SJV Transportation Newsletter: Feb.Mar. 2018

Welcome to the February/March 2018 San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Center Newsletter. With funding from the California Energy Commission, CALSTART opened the Center with the goal to accelerate the use of clean vehicles and fuels and help the region more quickly meet air quality targets.

Electrify America Discover and Drive Tour at Fresno's Fashion Fair Mall March 5-7 Volkswagen's's Electrify America is hosting a Discover and Drive Tour in seven key California metro areas, including Fresno, to showcase electric vehicles (EVs) and charging. The tour will be at Fashion Fair Mall March 5-7 and is part of Electrify America’s initial $200 million investment in California to increase access to EVs and adoption through brand-neutral education and promotional activities. Several EVs will be available to test drive, including the BMW i3, Chevrolet Bolt, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S and Volkswagen e-Golf, as well as the battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell powered Honda Clarity models. Pre-owned and affordable EV models also will be featured. An all-new 350kW DC fast charger from Electrify America that provides up to 20 miles of range per minute of charging – the fastest charging technology available today – also will be on display. Admission is free, but advance registration is required to test drive the vehicles, along with a valid driver's license. Tour events were conducted in February in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, with March tour stops also planned in Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose. California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross (center) cut the ribbon dedicating California Bioenergy's dairy digester project at Lakeview Dairy in Bakersfield. California Energy Commission Deputy Director Laurie ten Hope (left of Ross), California Assemblymember Rudy Salas (third from left) and other CalBio and dairy representatives took part in the Feb. 2 event.     RNG from California Dairies Provides Cleanest Alternative to Diesel Trucks  California Bioenergy (CalBio) hosted a ribbon-cutting event Feb. 2 at Lakeview Dairy in Bakersfield, where a double-lined, covered lagoon digester will produce 1 MW of electricity. It is one of the anchor dairies in the Kern Cluster, located near Interstate 5, with the goal to produce vehicle fuel as well as electricity. With funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and California Energy Commission (CEC), dairies are using cutting-edge digester technology to break down manure and create renewable energy while also reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The renewable natural gas (RNG) produced from dairies has a key role in cleaning up the San Joaquin Valley's polluted air. Heavy-duty diesel trucks are the single largest contributor of NOx emissions in the Valley, leading to ozone pollution. By using the new Cummins Westport engine fueled with RNG instead of diesel-powered trucks, NOx emissions can be reduced to near zero (see news brief at right for more information).  "We are going to power all those vehicles that move goods up and down the 5 and 99 with cow power," said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. Dairy is the top ag product in the state, she noted, and one cow can produce the equivalent of 100 gallons of diesel per year. "The California Legislature has stepped up with cap-and-trade funding, providing $99 million for these projects," said California Assemblymember Rudy Salas. The CDFA received $99 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund in 2017 for methane emissions reductions from dairy and livestock operations. "The CEC has been a catalyst for innovation to help us reach our greenhouse gas and air quality goals," said Laurie ten Hope, Deputy Director of the CEC's Research & Development Division. She noted that this project will make it possible to "offtake gas to send to the SoCalGas pipeline for use as fuel." The San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Summit March 14-15 at Fresno's Save Mart Center will include presentations on how cow power is used to produce RNG for use as a transportation fuel.   Millions in funding will be available for California school districts to replace diesel school buses with all-electric models such as this one from Blue Bird, shown here at a ride-and-drive event at the Fruitvale School District in Bakersfield.  New Funding Coming to Replace Diesel with Zero-Emission Electric School Buses Blue Bird, Adomani and A-Z Bus Sales teamed up to showcase the all-new Blue Bird Type D Electric School Bus at ride-and-drive events during in January at school districts throughout the state, including Bakersfield's Fruitvale School District and Fresno's Central Unified School District. Adomani patented the electric drivetrain for the buses, while A-Z Bus Sales is the authorized dealer.  