Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom has championed innovative public programs since first taking office in 1997.
As a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, then as mayor of San Francisco and now as Lieutenant Governor of California, Newsom has been a visionary on issues of equality, the environment, homelessness and healthcare. Policies he has initiated and implemented have been duplicated in cities across the nation.
Shortly after being elected Lt. Gov. in 2010, Newsom gathered the ideas of key stakeholders around the state to develop an economic growth and job creation strategy. This comprehensive economic blueprint, a top priority of his administration, ensures that California remains one of the top 10 economies in the world.
At 34, he was the youngest person elected Mayor of San Francisco in more than a century and was re-elected for a second-term by more than 73 percent. Thirty-six days into his first term in 2004, Newsom threw himself into one of the most divisive issues in U.S. politics by allowing same-sex couples to marry in violation of state law.
During his seven-year tenure as mayor, he led San Francisco to an economic recovery by making the city a center for biotech and clean technology, while attracting and then keeping start-ups. He balanced seven consecutive budgets on time during national economic instability without laying off a single teacher, police officer, or firefighter. He reduced the size of San Francisco’s government, maintained a healthy bond rating and instituted a Rainy Day Fund to protect city services against future catastrophic cuts.
His administration instituted a first-of-its-kind universal health care program without adding new taxes. More than 80% of the previously uninsured in San Francisco are now covered.
He has been a tireless advocate for the homeless and as both a city supervisor and mayor he championed comprehensive homeless policies aimed at breaking the cycle of dependency and moving people into stable situations
In 2010, Newsom was selected the greenest mayor for a second year in a row for launching ground-breaking programs such as mandatory composting, plastic bag and Styrofoam bans and a prohibition on city-purchased bottled water. Shortly after establishing the most stringent green building standards in America, San Francisco then achieved the highest rate of recycling and waste diversion in the U.S.
He is the host of “The Gavin Newsom Show” on Current TV and has authored “Citizenville” which explores the intersection of democracy and technology in this ever-connected world. It is scheduled for release by Penguin books in February 2013.
Newsom, 44, is married to actress/producer Jennifer Siebel Newsom. They reside in Marin County with their two children Montana and Hunter.
Carla Peterman
Carla Peterman was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in January 2011. She fills the Public Member position on the five-member Commission where four of the five members by law are required to have professional training in specific areas – engineering or physical science, environmental protection, economics, and law.
Ms. Peterman has conducted research at the University of California Energy Institute at Haas since 2006 and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory from 2008 to 2010. She was a business analyst with Isles from 2004 to 2005 and was an associate focused on energy financing in the investment banking division of Lehman Brothers from 2002 to 2004. Ms. Peterman also served on the board of directors for The Utility Reform Network from 2008-2011, most recently as Board Treasurer. Commissioner Peterman currently presides over the Energy Commission’s Renewables Committee and is the Associate Member on the Electricity and Natural Gas Committee.
Ms. Peterman will complete her doctoral studies this year in Energy and Resources at the University of California Berkeley. Her research focuses on solar photovoltaic markets, policy, and financial incentives. She has also worked and written on a wide range of California energy and policy issues including, cap-and-trade, efficacy of local environmental regulations, climate change and communities of color, clean energy subsidies, and energy security. Peterman holds a B.A. in history from Howard University and an M.S. in environmental change and management and an M.B.A. from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes Scholar.
Karen Douglas
Karen Douglas was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in February 2008, and served a two-year term as Chair from February 2009 to February 2011. She fills the Attorney position on the five-member Commission, where four of the five members by law are required to have professional training in specific areas - engineering or physical science, environmental protection, economics, and law. Commissioner Douglas is the Lead Commissioner on energy efficiency, power plant siting, and federal stimulus programs.
From 2005 to her appointment, Ms. Douglas served as director of the California Climate Initiative at Environmental Defense. Prior to going to Environmental Defense, Ms. Douglas spent four years at the Planning and Conservation League as the Natural Resources Director, General Counsel, and most recently, acting Executive Director.
