This forum is the first in a series exploring California's rich past-
and promising future - as global innovator of energy-efficient technologies and policies.

October 14, 2008 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Walter A. Buehler Alumni & Visitors Center
University of California, Davis

Presenters

Ralph Cavanagh joined the Natural Resources Defense Council in 1979. He has been a Visiting Professor of Law at Stanford and UC Berkeley, and a Lecturer on Law at the Harvard Law School; he has also been a faculty member for the University of Idaho’s Public Utility Executives Course for more than a decade. He received the Heinz Award for Public Policy, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Mary Kilmarx Award, Yale Law School’s Preiskel-Silverman Fellowship, Lifetime Achievement in Energy Efficiency Award from California’s Flex Your Power Campaign, Northwest Energy Coalition’s Headwaters Award, and Bonneville Power Administration’s Award for Exceptional Public Service. Mr. Cavanagh is a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School.

Bob Foster is a widely-respected business and community leader who was elected as the 27th mayor of Long Beach in June, 2006. He served as President of Southern California Edison before his retirement in 2006, after more than 20 years with the company. As an Edison executive, Mr. Foster led California’s largest electric company through the 1999 energy crisis. During his tenure, Edison developed the largest renewable, clean energy programs (solar, geothermal, biomass and wind) in the U.S. Mr. Foster began his career in public service as a staffer in the California State Senate and California Energy Commission, where he established statewide energy efficiency standards that are still in force today. He is a graduate of San Jose State University in public administration. Prior to his election as mayor, Mr. Foster served as a trustee to the California State University system and remains active in a number of community and public policy organizations.

Art Rosenfeld is often referred to as the "Godfather" of energy efficiency. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Chicago under Nobel Laureate Enrico Fermi, before joining the University of California at Berkeley. While there, he helped form the experimental particle physics group of Luis W. Alvarez, led the group after Alvarez received the Nobel Prize, and switched to astrophysics. He also founded the International Particle Data Group. In 1974, responding to the OPEC oil embargo and the first U.S. energy crisis, he started the internationally renowned Center for Building Science at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Dr. Rosenfeld has held numerous positions at both the federal and state level, including being appointed twice (by two governors) as Commissioner of the California Energy Commission, a position he currently holds. He has authored nearly 400 refereed publications and received the prestigious Enrico Fermi Award in 2006.

Biographies of Discussants and Others

Joe Browder was the first Conservation Director of Friends of the Earth, advised President Carter on energy and environmental policy, and coordinated the Carter administration's federal lands energy policy with California energy strategies; he is now a consultant in Washington, DC.

Jim Davis brings to his position extensive experience in leading the development of value-added services in the energy industry. In 2004, he was recognized for his achievements as Northern California winner of the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Social Responsibility. As President, Jim has established Chevron Energy Solutions as one of the nation's leading energy services firms and the first comprehensive energy services company in the oil and gas industry. Before joining Chevron Energy Solutions, Jim served as Senior Vice President of Integrated Solutions for PG&E Energy Services.

Physicist Amory Lovins is a practitioner for the private sector, author, and visionary in advanced energy and resource efficiency, environment, development, and security; he is Chairman and Chief Scientist of Rocky Mountain Institute (www.rmi.org ).

John McDonald is Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Chevron Corporation, a position he assumed in January 2008. He is the corporate officer responsible for Chevron’s three technology companies: Energy Technology, Information Technology and Technology Ventures. In this role, he manages the research, development and integrated application of technology throughout the company’s worldwide business activities.

Alan Meier is Associate Director and a Faculty Researcher with the EEC. He teaches core energy efficiency courses for the EEC and supervises graduate student activities. Dr. Meier is also a Senior Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Michael Peevey was appointed President of the California Public Utilities Commission by Governor Gray Davis in 2002, a position he continues to hold today. From 1995 until 2000, he served as President of NewEnergy Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Peevey was President of Edison International and Southern California Edison Company, and a senior executive there beginning in 1984. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board for the California Clean Energy Fund.

Daniel Sperling is Acting Director of the Energy Efficiency Center, Professor of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science and Policy, and founding Director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis. He was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the California Air Resources Board in February 2007.

Gene Varanini is an Attorney-at-Law specializing in energy markets and regulation, strategic planning and energy policy. He is a national leader in the development and implementation of innovative energy and environmental policies at the state and federal levels. Mr. Varanini served as chief consultant to the California Assembly Committee on Planning and Land Use during the energy crises of the early 1970s, and spent six and one - half years as a Commissioner on the California Energy Commission. Mr. Varanini is currently of Counsel to the law firm of Greenberg Traurig in Sacramento, California.