The California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2017-18 Funding Plan has allocated $180 million to the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), which is administered by CALSTART. With this new funding, the purchase incentive for electric school buses through HVIP is increasing to $220,000. "With HVIP, a school district will be able to purchase an electric bus for the cost of a diesel," said Brandon Bluhm, Sales Director for A-Z Bus Sales. Volkswagen settlement funds may provide even more money to replace diesel-fueled school buses. CARB is conducting public workshops in February and March to receive input on the Beneficiary Mitigation Plan for California’s $423 million allocation of the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. The staff presentation from those workshops is available online. Among the recommendations from CARB staff is to provide up to $400,000 per vehicle to replace internal combustion engine buses at public school districts with battery-electric models. A total of $130 million is recommended to be allocated for school, transit and shuttle bus replacements, with at least 50 percent of these funds going to disadvantaged or low-income communities. CARB estimates about 65 percent of California’s fleet of more than 25,000 school buses are diesel-fueled. Public comments can be submitted electronically. Several manufacturers will have electric buses, including school buses, at the San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Summit March 14-15 at Fresno's Save Mart Center (see details below). CALSTART'S booth at the World Ag Expo in Tulare showcased electric technologies, including an electric tractor built by Motivo, the solar-powered EV ARC charging station from Envision Solar, and one of Fresno County Rural Transit Agency's Zenith electric vans.    World Ag Expo Displays EV Technology More than 100,000 attendees from throughout the nation and 63 foreign countries came to the 2018 World Ag Expo. CALSTART was one of nearly 1,500 companies displaying cutting-edge equipment, technology and services at the 51st annual event Feb. 13-15 in Tulare. The CALSTART exhibit featured an electric tractor built by Motivo, the solar-powered EV ARC charging station from Envision Solar, and one of Fresno County Rural Transit Agency's (FCRTA) Zenith all-electric vans. FCRTA, working with CALSTART's San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Center (SJVCTC), last year placed EV ARCs at all 13 rural incorporated cities throughout Fresno County. Invented and manufactured in California, the solar-powered EV ARC fits inside a parking space, requires no trenching or permits, and can be deployed in minutes as well as moved to another location if needed. The EV ARC is equipped with battery storage to provide Level 2 EV charging day or night – up to 225 miles of EV driving generated per day – and it also can be used for emergency power during a grid failure. At the World Ag Expo, it was used to power a robotics exhibit displayed by Motivo in addition to charging the HARVEST Smart Electric Tractor. FCRTA also plans to deploy two Solar Tree DC fast charging units from Envision Solar. These larger units will provide in-route charging for two BYD 35-foot electric buses running express routes from Orange Cove and Coalinga into Fresno. Several Zenith vans are in the FCRTA fleet as well. The Zenith vans have an electric range of 80 miles, with options available for 100 and 135 miles. Read our previous newsletter article or visit the Zenith Motors website for more details about these vehicles, which also come in a cargo version and qualify for $50,000 in funding through the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). CALSTART currently administers the HVIP program for the California Air Resources Board (CARB).  Those who missed seeing these EV technologies at the World Ag Expo will be able to learn more at the San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Summit on March 14-15 in Fresno at the Save Mart Center. David Greenfader of Envision Solar, Motivo's Christopher Laudando and FCRTA General Manager Moses Stites will be among those speaking at the two-day event (see below for details). News Briefs FIRST FOR TESLA IN KETTLEMAN CITY The San Joaquin Valley doesn't see many firsts when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs) and charging. But Tesla's new Supercharger site off Interstate 5 in Kettleman City features a whopping 40 chargers – making it one of the largest in the U.S. – along with the first-ever Tesla lounge. As Model 3 deliveries increase, demand is expected to surge along this busy route between Los Angeles and San Francisco.  