Commissioner Douglas is a 2001 graduate of Stanford Law School, and holds a Master's Degree in public policy from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Catherine J.K. Sandoval
Catherine J.K. Sandoval, of Campbell, was appointed to the California Public Utilities Commission on January 25, 2011, by Governor Jerry Brown. She has worked as an associate professor at Santa Clara University School of Law since 2004. She previously served as undersecretary and senior policy advisor for housing with the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency from 2001 to 2004. She was vice president and general counsel with Z-Spanish Media Corporation from 1999 to 2001 and was the director of the Office of Communications Business Opportunities for the Federal Communications Commission from 1994 to 1999. Commissioner Sandoval was an associate with Munger, Tolles & Olson from 1991 to 1994. She earned a J.D. from Stanford Law School, a Master of Letters in political science from Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar, and a B.A. from Yale.
Janea A. Scott
Janea Scott is currently working at the Department of the Interior as the Deputy Counselor for Renewable Energy in the Office of the Secretary. In that role, Ms. Scott assists the Counselor in facilitating and implementing the Secretary’s priorities for the Department. One of Secretary Salazar’s highest priorities is standing up renewable energy on our nation’s public lands, and this is one of Ms. Scott’s primary focuses. Ms. Scott serves as one of the co-chairs for the Renewable Energy Policy Group—a group formed by Interior Secretary Salazar and the previous Governor of California and continued by Governor Brown to advance renewable energy initiatives in California—and she also helps to lead renewable energy initiatives within Interior.
Before joining the Interior team in April of 2009, Ms. Scott worked on clean air issues as a senior attorney at Environmental Defense Fund—a non-profit organization that partners with businesses, governments, and communities to find practical environmental solutions. Ms. Scott received her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School and her Masters and Bachelors of Science from Stanford University.
Angelina Galiteva
Governor Jerry Brown appointed Angelina Galiteva on May 2, 2011 to the California Independent System Operator Corporation Board of Governors to a term that expires on December 31, 2013.
Ms. Galiteva, of Fountain Valley, is currently President for NEOptions, Inc., a renewable energy and new technology product design and project development firm. Her industry experience includes serving as Executive Director of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and head of its Green LA, Environmental Affairs and New Product Development Organization. While at the municipal utility, she was responsible for strategic positioning and the environmental compliance departments. Her career includes working with the California ISO and Power Exchange on their initial launches and she also worked as a power analyst for the New York Power Authority.
Ms. Galiteva graduated from Pace University School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree in 1993 and a LL.M. degree in 1994 in Environmental and Energy Law. She specialized in electric utility strategic policy analysis and decision making focusing on pending industry transition and deregulation issues.
Ms. Galiteva works to advance the deployment of renewable energy and distributed energy technologies worldwide. She also serves as the Chairperson for the World Council for Renewable Energy, where she is one of the spokespersons, among other duties.
Ms. Galiteva is currently awaiting Senate confirmation.
Dennis Arriola
Dennis Arriola is president and chief operating officer for Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas).
Previously a long-time veteran for the Sempra family of companies, Arriola left Sempra in 2008 to work for Silicon Valley-based SunPower Corporation, a solar panel manufacturer, as its executive vice president & chief financial officer.
From 1994 to 2008, Arriola held a variety of increasingly responsible leadership positions within the Sempra family of companies.
From 2006 to 2008, he was senior vice president & chief financial officer of both SDG&E and SoCalGas. Previously, Arriola also served as vice president of communications & investor relations for Sempra Energy and regional vice president & general manager of Sempra’s South American operations. He first joined the company in 1994 as treasurer for Pacific Enterprises/SoCalGas.
Arriola has a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Stanford University.
