Clean Energy Transmission Lines - California Report

Audio:

 

The 3-minute, 37-second address is available at:

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The file is 1.24 MB.

 

YouTube:

 

The 3-minute, 39-second address is available at:

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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger:

 

Hello, this is Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger with another California Report.

This week, I was in San Diego for the groundbreaking of a new transmission line, the Sunrise Powerlink.

 

This line will carry 1,000 megawatts of clean energy from the Imperial Valley to San Diego—enough to power 650,000 homes....

In just the last year we have approved 5,000 megawatts of renewable projects like wind, solar and geothermal.

Many are in areas with vast open space like the Mojave Desert and Imperial Valley.

The challenge is moving that power to where people live and work. Because you can have all the power in the world out in the desert, but if you can’t bring it in, you have nothing.

For that, of course, we need transmission lines. Right now only one transmission line connects the Imperial Valley to San Diego. And it is near capacity.

 

That line is tired. It’s exhausted. It cannot handle anymore.

That is why this week’s groundbreaking is so important. Not only will the Sunrise Powerlink carry enough renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one million tons a year, but it will also create thousands of jobs at a time that we need those jobs the most.

This all sounds great, doesn’t it?

Great for our economy, great for jobs and great for our environment.

 

As I’ve always said, you can protect both the environment and the economy.

But you will be surprised to learn that it took five years to get this transmission line through the permitting process.

 

There were obstacles at every turn.

 

There is no reason for that.

 

It is inexcusable that it takes five years to build a transmission line, or 10 years to build an extra lane on the freeway, or 20 years to build a new airport runway.

 

In China, those things get built in four years.

 

You see, infrastructure is so important.

 

We have a growing population so, therefore, we have to upgrade our infrastructure.

 

So it is very important for environmentalists, businesses, Democrats and Republicans, for everyone to get together and get the permitting done quicker...

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Clean Energy Transmission Lines - California Report

Happy Sustainable Holidays From Sen. Pavley

Sustainability Award

Pavley staffer Stephanie Molen presents Sustainability Award to Toyota Santa Monica GM Bill Rinker

Each month I recognize a business, person or organization in my district that is dedicated to preserving our environment by living and working responsibly. This month I'm proud to announce that I presented an Environmental Sustainability Award to Toyota Santa Monica.

Bill Rinker, the General Manager of Toyota Santa Monica has shown forward thinking by installing the first open access electrical vehicle charging station in the nation. Anyone with a plug-in or hybrid vehicle manufactured in 2010 and beyond, will be able to drive up to Toyota Santa Monica to get charged. 

As the #1 Hybrid Dealer in the World Toyota Santa Monica has continued to accommodate and promote a sustainable environment. The dealership's dedication and commitment to resource conservation by purchasing policies, recycling, implementing operation changes that eliminate toxic chemicals, energy efficiency and water conservation is remarkable and an inspiration to other businesses in the 23rd Senate District.

Help for the Holidays

If your family is one of the many struggling this holiday season, I would urge you to research the non-profits in your area that can help meet your needs. I have listed just a few of the many valuable organizations serving the residents of the 23rd Senate District.

• FOOD Share, Ventura County
• Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles
• Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Los Angeles County
• Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank, Ventura and Los Angeles County
• Valley Food Bank, San Fernando Valley
• Westside Food Bank

Inclusive Teaching at Chime Institute

Sen. Pavley with Governor Schwarzenegger

I had a wonderful time with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, first Lady Maria Shriver, Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, and other dignitaries at Chime Charter School in Woodland Hills recently as they announced that the new combined elementary and middle school will be renamed the CHIME Institute's Schwarzenegger Community School.

CHIME implements a unique co-teaching model where general and special education teachers plan, assess and instruct all students to provide targeted curriculum and learning experiences that meet the needs of all students. This co-teaching and collaborative related service model ensures these layers of instructional support benefit all students. CHIME Charter Elementary School was named "Charter School of the Year" by the California Charter School Association in 2005 and in the same year was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a leading model of inclusive education.