For those who aren't Tesla owners – only they can access the 24-hour lounge using a code – check out a video from CNBC to see amenities that include everything from a kids' play wall to an apparel store. During business hours, a barista even serves up drinks (photo above) such as the Ludicrous Mode (double espresso shot) and Autopilot (barista's choice). CUMMINS WESTPORT 12-LITER LOW-NOx ENGINE NOW ON SALE Cummins Westport has rolled out the long-anticipated 12-liter near-zero-NOx natural gas engine, the ISX12N, providing the cleanest heavy-duty engine available. Full production of the engine launched in February, and the engine is expected to be powering trucks on California’s highways as early as March. CARB has certified the engine at 0.01 NOx grams per brake horsepower-hour while running on renewable natural gas (RNG) – half the emissions required in its optional low-NOx standard of 0.02 g/bhp-hr. “With RNG, the ISX12N and the L9N engines operate at sub-zero-NOx emissions when their entire life-cycle impact, including the source of energy, is calculated,” Hugh Donnell, who leads the North American truck market and truck OEM business for Cummins Westport, said in a recent article appearing in the California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition newsletter. “Heavy-duty diesel freight trucks produce the worst pollution in California," said Coalition President Thomas Lawson. "Now we have the ISX12N running RNG, and when it’s used to replace them, it will help to exponentially reduce air pollution along freight corridors and advance the state’s air quality goals.” Donnell said he expects adoption of the new engine to increase quickly in 2018, thanks to state and local incentive funding, which could provide as much as $100,000 per engine. The Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), which is administered by CALSTART, provides attractive incentives for this engine and requires the use of RNG fuel. Visit the HVIP website for more information. The ISX12N may be ordered now through all traditional OEMs, including Peterbilt, Freightliner and Volvo. Learn more about this exciting new engine at the San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Summit on March 14-15 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno. GREENPOWER ADDS SCHOOL BUS, MINI BUS TO EV LINEUP GreenPower Motor Company Inc., which soon will be building electric buses at the company's new manufacturing facility in Porterville, has two new vehicles in its EV lineup. In addition to its all-electric transit buses, the company has launched an all-electric school bus, the Synapse 72. The first deliveries are expected in June, with orders already received from schools in the Los Angeles area. All GreenPower products are eligible for funding through the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), which is administered by CALSTART. "Our school bus, the Synapse 72, will actually cost less than the equivalent diesel school bus with the California HVIP voucher," said GreenPower President Brendan Riley in a recent letter to shareholders. GreenPower also has introduced the EV Star, a Class 4, 25-foot mini bus. The new model will go on sale in April, with demonstrations set for this summer. "In terms of unit sales, this product could very well emerge as our #1 seller," said Riley. The EV Star qualifies for $80,000 in HVIP funding, while the Synapse 72, like other electric school buses, qualifies for $220,000 in HVIP funding. For more information, see GreenPower's corporate overview of their vehicles and eligible HVIP funding.   Looking for Grant Information? The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District offers a variety of grants and incentive programs for public agencies, residents, businesses and technology. Interested parties should apply early since incentives typically are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A complete list of current incentive programs is available on the Air District website. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) administers grant programs funded through various sources, including the cap-and-trade program. A list of the various funding programs is available on the CARB website. The California Energy Commission (CEC) also administers grant programs for transportation technology. Go to the CEC website for information. Various federal agencies offer grants and incentives for transportation technology each year. Federal agencies use the Grants.gov website for submitting grant applications.    Calendar of Events