Lisa Cagnolatti
Lisa Cagnolatti is vice president of the Business Customer Division of Southern California Edison’s (SCE’s) Customer Service Business Unit. She oversees the company’s relationships with its major industrial, commercial, and government customers as well as SCE’s efforts to stimulate business development in the 15 counties the company serves. Cagnolatti joined SCE in 1996 and has held a variety of duties with the company in a broad range of management positions.
Before joining SCE, Cagnolatti worked 11 years with Southern California Gas Co. in a variety of positions; and, prior to that, she worked two years for Procter & Gamble.
Cagnolatti earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University.
V. Manuel Perez
First elected in 2008 and now in his second term, State Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez represents the 80th Assembly District, comprised of eastern Riverside and Imperial counties.
As chair of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy, Manuel's top priority is the state’s economic recovery, which he believes can be achieved through local economic development, supporting small business, and protecting local government. He also strongly advocates for continued investments in education, while ensuring a safety net for our most vulnerable communities.
Manuel is also a member of the Assembly Committees on Aging and Long-term Care; Government Organization; Health; and Veterans Affairs. He is also the chair of the Select Committee on the Renewable Energy Economy in Rural California. Click here to learn more about his committee assignments.
Manuel lives in Coachella and is a lifelong resident of the 80th Assembly District. Born in Indio and raised in Coachella, he grew up in a close-knit family that taught him the value of hard work, determination, respect, and service to others. He attended public schools, graduated from U.C. Riverside, and earned a Master's degree in Education from Harvard University. Manuel has served as a school teacher, a youth advocate, and a community healthcare director. Before being elected to the Assembly, he served on the board of the Coachella Valley Unified School District.
John J. Benoit
Supervisor John J. Benoit was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Nov. 4, 2009 to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, replacing the late Roy Wilson in representing the County's 4th District, which stretches from Palm Springs to Blythe. A veteran of 31 years in law enforcement, John also served on the Desert Sands School Board and was actively involved in community service before his election to the State Legislature. Starting as a cadet with the Corona Police Department in 1971, he joined the California Highway Patrol in 1973, working in L.A., Sacramento and Bakersfield before being assigned as the Indio Area Commander in 1988. He also attended the FBI National Academy and served as a Volunteer Fire Captain with the Sunset-Whitney Fire Department.
John's legislative priorities have included budget reform, job creation, public safety, and education. His legislative successes in child care safety were featured on "The Montel Williams Show," a nationally syndicated talk show. A strong fiscal conservative, John is nevertheless known for his ability to reach effectively across the aisle, a talent that allowed him to have forty pieces of legislation signed into law. He was awarded the Outstanding Legislator of the Year by the California School Boards Association, the School Transportation Coalition, the California Rifle and Pistol Association and the California Narcotics Officers' Association.
John earned a B.S. degree in Public Safety at Cal State Los Angeles, and a Master's in Public Administration at Cal State San Bernardino. Having participated in language immersion programs in Mexico and Costa Rica, he frequently communicates legislative principles to the Spanish-language media. His bilingual skills are invaluable to his work in the County of Riverside's Fourth District.
James Boyd
Jim serves as Chairman of the Collaborative. The Chairman interacts with the Executive Director, Collaborative staff and Collaborative members, providing advice and counsel. As well he represents the Collaborative to other stakeholders and interested parties, media and government and legislative representatives. He chairs meetings of the Collaborative and its Steering Committee. He serves on the Collaborative Strategic Planning Committee.
Prior to this, Jim was a California State Energy Commissioner, appointed by two successive Governors to two five year terms. He was appointed Vice Chairman of the Commission (CEC). Among his many duties, he oversaw transportation and vehicle fuels activities for his entire term of office. He was prime mover in creating the Plug-In Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Research Center at the University of California Davis (UCD). He oversaw the growth of the CEC's Global Climate research and served on the State Climate Advisory Team.
He served as Deputy Secretary and Chief of Staff of the California Natural Resources Agency, and as Executive Officer of the California Air Resources Board for 15 years. He retired from California State government after serving over 50 years as a public servant.
