2018 PROGRAM

January 10, 2018

Welcome Reception @ The Living Desert

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

January 11, 2018

Summit @ The Show at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa

Youth Experience @ Cahuilla Ballroom at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa

8:00 am – 9:00 am – Registration

8:30 am – 9:00 am – Greater Palm Springs CVB Salton Sea Press Conference
The Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) will release the findings of a new study that analyzes the potential economic benefits of a Revitalized Salton Sea

• Scott White, President & CEO, Greater Palm Springs CVB

9:00 am – 9:10 am – Conference Open

• Tom Kirk, Executive Director, Coachella Valley Association of Governments

9:10 am – 9:20 am – Welcome to the Coachella Valley

• Scott White, President & CEO, Greater Palm Springs CVB

9:20 am – 9:30 am – Riverside County Update

• Hon. V. Manuel Perez, Supervisor 4th District, County of Riverside

9:30 am – 9:40 am – Climate + Energy: California’s progress on GHGs, renewables, transportation and efficiency

• Sammy Roth, Energy and Environmental Reporter, The Desert Sun

9:40 am – 9:50 am – Water: Growing strains on the Colorado River, the crisis of the Salton Sea

• Ian James, Environmental Reporter, The Desert Sun

9:50 am – 10:10 am – The Clean Power and Electrification Pathway: Realizing California’s Environmental Goals

• J. Andrew (Drew) Murphy, Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Edison International, Southern California Edison

10:10 am – 10:20 am – Networking Break

10:20 am – 10:35 am – The Road To Our Clean Transportation Future

• Janea Scott, Commissioner, California Energy Commission

10:35 am – 11:20 am – Charging Ahead: The Pathway to a Sustainable Region
This panel will discuss how government, utility and industry are working together to advance California’s clean air goals, reduce green house gas emissions, and educate the workforce of tomorrow to improve the quality of life in Southern California. Key topics will include the Grid of the Future, Electrification in transportation, housing and businesses, the advancement of renewable energy and battery storage, and public policy.

• Janea Scott, Commissioner, California Energy Commission

• Nate Otto, President, Hot Purple Energy

• Bill Van Amberg, Senior Vice President, CALSTART

• Chris Thompson, Vice President, Local Public Affairs, Southern California Edison
• Dan Rendler, Director, Customer Programs and Assistance, Southern California Gas Company

Moderator: Hon. Ben Benoit, Mayor, City of Wildomar, Member, South Coast AQMD

11:25 am – 11:40 am – Renewable Energy, Reliability and Resiliency for Communities of the Future

• Angelina Galiteva, Governor, California Independent Systems Operator, Founder & Board Chair, Renewable 100 Policy Institute

11:40 am – 12:25 pm – The Future Of The Salton Sea
This panel will discuss the current status of the Salton Sea, examining where we are now, how did we get here and where are going in the future.

• Bruce Wilcox, Assistant Secretary of Salton Sea Policy, California Natural Resources Agency

• E. Joaquin Esquivel, Member, State Water Resources Control Board

• Antonio Ortega, Government Affairs & Communications Officer, Imperial Irrigation District

• Kim Delfino, California Director, Defenders of Wildlife
• Jennifer Toy, Design Director, Kounkuey Design Initiative

Moderator: Phil Rosentrater, Executive Director, Salton Sea Authority

12:25 pm – 1:05 pm – Lunch

1:05 pm – Welcome Back

1:05 pm – 1:10 pm – 2018 Youth Experience

• Maria Wren, CEO, SMaRT Education

1:10 pm – 1:30 pm – Presenting Sponsor Welcome

• Chairman Jeff Grubbe, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians

1:30 pm – 1:45 pm – Community, Clean Energy & Nature

• Michael Brune, Executive Director, Sierra Club

1:45 pm – 2:00 pm – A Conversation on Climate Justice
Hear from the Executive Director of the nation’s largest grassroots organization and the newest commissioner of the nation’s largest municipal utility to discuss the importance of Climate Justice.

• Aura Vasquez, Commissioner, Los Angeles DWP

• Michael Brune, Executive Director, Sierra Club

2:00 pm: Conference Close

YOUTH EXPERIENCE PROGRAM

January 11, 2018

Youth Experience @ Cahuilla Ballroom at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa

7:30am – 8:00am – Student Check-In & Assemble in Ballroom

8:15am – 8:30am – Welcome by Youth Experience Producer & Host

• Maria Wren, CEO, SMaRT Education

• Chairman Jeff Grubbe, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians

8:30 am – Walk over to The Show for Summit – meet attendees & explore exhibits

9:00 am – 9:45 am – Summit Program

9:45 am – 10:00 am – Walk back to Ballroom

10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Youth Experience: Students will be given instructions and objectives for 15 min rotations among exhibits w/ presenters from the following organizations:

​• Sentinel Energy Center• The Living Desert• DHS HS REAL Academy• PDHS Engineering Academy• SMaRT Education• Agua Caliente• Hot Purple Energy• Veolia• College of the Desert• Sierra Club 

12:00 pm – 12:45 pm – Lunch sponsored by Sentinel Energy Center

12:45 pm – 1:00 pm – Walk back to The Show for Summit

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Summit

2:00 pm – Students Depart

To recommend a speaker or topic for next year's Summit, please contact
Josh Zipperman of Burke Rix Communications at Josh@BurkeRix.com

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HOSTED BY

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PRESENTED BYPRODUCED BY

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PLATINUM SPONSORS

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Copyright ©2017, Burke Rix Communications, LLC