REGISTER NOW “The CALSTART San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Center is a joint project between CALSTART and the California Energy Commission (CEC). It is funded through a grant from the CEC with the mission to assist residents and businesses in the San Joaquin Valley deploy cleaner transportation options to help improve air quality and promote economic prosperity.  For more information about CALSTART, visit www.calstart.org.” Copyright © 2018 by CALSTART, All rights reserved. Contact Us Joseph Oldham, Director  Thomas Paddon, Regional Project Manager San Joaquin Valley Clean Transportation Center Fresno Address: 510 W. Kearney Blvd., Fresno, CA 93706 Fresno Phone: (559) 797-6034 Stockton Address: 5000 S. Airport Way, Suite #208, Stockton, CA 95206 Stockton Phone: (626) 744-5637 Email: joldham@calstart.org and tpaddon@calstart.org Website: www.sjvcleantransportation.org

FUNDING OPEN NOW: Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program

Proposition 1B Funding OPEN NOW Until July 28! Valley Air District Accepting Applications to Replace Class 5-8 Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks or Engines The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) is accepting applications until July 28 for the Proposition 1B: Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program. About $15 million is available for heavy-duty diesel truck replacement projects in this round of funding. These incentives are intended to quickly reduce air pollution emissions and health risks from heavy-duty diesel trucks moving freight along California's trade corridors. Financial incentives will be provided to owners of equipment used in freight movement to upgrade to cleaner technologies through truck replacement or engine replacement. Note that this is a replacement program and does not fund new additional truck purchases.The existing truck or engine must be scrapped or surrendered in accordance with program guidelines. This also is not a rebate program. Trucks funded by this program can only be purchased after a contract is signed and executed between the equipment owner and the SJVAPCD. Heavy-duty diesel trucks used to move goods (a majority of the time) for the past two years, with an original manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 16,001 lbs. or greater (Class 5-8) are eligible for the program. Eligible trucks also must currently be registered in California and present evidence of California registration for the past two years. In addition, trucks must have operated at least 75 percent of the time in California and 10 percent within the SJVAPCD boundaries. Annual vehicle miles traveled requirements must be met as well (at least 20,000 miles annually for Class 7 and 8 and at least 10,000 miles annually for Class 5 and 6 trucks). The District may provide direct assistance for applicants at its offices, but no further information or schedule is available at this time. For full application guidelines, visit the Prop 1B page on the SJVAPCD website or call the District's Heavy-Duty Engine Program at (599) 230-5800 and ask to speak to someone about Prop 1B funding.

LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update

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04/21/2017

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CAISO Today's Outlook

SEEC Local Government Roundtable - April 27th
The Local Government Roundtable is scheduled for Thursday, April 27 at 2pm.
Click here! to join other local governments for this month's roundtable on street lighting. We will be joined by a special guest from the California Street Lighting Association.

News and Opportunities

Attorney General Becerra Intervenes in Lawsuit To Defend Energy Efficiency Standards
California Attorney General has intervened in a lawsuit filed by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association against the DOE challenging energy efficiency regulations for light bulbs.

California Microgrid Roadmap Scoping Workshop
CEC, CPUC, and CAISO staff will host a workshop on the California Microgrid Roadmap to develop a plan to accelerate the adoption of microgrids in the state.

Schedules for 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards​
The CEC has posted the tentative schedule for 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards pre-rulemaking workshops and the overall schedule for the 2019 Standards​

State regulators can play a critical role in unleashing building energy data
Mary Shoemaker, state policy analyst for ACEEE, discusses the benefits of energy data access and the role of statewide utility regulators.

Walmart stores, other commercial buildings to have energy-storage systems installed
The new systems will boost their energy efficiency, reduce costs, and lower Southern California Edison’s electricity demand during times of peak usage.​

New Technology

Blockchain Is Helping to Build a New Kind of Energy Grid
Using the technology behind Bitcoin, participants in the Brooklyn Microgrid are buying and selling locally generated renewable energy over a peer-to-peer network.

Good Vibrations? California to Test Using Road Rumbles as a Power Source
The new technology would use piezoelectric crystals that create energy from the vibration of road traffic.​
 
SEEC Calendar 
Click the SEEC Calendar link to view all upcoming events.

4/26-4/27 Green California Summit (Sacramento)
The Summit provides a forum where innovations in policy, technology, and practice can be showcased and shared.
 
That's all for this week. Have a great weekend!

Cary Garcia Jr.
Statewide Local Government Energy Efficiency Best Practices Coordinator
eecoordinator.info
 

Happy METU Monday!

Let's talk about water!
We received great news from California Governor Jerry Brown on Friday.  The drought is officially over for most of California except for Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Tuolumne counties.  It seems we are near the end of this state of emergency, but it is important to recognize that conserving water saves energy.  Please be encouraged to continue implementing good water conservation practices.

Speaking of water, when was your last municipal pump test?
If you can't answer that question, it has probably been too long!  There is a significant cost savings in testing pumps for efficiency and implementing variable frequency drives (VFDs) to ensure you are not pumping when you don't need to be.  Plus, pump tests can be incentivized by your electric utility provider.

Don't know where to start?
Call us! We would be happy to get you started with water or waste water treatment experts through any one of the following programs and assist you through the process:

- Water Infrastructure System Efficiency (WISE)
- California Wastewater Process Optimization (CalPOP)
- Advanced Pumping Efficiency (APEP)

Look out for METU near you!
We are excited to be working with so many of our local government partners.  In addition to our work in the City of Avenal, we have also completed benchmarking for the City of Arvin and will move on to the project planning phase soon.  The City of Corcoran is the newest addition to the list of cities for whom we are benchmarking.