In addition to his voluntary work for the Collaborative, he is a founding board member of the Tahoe Fund, serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the American Carbon Registry, the US DOE Petroleum Council, the UCD Institute of Transportation Studies and UCD Urban Land Use and Transportation Studies Center and the University of CA-San Diego Algae Research Center. He serves as a consultant on environment and energy policy programs.
David Nahai
David Nahai is a leading expert in water, energy and real estate matters. He is the president of David Nahai Consulting Services, LLC, which advises clients in the water and energy sectors, and is also a partner at the law firm of Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith and co-chair of its energy, water, and real estate practice areas.
Mr. Nahai is also the former General Manager and Commission President of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the largest municipal utility in the United States. As President and General Manager, Mr. Nahai led the overall transformation of the LADWP, including the origination and execution of the City’s groundbreaking Water Supply Plan; the attainment of historic reductions in water consumption in the City; the unprecedented expansion of the utility’s renewable energy portfolio to 15% (paving the way for the attainment of the 20% level by 2010); the realization of record breaking energy efficiency levels; and the launch and implementation of water and power infrastructure improvement programs.
Mr. Nahai is the former Chair of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, where he served in the administrations of 3 California Governors. The Regional Water Quality Control Board safeguards the quality of surface, ground, and coastal waters in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, an area with over 11 million residents. He is credited with reinvigorating the effectiveness of the Water Board and spearheading some of its most aggressive programs, especially in the area of coastal protection.
Mr. Nahai also sits on the Boards of the California League of Conservation Voters, Heal the Bay, and the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and has served as a Senior Advisor to the Clinton Climate Initiative.
David Nahai holds graduate and post-graduate degrees in law from the London School of Economics and the University of California at Berkeley, and was a Visiting Scholar at Berkeley.
Mr. Nahai has been the recipient of numerous environmental awards and commendations, which include the following:
2003: Environmental Champion Award from the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters
2008: Dorothy Green Award from Heal the Bay
2008: Service Award by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
2012: Sierra Club’s Political Leadership Award
Jim Kenna
Jim Kenna, the newly appointed State Director for California, has joined the California State Office leaving his position as State Director in Arizona. As BLM California’s new State Director, Kenna will be involved in the many issues the BLM faces in managing the 15.2 million acres it is responsible for in California and northwest Nevada.
Kenna began his federal career as a wildland firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service in Prescott, Arizona. He previously served in numerous key agency positions, including Associate State Director in Oregon, Deputy Assistant Director for Resources and Planning in Washington, D.C., Budget Analyst for the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C., and Field Manager of the BLM’s Palm Springs Field Office in California. He was BLM’s Arizona State Director from January 2009 to September 2011.
While working in the federal government, Kenna contributed his leadership and planning to many important initiatives and conservation efforts. He provided his leadership in establishing Service First and Stewardship Contracting initiatives and in coordinating federal, state and local land use planning processes balancing community needs, water rights and conservation of multiple species in southern California.
During his time as Palm Springs Field Manager, he worked with communities and tribes leading to the establishment of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, and worked with the Border Area Fire Council in San Diego to address international border security, fire response, public safety and ecological issues.
He also coordinated a national conservation strategy for sagebrush habitats with Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Western Governors Association.
Kenna has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Prescott College in Arizona. When not at work, Kenna enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons hiking, rafting, reading and enjoying music.
Jonathan Weisgall
Jonathan Weisgall is Vice President for Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. He also serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies and president of the Geothermal Energy Association.