Celebrating 10 Years of Green Entrepreneurial Leadership

Sen. Pavley with E2 Co-Founder Nicole Lederer, Peter Lehner, Frances Beinecke, E2 Co-Founder Bob Epstein and NRDC Founder John Adams at the E2 10th anniversary gala

I was thrilled to take part in the 10th Anniversary celebration of Environmental Entrepreneurs, or E2, which is an organization affiliated with the Natural Resources Defense Council. E2's mission is to unite business leaders to advocate for good environmental policy. E2 was started in California by co-founders Bob Epstein and Nicole Lederer with a goal of driving environmental policies that make good economic sense. It was a visionary idea – promote environmental laws that are good for business. Bob and Nicole worked with me on my Clean Cars Bill (AB 1493) in 2002 and on my landmark Clean Energy Law (AB 32) in 2006. They also worked with me on my Alternative Fuels bill (AB 1007), and most recently on my Energy Improvement Financing Bill (SB 77). Congratulations on 10 productive years and many more to come!

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Happy Sustainable Holidays From Sen. Pavley

86 Year Old Vancouver Island Resident Tweeting to Save Mary Lake

Submitted by Rebecca Peters

“If Obama could raise $500 million via social media for his presidential campaign then I

figured why couldn’t we try and raise $5 million to Save Mary Lake” says Bob McMinn,

one of the small group of residents from Vancouver Island, Canada, that are attempting to raise this ambitious sum of money to save a rare ecosystem from development. The dry Coastal Douglas fir ecosystem is one of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada. Large Douglas-firs dominate the land, along with Arbutus, Western Red-cedar, Garry oak, Aspen and Grand fir.

While they may not have the president of the US on board just yet, Elizabeth May, the leader of the national political party Green Party Canada has bought square metres and environmental legend David Suzuki has picked them as one of his favourite pages to support on Facebook. 86-year-old McMinn has been a resident of the District of Highlands (the region encompassing Mary Lake) for 57 years. He’s a true advocate of conservation, and as the first mayor of the region, he has been a tireless crusader to save land from development, and has been instrumental in helping the region maintain 40% parkland.

McMinn believes that it is the ‘wow’ factor that is inspiring people from close by, and as far away as Japan, Denmark and Australia to support Save Mary Lake. “When I first saw Mary Lake, I couldn’t help but exclaim ‘wow’” says McMinn. “I delight in taking people to see the land, and every time their reaction to the astounding beauty mimics my first reaction.”

Water trickles through the streamside riparian habitat. More than 80% of this region's riparian ecosystems have been lost to development, the same risk that faces Mary Lake today. Launching just over a month ago, the Save Mary Lake campaign has already connected with an international environmental audience to help save this valuable piece of ecological property. The Save Mary Lake group created a website www.savemarylake.com where people can choose square metres to buy on a digital map of Mary Lake, essentially saving those squares, and leaving their environmental name-stamp for all to see. To date over 12,000 square metres have been saved.

The 107-acre Mary Lake property is part of an imperiled dry coastal Douglas fir ecosystem that connects two already preserved pieces of parkland. It provides an important corridor between these pieces of parkland, especially for the many types of wildlife. The seven-acre lake on the property also provides refuge to wildlife including some that are endangered. Mary Lake also acts as a natural carbon sink removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Save Mary Lake champion Bob McMinn enjoys the view at Mary Lake.

The group has taken to Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to try and engage people but they still need help if they are to meet the first goal of their fundraising campaign, to sell 65,000 squares by the end of January 2011. Although the goal is lofty, the Save Mary Lake crew believes it is achievable. Bob looks forward to seeing who will share the squares beside him and hopes to one day shake the hand of the people whose digital squares border his. For now, a digital handshake in the form of a tweet will have to do-after all a trip to Japan may have to wait as this 86-year-old has a busier schedule than most people half his age as he continues the crusade to Save Mary Lake.