Connect with us:
T: (877)748-0841
E: METU@SJVCEO.ORG

Check out our NEW WEBSITE!
MUNICIPALTUNEUP.ORG

Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update

wEEkly Update 3/10/2017 Subscribe to the wEEkly Update

Funding Wizard | Energy Standards Online Resource Center | Energy Code Ace

SEEC Local Government Roundtable You can find more information and join a Local Government Roundtable using the link above. The current street lighting roundtable is scheduled for March 27th. The next roundtable for Codes and Standards will be scheduled soon. News and Opportunities PG&E Resilient Communities Grant Program PG&E is currently requesting grant proposals that will build healthy and resilient forests and watersheds to help communities prevent and prepare for increasing wildfire risk. Eligible projects include research, planning or demonstration projects that support local climate resilience initiatives. BayREN Forum: Household Electrification as a Pathway to On-Site ZNE The BayREN Codes & Standards (C&S) team invites you to register for their upcoming regional forum on March 30th. The focus of this workshop is to help local governments address misconceptions and questions about 2016 Title 24 Energy Codes when designing new, or applying deep energy retrofits for, all-electric low-rise residential buildings. New Solar Homes Partnership Guidebook The California Energy Commission adopted the New Solar Homes Partnership Guidebook, Tenth Edition (NSHP Guidebook) at its March 8, 2017, Business Meeting. Electric Vehicle Readiness Ordinance Introduced in SF The EV Readiness Ordinance strives to eliminate cost barriers to EV charging deployment in existing construction by requiring electrical capacity and supporting infrastructure to be in place at time of new construction or major renovation in order to meet the growing demand for EV charging. CAEECC Adhoc Working Group Meeting 3/17  The California Energy Efficiency Coordinating Committee (CAEECC) will be hosting an Ad hoc working group meeting in San Francisco to discuss the year 2 planning process and prepare for the formal CAEECC meeting on April 19. Community Focused Equity in Research Funding 3/20 California Energy Commission staff will conduct a workshop to discuss energy research and development needs of disadvantaged communities for inclusion in future funding initiatives. LGSEC Quarterly Energy Networking Meeting 3/29 Dan Sperling, Board Member at the California Air Resources Board and Founding Director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis will be the keynote speaker discussing current implications of federal actions on state policies and goals relating to electric vehicles. Publications and Resources California Energy Efficiency Coordinating Committee The California Energy Efficiency Coordinating Committee (CAEECC) is a venue for stakeholders to provide input into the development of the Program Administrators' energy efficiency business plans. Energy Standards Outreach & Education Schedule The California Energy Commission maintains a calendar of events where Outreach & Education staff will be sharing information on energy efficiency and Title 24 Building Standards across the state. Career Opportunities Project Coordinator: Energize Fresno The Local Government Commission has an immediate full-time position for a Project Coordinator to support the the Energy and Climate Change sector. In particular, they are looking for someone to support the Energize Fresno  projects.   SEEC Calendar  Click the SEEC Calendar link to view all upcoming events. 3/16-3/19 (Yosemite National Park) Yosemite Policymakers Conference Join mayors, city council members, county supervisors, city managers, and high-level department heads for the 26th Annual Yosemite Policymakers Conference. 4/26-4/27 Green California Summit (Sacramento) The Summit provides a forum where innovations in policy, technology and practice can be showcased and shared. 5/5/17 (Long Beach) The Business of Local Energy Symposium 2017 Business of Clean Energy Symposium to convening government, business, and community leaders to accelerate California's shift to a clean energy economy and to exchange ideas about Community Choice Energy programs.   Cary Garcia Jr. Statewide Local Government Energy Efficiency Best Practices Coordinator eecoordinator.info CivicSpark is now recruiting Project Partners for 2017-18 Over the past 3 years, CivicSpark, LGC's Governor's Initiative AmeriCorps program has provided 130,000+ hrs of climate and water capacity-building support to over 100 public agencies. If you are a local government, State agency, or an NGO with a climate or water action project need, visit our website to learn more and apply to receive project support!

Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update

wEEkly Update 1/27/2017

Here are your wEEkly updates: News and Opportunities California Clean Energy Jobs Act Citizens Oversight Board Meeting The California Clean Energy Jobs Act (Prop 39) Citizens Oversight Board Meeting will be holding a board meeting on February 9, 2017. Community Choice Aggregation En Banc Hearing The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) En Banc hearing on February 1, 2017. A Water Sector Energy Hog  Water use accounts for about 20 percent of California’s electricity use and 30 percent of natural gas used by businesses and homes according to Alvar Escriva-Bou at the the Public Policy Institute of California. Art Rosenfeld, California’s Godfather of Energy Efficiency, 90 Art Rosenfeld, known as California’s “godfather” of energy efficiency and who has been credited with being personally responsible for billions of dollars in energy savings, died Friday at his home in Berkeley, California. Energy Commission Adopts RPS Results for POUs, Energy Demand Forecast Through 2027 The California Energy Commission looked back during today’s business meeting to see how publicly owned utilities (POUs) did in meeting California’s renewable energy requirements from 2011-2013 and looked ahead to predict how much energy the state will need through 2027. Weatherization Guide for Local Governments The Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC) released a new fact sheet on weatherization targeted for California local governments. 2017 SEEC Participant Survey SEEC is requesting input from local government staff to get a better understanding of local government needs and interests to inform activities undertaken by SEEC and to help shape the 2017 SEEC Forum. We ask that you complete this quick survey by Today, January 27th at 5:00 PM. Publications and Resources Regulating Energy Efficiency - A Primer on the CPUC's Energy Efficiency Programs A short report from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that outlines how they currently regulate energy efficiency.  Career Opportunities Sustainability Coordinator, San Diego Reporting to the Director of Sustainability, this role coordinates the day-to-day operations for the Office of Sustainability. Deadline: February 3, 2017 Senior Regional Planner, San Diego The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is looking for a Senior Regional Planner to support the implementation of San Diego Forward: The Regional Plan and the Sustainable Communities Strategy Project Manager and Community Strategies Manager, Eureka Redwood Coast Energy Authority is seeking a Demand Side Management Programs Project Manager and a Community Strategies Manager. SEEC Calendar  Click the Calendar link to view all upcoming events. 2/1-2/3 Energy Auditing Techniques for Small and Medium Commercial Facilities During this three-day workshop, the instructors will focus on the audit process and foster attendees' ability to identify energy efficiency, demand response, and operations and maintenance opportunities in existing facilities.  (Additional dates available in SEEC Calendar) 3/16-3/19 (Yosemite National Park) Yosemite Policymakers Conference Join mayors, city council members, county supervisors, city managers, and high-level department heads for the 26th Annual Yosemite Policymakers Conference. 4/26-4/27 Green California Summit (Sacramento) The Summit provides a forum where innovations in policy, technology and practice can be showcased and shared. 5/5/17 (Long Beach) The Business of Local Energy Symposium 2017 Business of Clean Energy Symposium to convening government, business, and community leaders to accelerate California's shift to a clean energy economy and to exchange ideas about Community Choice Energy programs.   That's all for this week. Have a great weekend! Cary Garcia Jr. Statewide Local Government Energy Efficiency Best Practices Coordinator eecoordinator.info

Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update

Here are your last wEEkly updates for 2016 - and the last one from me specifically as we will be bringing on a new Best Practices Coordinator in 2017! We hope you enjoy your holiday break!

Currents: Winter 2016

In this issue of Currents, we feature a broad range of articles that highlight local projects, celebrate success, and discuss emergent trends:

• Introducing the ZNE Hub for Local Governments
• Collective Impact in the Gateway Cities
• Emergent Trends for Local Governments in 2017
• An EPIC Approach to Deploying Advanced Energy Communities
• Spotlight on Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance
• On-the-Ground Local Capacity Building Projects

News and Opportunities

Bill Gates and Investors Worth $170B Launching a Fund for Energy Innovation
Bill Gates is leading a more than $1 billion fund focused on fighting climate change by investing in clean energy innovation. He was among 28 wealthy individuals and families signed on to the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, a group broadly committed to investing in this area.