He is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he has taught a seminar on energy issues since 1990, and he has also guest lectured on energy issues at Stanford Law School and the Johns Hopkins Environmental Science and Policy Program. Mr. Weisgall graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia College and from Stanford Law School, where he served on the Board of Editors of Stanford Law Review. He previously practiced law in Washington, D.C. at Covington & Burling, has written law review articles for Wisconsin Law Review and University of San Francisco Law Review, and has published articles in Legal Times, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Foreign Policy, SAIS Review and The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
Warren B. Diven
Mr. Diven is a partner in the Public Finance practice group of Best Best & Krieger LLP. He has practiced public finance and public agency law for the past 33 years. For the past 26 years, Mr. Diven has specialized in public finance law, acting as lead counsel in engagements involving the following types of financings or finance issues: Community facilities district bonds; revenue bonds and Certificates of Participation; Mark-Roos bonds; general obligation bonds; assessment district bonds; tax allocation bonds; municipal securities disclosure; assessment district and community facilities district foreclosure proceedings; and restructuring and workouts of distressed assessment districts and community facilities districts. Mr. Diven has also served as the City Attorney for the Cities of San Marcos and Solana Beach and as general counsel for several community services districts. Mr. Diven is an active member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers and the California Government Finance Officers’ Association.
Mark McDaniels
Mark McDaniels is Vice President for CPV, currently overseeing construction and asset management at CPV Sentinel, LLC.
Mark has over 30 years experience in the energy industry. Prior to joining CPV in 2008, he held numerous leadership positions responsible for all commercial, operations and maintenance activities of wind, geothermal, gas and nuclear power generation and biofuel production facilities. He has also served as Construction Project Manager, where he was responsible for construction and commissioning of over 5,000 MW of generation and over 300 MGY of biofuel assets.
Mark holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Madison University and is licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Marion Ashley
Born here in Riverside County in 1935, Ashley has long shown his deep commitment to the people of Riverside County. Along with his family, including Mary, his wife of more than 56 years, his six children, 19 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren, Ashley has worked for decades to improve the lives of his fellow citizens.
After years in the private sector as a CPA and being a founder of a real estate investment firm, Ashley decided to become more directly involved in the public sector when he served from 1973-1981 as a Riverside County Planning Commission and was elected to a seat on the board of the Eastern Municipal Water District in 1992.
While with Eastern, Ashley became known throughout the region for his commitment to collaborate with other government organizations to foster more coherent public planning processes and more effective expenditure of public funds.
He worked tirelessly to bring to fruition the nationally acclaimed Riverside County Integrated Project, which includes billions of dollars for new road construction and conservation of important habitat lands for endangered species.
From his Chairmanship of the March Air Reserve Base Joint Powers Authority to his leadership on the creation of the Mid-County Parkway, and the Perris Valley Metrolink Line, to his experience in water issues, Ashley has shown his expertise in three of the most crucial issues facing California’s future – jobs, roads, and water.
Ashley’s commitment to the health and safety of the people of Riverside County is unparalleled. He has provided funding for more jail beds, new sheriff deputies, firefighters, and district attorneys and probation officers during his nine years as a County Supervisor.
Alexandra Pitts
Alexandra (Alex) Pitts became Deputy Regional Director of the Pacific Southwest Region (Region 8) on July 4, 2010.
As Deputy Regional Director, Ms. Pitts has a lead role in ensuring the sustained delivery of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conservation programs and services at 50 national wildlife refuges, 11 fish and wildlife offices, three national fish hatcheries in California, Nevada and the Klamath Basin of southern Oregon. Region 8 also administers the Endangered Species Act, and has lead management responsibilities for 292 threatened and endangered species.
Ms. Pitts began her career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1998, serving as the Service’s Chief of Congressional and Legislative Affairs in Washington, D.C.. In August 2004, Alex came to the Pacific Southwest Region (formerly California and Nevada Operations) where she served as Assistant Regional Director of External Affairs for nearly six years.
Prior to her career with the Service, Alex worked as a lobbyist for the Weyerhaeuser Company. She also spent nearly seven years on Capitol Hill working first as a legislative assistant to Oregon Congressmen Michael Kopetski, as a staff member on the House Agriculture Committee and later as a legislative aide to Oregon Senator Ron Wyden. Alex has an undergraduate degree in geography and botany and a Masters in Forestry.
