs of all residents and businesses, allowing a local board to negotiate not only for energy rates but energy sources." read more

San Francisco moves to greenest building codes in U.S. (SF Chronicle)

San Francisco moved a step closer Wednesday to imposing the country's most stringent green building codes, regulations that would require new large commercial buildings and residential high-rises to contain such environmentally friendly features as solar power, nontoxic paints and plumbing fixtures that decrease water usage... more