CA Agency Recommends Low-Income Energy and Water Legislation and Task Force
On December 14th, the CEC approved the SB 350 Barriers Study mandated by SB 350 to address barriers for low-income households and disadvantaged communities to participate in energy efficiency and renewables opportunities. The California Housing Partnership will work with partners on legislative and regulatory efforts to use this study's findings to advance transformative equity goals and metrics, energy and water program alignment, the availability of one-stop technical services, and effective financing pilots designed for low-income rental housing in California.

Job Opportunities: Redwood Coast Energy Authority
Redwood Coast Energy Authority is recruiting for multiple positions including Director of Finance & HR, Director of Power Resources, and Demand Side Management Programs Project Manager.

Job Opportunity: Chief Executive Officer, The Valley Clean Energy Alliance
Yolo County is conducting a recruitment on behalf of The Valley Clean Energy Alliance for the Chief Executive Officer position. Applications due January 20, 2017.

Calendar
Click the Calendar link to view all upcoming events.

1/25-1/26 (Sacramento) California Climate Change Symposium 2017
This forum aims to share cutting-edge research addressing the impacts of climate change on the state to inform the state's strategies and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to develop programs to safeguard California from a changing climate.

2/2/17 (St. Louis, MO) New Partners for Smart Growth Conference
Early-bird registration has been extended to December 16th  for the 2017 New Partners for Smart Growth Conference. This conference is the nation's largest smart growth and sustainability event and has been named one of 12 conferences not to miss by Planetizen.

3/16-3/19 (Yosemite National Park) Yosemite Policymakers Conference
Join mayors, city council members, county supervisors, city managers, and high-level department heads for the 26th Annual Yosemite Policymakers Conference. This popular conference always features a timely and inspirational program designed to provide the tools and support policymakers need to implement innovative solutions to address society's most pressing challenges. This year's conference will be no different with its focus on sustaining our progress and protecting the American dream.

​Resources and Reports

DOE Better Buildings Financing Navigator
The Navigator is an online tool that helps public and private sector organizations find financing solutions for energy efficiency projects.

A Greater LA: A Framework for Climate Action
This project led by the Los Angeles Regional Collaborative for Climate Action and Sustainability was recently released and provides a set of curated, synthesized, and regionally specific recommendations across five climate impact areas: Energy, Transportation & Land Use, Water, Public Health, and Ocean & Coastal Resources.

The Case for Healthy Places: Improving Health Outcomes Through Placemaking
This report uses the idea of placemaking as a framework for describing how transforming public spaces can improve health outcomes. Even beyond the tangible benefits that placemaking projects can yield, the very process of bringing community members and stakeholders together to shape a place can have powerful social benefits that in turn connect to positive health outcomes.

Have A Great Idea for Transportation in Fresno?

If you have a innovative idea for transportation for the City of Fresno check out Just Transit. They are having information meetings for more information in the coming weeks. We're very excited to tell you about Just Transit, a community challenge that will award up to $400,000 to innovative solutions that will make Fresno cleaner and more connected. Whether you're an engineer, entrepreneur, or enthusiast, Just Transit is open to anyone with a great idea and who just needs a little help getting it off  .ground Now more than ever, our cities need solutions for affordable, accessible, and greener ways of transit that meet commuters' ever-evolving needs. That’s why for the second year in a row, The 11th Hour Project has teamed up with key stakeholders in California to launch Just Transit. Our goal is simple: reduce transportation emissions while making it easier for everyone to get where they need to go. This year’s focus is on Fresno, a city that continues to expand and requires new modes of transit to ensure neither its rural nor urban residents are left behind. If you're interested in learning more about Just Transit or would like to join a discussion on Fresno's transportation landscape, the community's transit needs, and current solutions that aren't quite working, we invite you to attend one of two open houses next week. You can RSVP for the November 3 open house here or for the November 4 open house here. Thank you  The Just Transit Team Smarter transportation needs smart minds Application opens Thursday, October 27. You can read more about Just Transit and learn about eligibility and criteria by visiting www.justtransit.org. Got questions? Feel free to contact us at info@justtransit.org.