Alex lives in Fair Oaks, California with her husband Keith, three children and a large assortment of animals. Alex and her family enjoy spending time hiking, kayaking and skiing in all of the wonderful outdoor places California has to offer.
Ashley’s commitment to the health and safety of the people of Riverside County is unparalleled. He has provided funding for more jail beds, new sheriff deputies, firefighters, and district attorneys and probation officers during his nine years as a County Supervisor.
Gary Wyatt
Helping people to achieve success and to improve their quality of life has been important to Gary Wyatt since he was elected as the 4th District Supervisor for Imperial County in 2001. As a local and state wide advocate for Imperial County, Gary has earned the trust and respect of his peers. They selected him for several critical positions such as the current President of California State Association of Counties. He has served on the CSAC Board of Directors for 8+ and was as an Executive Committee member for 2 years.
Gary is also Imperial County’s representative to the Regional Council of Rural Counties where he served on the Executive Committee and is Chair of the Legislative Committee. He has served for 8+ years on the Salton Sea Authority, a regional JPA, including 3 years as President. He is active in the National Association of Counties serving on the Environment, Energy and Land Use Committee.
Gary has been married to his wife Dorothy for 35 years. They have 2 children, Kari and Jeremy. Previously to his service as a County Supervisor, he worked for the Sheriff’s Department for 10 years where he was Supervisor of the Crime Prevention Unit. As an active member of his local community, he has been a member of the Rotary Club, American Citizens Club and the Chamber of Commerce. He enjoys playing golf, reading, fishing, hunting and being a sports official.
John Bergwell
John Bergwell joined Chevron in September 2001 as the company’s Director of Project Finance, bringing 25 years of financing experience to the position. John and his team are responsible for analyzing and structuring proposed project cashflows assure compliance with customer RFP requirements and federal/state statutes. Significant time is spent researching funding programs, as well as building and maintaining relationships with leading financial vendors in the energy services arena. In addition to reviewing the proposed energy project calculations and assumptions, they assist the national sales force in negotiating contracts that are in compliance with local, state and federal statutes.
Prior to joining Chevron, John held banking positions in project financing, syndication, securitization, asset-based lending, and equipment leasing. Over the course of his banking career, John has been directly involved in the closing of over $10 billion in financings, over $5 billion in project financings and over $6 billion in securitizations to the secondary market.
Tom Freeman
Commissioner Freeman is responsible for the County of Riverside’s diplomatic relations, trade, export, and foreign direct investment programs and strategies. Riverside County is the fastest growing county in the nation and the fourth largest county in the State of California. Riverside County ranks 23 in the entire nation in exports in 2010. In 2008 it ranked 47th in the nation, and has leapfrogged 24 regions. As the Commissioner of Foreign Trade, Tom is frequently called to testify in the state legislature and is counted upon to advise the senate and assembly on trade policy, legislation and law.
Tom has served in the nation’s capital, state capitol, and in local government in various positions. A retired Colonel (CA) with the Military Department of the State of California, Tom served as the Assistant to the last four Adjutant Generals of the California National Guard, and was responsible for international affairs and government relations in the state. Tom’s private sector experience includes serving as the vice president of government affairs and marketing for Fortune 500 Waste Management, Inc. Amongst his numerous national and state awards are the Distinguished Service Medal-Order of California and the Thomas Jefferson Award for community service, presented by former President of the United States Gerald R. Ford. Tom is an Alumni of Saint Catherine’s Military Academy, the United States Air Force School of Medicine, and Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He resides in Banning, California with his wife Brenda Salas Freeman.
