San Jose, CA ---- In order to achieve greater energy self-reliance and reliability for the region, mayors of Santa Clara County cities will meet with legislators and industry and community leaders at the Silicon Valley Regional Energy Summit on Friday, March 16 at the San Jose Convention Center.

Highlights of the summit, which is open to the public, will include specific proposals by local government for energy conservation and supplies, as well as presentations by state and federal legislators regarding energy solutions being developed in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Potential public/private partnerships will be also be featured in the areas of conservation, generation and transmission of energy. [Energy Summit agenda is attached.]

Nationally recognized environmentalist and energy efficiency expert Amory Lovins, founder and director of the Rocky Mountain Institute, will be the keynote speaker Friday afternoon. Lovins will provide his perspective on energy issues affecting government, businesses and residents and how how regions can move toward a sustainable energy future.

The summit is co-chaired by San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Chairperson Jim Beall, and Dr. James Woody, President of Roche Pharmaceuticals R&D in Palo Alto and Chairman of the Board of the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group.

"We can find creative solutions that will be practical for meeting the real energy needs of residents and businesses in Silicon Valley," said San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales. "By working together as we have done with other complex issues, we can show the way for the rest of California to develop effective answers both for energy conservation and for new power plants in appropriate locations in our region."

According to County Supervisor Jim Beall, "Unfortunately, this coming summer, we’re going to face power outages. But will the lights be out twice a month or twice a week? This summit will identify immediate ways to save energy and make our power supply more reliable. These solutions will also help the average person keep their energy bills under control, an issue I am very concerned about."

Representing major employers and energy users in the region, the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group has been working on energy policy issues for the last year. At the summit it will provide information regarding the Group’s partnerships and programs that are contributing to energy conservation, transmission, and generation answers in Silicon Valley.

"We need to find good solutions that will support a dynamic economy and sustain a quality of life expected by both our employees and the community at large," said Woody. "Our member companies can provide expertise and commitment that will be necessary to achieve a regional energy strategy that will deliver real results.

"There is no single answer to resolving our energy crisis, but together we can develop a comprehensive plan to support the prosperity of Silicon Valley and meet the energy needs of residents and businesses alike."

The regional energy summit will be an all-day event beginning at 8:00 a.m. in the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. The summit is open the public.

 

 

Silicon Valley Regional Energy Summit

Friday, March 16, 2001

San José McEnery Convention Center

AGENDA

8:00 Registration

8:20 Welcome and Introductions: Cochairs Ron Gonzales, Mayor of San Jose; Jim Beall, Chairperson, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors; James Woody, Chairman, Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group

 

8:30 Framing the Problem

Presentation: Overview of Energy Crisis in California – Peter Asmus, President, Pathfinder Communications

    • History of California Energy Deregulation
    • Energy Distribution and Transmission
    • Supplies, Capacity, and Costs
    • Projections of Energy Demand – Summer 2001 and Beyond

9:45 Break

10:00 Strategies and Opportunities – Cities, County, and Other Agencies

Presentations of local and regional energy strategies and proposals to achieve greater regional energy self-sufficiency

12:15 Perspectives From Sacramento and Washington, D.C.

Lunch

  • State legislative update
  • Federal legislative update

1:30 Strategies and Opportunities -Stakeholders

Presentations and discussion with local stakeholder representatives regarding energy solutions

3:00 Toward a Silicon Valley Regional Energy Plan

    • Assessment of the local presentations and input
    • Benefits of a regional energy strategy
    • Blueprint for a regional energy strategy

 

Action: Next steps

3:30 Vision and Inspiration

Keynote Speaker: Amory Lovins

Founder and Director, Rocky Mountain Institute

 

4:15 Closing remarks

Announcements

Adjourn