Can power strips be smart?

In offices all over the country, employees are charging their cell phones, powering their personal fans, space heaters, desk lamps, and computer monitors. It doesn’t seem like a lot, especially when you think of all the other big energy-consuming things at work, but in California, office equipment equates to 7% of all commercial energy consumption! That’s a lot! And in the majority of Central Valley small offices, that amount jumps up to almost 20%! It’s almost as much as your air conditioner or your overhead lights!

So when we have our cubicle devices on, we employees sometimes forget to turn them off when we leave for lunch, or even before leaving to go home for the day. You do it, I do it, we all do it. It’s inevitable, but it’s fixable. So naturally, there’s a lot of savings left on the table when this behavior happens. Plug Load Occupancy Sensors--what is essentially a power strip with an occupancy sensor attached to it--exist to help you get that back. They replace a workstation’s regular power strip and serves to turn off power to ancillary devices (monitors, desk lamps, heaters, phone chargers, etc.) when occupancy is not detected, by using an occupancy sensor that you would normally see on the ceiling or in the corner of a room. They come with special outlets that keep your computer tower on, and a special outlet that switches the auxiliary outlet. It checks the power draw going to the device, and if you were to drop the power draw, say by turning off the monitor, the power strip recognizes this, and turns off all the auxiliary devices. Neato! These set-it-and-forget-it devices are great, because they do what I sometimes (okay, often) forget to do.

These devices are very cost-effective and are pretty inexpensive to begin with. Both PG&E and SCE provide a rebate of $15 per sensor, and most sensors cost around $55, after rebate. While that might seem like a lot for what’s essentially a smart power strip, each one saves on average $37 per year, making this product’s payback around 1.4 years! These last a long time too, around 8 years, meaning each one can net you $240 over the course of its expected lifespan.

Here’s a list of devices commonly found in cubicles, and their respective energy consumption in various states of use:

Agriculture Water Use, Consumer Practices and the Drought

California is still in a drought. Surprised? You shouldn't be; this has been all over the news for months now. The lack of ground and other water sources is concerning, and so even though Samantha and I have both written about behavior modification and the megadrought future of California, there is more to be said about what you can do and what others, especially those in agriculture, should be doing to mitigate the dry conditions in the state.

Governor Brown has cracked down on water allotments, reducing potable urban water usage by 25%. Final decisions about agricultural water use have yet to be determined. About 80% of water consumed in the state of California goes to agriculture and the state's farmers need all that water because they supply much of the country’s produce, yet the industry has already seen cutbacks on surface water allotments and will likely see more.

Some farmers in the Sacramento and San Joaquin river delta have said they will voluntarily give up 25% of their allotments if the government does not ask for additional cutbacks. This is huge because water rights in this region date back a couple of centuries and are fiercely protected.

Photo Source: econlife

The state may have a decision on the agricultural water cuts soon, but how significant the cuts will be is not known. Even though there are many farmers who have said they would take a voluntary cut, there is no way to know how many actually will and who will wait to reduce their usage when final decisions and programs are developed. Many hope that the farmers who are volunteering water cuts will inspire others to follow suit before final decisions are made.

Farmers may need to rethink their crops as well. Some crops are so water intensive that it will not make sense to grow them as the drought conditions perpetuate. One such crop is alfalfa – the reason why an excessive amount of water is needed to produce a burger. Plus, a lot of our alfalfa crops are sent to China for cattle feed, so American consumers cannot even reap the benefits!

Photo Source: Daily Kos

As a consumer, you, too, can choose to buy and eat less water intensive produce. I stopped drinking Almond milk when I learned it takes about a gallon of water to produce each almond. That is quite a guzzler! And almonds aren't even the biggest guzzler in the nut family; walnuts are far worse!

How can you figure out how much water your food takes to produce? Check out this handy interactive infographic by the New York Times and prepare yourself to be shocked. Try participating in Meatless Monday. Try millet instead of rice. We can all make a difference to mitigate the effects of the drought whether or not we live in California. When will you start?