Vincent J. Signorotti
Vince Signorotti is Vice President, Resource and Real Estate Assets for EnergySource LLC. Prior to joining EnergySource in September 2011, he was employed by Terra-Gen Power LLC, CalEnergy Operating Corporation, Magma Power Company and Union Oil Company of California. Vince has worked in the energy business for over 32 years with the majority of that time spent in the renewable energy sector, primarily geothermal energy development.
In his current capacity he is responsible for the acquisition and maintenance of land, leases and the real estate components for the Hudson Ranch projects, which are located near the Salton Sea. He is also involved in legislative affairs and regulatory issues associated with geothermal energy development. He has served on numerous committees involved in crafting and promoting responsible energy policy, economic development and regulatory process. In addition, he has testified on numerous occasions before local, state and federal officials.
Anne E. Baker
Anne Baker is a Senior Advisor at the Center for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Technologies (CEERT) on climate policy and renewable energy development. She currently focuses on the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan for the 22 million acres of the California desert. CEERT is a partnership of major environmental groups and private sector clean energy companies. Founded twenty years ago, CEERT works to design and fight for policies that promote global warming solutions and increased reliance on clean, renewable energy sources for California and the West.
Anne served as Deputy Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency where she developed the Governor’s climate reduction targets and the first California Climate Action Plan. She worked for more than a decade in the California Legislature most notably for then Assemblymember Fran Pavley. Anne coordinated the passage of AB 1493 (California Clean Cars Legislation). She also staffed the review of the budgets for resources and environmental protection and water policy. Prior to moving to California Anne was an elected member of the Maryland House of Delegates.
Harrison S. Clay
Harrison Clay, President of Clean Energy subsidiary Clean Energy Renewable Fuels, also serves on the Board of Managers for Dallas Clean Energy McCommas Bluff and Canton Renewables, Clean Energy’s landfill gas processing companies. Mr. Clay is responsible for leading Clean Energy’s efforts to produce and sell renewable natural gas (or biomethane) that is derived from the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste.
Prior to joining Clean Energy, Mr. Clay served as Director of Corporate Development and General Counsel at the San Francisco investment bank WR Hambrecht + Co. Mr. Clay has extensive experience in structuring and trading environmental commodities, corporate and project finance and the clean tech and energy industries. Mr. Clay has a JD from the University of Virginia and a dual AB in Anthropology and English from the University of Georgia.
Jan Smutny-Jones
Mr. Smutny-Jones has represented Independent Energy Producers Association since 1987. Mr. Smutny-Jones has been a pivotal player in the California restructuring efforts, market reform and global climate change policy. He has served as Chair of the Governing Board of the California Independent System Operator, and as a member of the Governing Board of the California Power Exchange. Currently, he is serving as a member of the California Air Resources Board’s Economic and Technology Advancement Advisory Committee for Climate Change.
Mr. Smutny-Jones is a graduate of Loyola Law School and is a member of the American, California State and Sacramento County Bar Associations. He did his undergraduate work at California State University, Long Beach, and has a certificate in Environmental Management from the University of Southern California. He is on the Board of Directors of the Renewable Certification Program “Green-E”. He also serves on the Yolo Basin Foundation.
Roy Skinner
Roy Skinner is Director of Siting and Permitting for First Solar. He was previously an independent energy consultant, providing client support for permitting, compliance, and real estate for power projects, and due diligence support for mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Skinner served as Project Development Manager and Permitting Manager for PG&E National Energy Group where he was responsible for development of gas-fired power projects, and managed environmental permitting and compliance for a variety of large, utility scale power plants, including gas, wind, and solar.
Prior to PG&E National Energy Group, Mr. Skinner was Environmental Manager for Harding Lawson Associates where he managed the environmental staff of the Sacramento office. He was also Environmental Manager for GEO Operator Corporation where he was responsible for geothermal project permitting and compliance for west coast operations.
Mr. Skinner has over 30 years of experience in energy development, including project development, environmental management, project permitting and compliance, resource development and technical investigations.