Rebecca Peters is a Vancouver resident, deeply committed to her community.

Recycle, Reuse, Rejoice!

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86 Year Old Vancouver Island Resident Tweeting to Save Mary Lake

Global Green Sustainable Design Awards, NYC

By: Alisa Ahmadian 

Global Green held its 11th Annual Sustainable Design Awards Ceremony on the picturesque Hudson River at Pier 60 in New York City.

eBay's John Donahoe

The event honored innovative leaders in bold environmental design that is transforming our international infrastructure for a greener future.Global Green is known for its pioneering policy and green building efforts in New Orleans post-Katrina. 

The night began with an intimate cocktail reception where guests mingled, enjoyed organic spirits and perused displays ranging from green building supplies to exotic vacations. Aside from event honorees, other attendees included Entourage star and environmental activist Adrien Grenier and actor Edward Norton, who told us that he supported Global Green’s work because “no one has done more than Global Green to re-build New Orleans sustainably.” Heatherette designer Richie Richalso attended the event as well as former Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Judith Light.

Global Green USA Sustainable Design Awards, Dec. 6th, 2010, NYC.

The evening moved on to the main event: a formal dinner, with tables beautifully decorated with potted plants and herbs and a delicious organic dinner.

Global Green CEO & President Matt Petersen served as the Master of Ceremonies for the night, introducing honorees including: 

• eBay Inc., John Donahoe, President & CEO – Organizational Design Award

• Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Sue Cischke, Group Vice President, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company – Product Design Award

• Sophia Bush and Austin Nichols– Entertainment Design Award

• Arianna Huffington, Co-founder & Editor-in-chief of Huffington Post – Media Design Award

• Wade Greene, Philanthropic Advisor to the Rockefeller Foundation- Policy Design Award

Sophia Bush and Austin Nichols

 Speaking about the successful launch of Huffington Post Green [of which Greening Hollywood was one of the foundational contributing columns], Arianna Huffington underlined the urgency of the launch, saying that “green is more important now than ever. Washington is full of ‘flat-earthers’ that are waging a war on science, evolution, everything.” Sam Champion of Good Morning America broke up the night with jokes, saying that he was “here to support Global Green, but I’m leaving soon to go to bed!” due to his 5 AM call time. 

Adrian Grenier

One Tree Hill co-stars Sophia Bush and Austin Nichols re-hashed their eye-opening trip to Louisiana following the BP oil spill this spring, telling us about the anger they felt when visiting beaches “that were totally controlled by BP-we felt like BP completely took over, and we wanted to do something about it.” Other honorees voiced similar passion and inspiration to make change, including Wade Green, a longtime anti-arms political advocate. Wade said that “after thirty years, I am still committed to working for solutions for peace on local, state and federal levels.” John Donahoe of eBay echoed the sentiment, stating that he is “constantly amazed by the power of the global community.”

Rounding out the inspiring evening, Matt Petersen took the stage once again to announce that over $400,000 had been raised during the event to benefit Global Green’s widespread international campaigns.

Sponsors of the event included Hotel Gavarni, Paris's first independent hotel to be European Ecolabel certified.

To learn more about Global Green, please visit http://www.globalgreen.org

Alisa Ahmadian works for Cook + Fox in environmental building and architecture in New York City. All photos credited to Alisa Ahmadian

 

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Global Green Sustainable Design Awards, NYC

Event Alert! Charity:Water December 13 NYC

VIP RECEPTION.

Join John Slattery of Mad Men and founder Scott Harrison as they host an exclusive sneak peek at charity: ball 2010.

Specialty cocktails mixed by Master Alchemist Alex Ott. Whisky tasting offered by The Macallan. 

WHEN: December 13, 6:00 - 7:00
WHERE: Metropolitan Pavilion. 125 West 18th Street 

For Tickets:

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Event Alert! Charity:Water December 13 NYC