Martin Hermann
Martin is a serial entrepreneur with 21 years of experience in the solar, clean-tech and high-tech industries. He founded 8minutenergy, which is now among the largest independent pre-construction developer for solar PV in California with a portfolio of more than 2,300MWs, 15,000 acres under development and 1,000MW of interconnection agreements. Martin also developed a solar PV module manufacturing plant as Chief Strategy Officer with Advent Solar (now Applied Materials).
Prior to his engagement in renewables, Martin owned a semiconductor tools company for 10 years, which he sold to Intel in 2001. For six years after the acquisition, he served as a member of Intel’s senior management team, developing supply chains for the company’s rapidly expanding mobile processor product lines.
Evan Williams
Evan Williams is the son of a motion picture character actor, Rhys Williams, and was raised in Southern California. He was educated at UCLA where he received his Bachelor of Arts in film followed by a Juris Doctorate degree from the UCLA School of Law. He is a practicing attorney with the law firm of Poindexter & Doutre, in Los Angeles, California.
Evan is a co-founder and the President of Cambrian Energy Development LLC that has developed more than 50 landfill gas-to-energy and digester gas-to-energy projects since 1980, including three landfill gas-to-pipeline quality Renewable Natural Gas projects. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, a nonprofit organization that promotes the interests of the renewable biogas and biomethane industries on both a state and federal level with a diverse membership that includes renewable developers, gas marketing and trading companies, waste companies, engineering companies, organized labor, gas and electric utilities and nonprofit technical institutes.
As an owner and manager of Cambrian Energy and as legal counsel to lending institutions and to a European wind turbine supplier, Evan has participated in more than $1 billion in financings for U.S. renewable energy projects.
Joe Flores
Mr. Flores serves as the leader of FIGTREE’s Government Services department. His professional career in creating and administering special financing districts (over 200 districts with 62 public agencies) makes Figtree a leader in PACE related financing products.
Mr. Flores has extensive experience in the arena of public finance, and has substantial capabilities in a broad range of the capital markets including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and options. He has helped public agencies throughout California raise revenue for local capital improvements and new housing developments.
Mr. Flores holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Computer Programming/Business Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Bob Woods
Bob has been with Southern California Edison for 24 years. He graduated with a BSEE degree from California State University, Long Beach in 1984. His current position is the Director of Electric System Planning. Electric System Planning is responsible for transmission, distribution, subtransmission planning, interconnection studies and customer support for Southern California Edison’s 4.8 million customers throughout our 50,000 square mile service territory. Previous experience includes Division Manager of Substation Test and Maintenance and Division Manager of Grid Operations. Throughout his career he has held various management positions in Distribution Design and Distribution Engineering.
Bill Van Amburg
Bill is the Senior Vice President of CALSTART, the nation’s leading clean transportation technology organization. He has over 35 years of experience, including technology development, commercialization and marketing. At CALSTART he oversees national programs in hybrid and high efficiency trucks, new fuels, and clean transportation consulting. He is also knowledgeable about environmental market mechanisms such as emission credits.
A key program Bill developed and now oversees is the Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF), a national program speeding medium- and heavy-duty hybrid vehicle commercialization in a partnership with the U.S. Army National Automotive Center. HTUF has directly led to hybrid truck production by four major manufacturers. Bill’s teams also manage an award-winning $39-million Hybrid Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program (HVIP) for the California Air Resources Board (ARB), have launched the California Hybrid Efficient and Advanced Truck Research Center (CalHEAT) with the California Energy Commission and are working with the L.A. County MTA and South Coast AQMD on developing a zero-emission goods movement corridor.
He is a Board member of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE), has an Anthropology degree from the University of California at Berkeley and is a graduate of the Executive Management Program at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. While he has focused on commercializing clean technology for nearly two decades, he did have a previous life! In his earlier career, Bill was an Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist reporting on science, technology and the environment. He covered events as diverse as the eruption of Mount St. Helens and the trial of Patty Hearst during his career.
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