Summer 2010

 

Letter From the Editor

By Patrick Stoner

Welcome to the latest issue of CURRENTS. In this issue I’m adding a new feature, Upcoming Events. There I will post webinars, workshops and conferences that I think will be of interest to California cities and counties. If you know of an event that fits that description, please share it with me. Be mindful that CURRENTS is a quarterly newsletter, so a lot of lead-time is necessary to be included in the next issue. When possible, I’ll include a web link or other way to get more information.

As the Statewide Local Government Energy Efficiency Best Practices Coordinator I am hoping to serve as a resource for all local governments on topics related to energy and climate change. If you have a question about a policy, program, funding, training, etc., let me know. I’ll help you find an answer.

I’ll also be collecting and distributing energy efficiency best practices case stories, so let me know what you’re doing and would like to share with your peers. There is a lot of interest in green jobs right now, so be thinking about those kinds of stories.

I am the administrator for the local government pages on the State’s new energy efficiency web portal (to replace Flex Your Power), and these case stories will be available there. The portal will be a good place to start in your quest for information about financing, trainings, guides, model ordinances, templates, etc. and will have discussion forums for local governments. When the site goes public (expected to be late August), please take a look at it and let me know how to make it more useful.

Many of you have been receiving my email alerts for several years. I use them to share information that I receive via email about energy-related topics. But some of you have also used it to find examples of Requests for Proposals, Power Purchase Agreements, job descriptions, and so on. The people on this list have been very generous with their knowledge and resources. So take advantage of their help.

I recently created another email alert list for local government folks working in the sustainability/ climate change arena. If you’re interested in being on either list, email me at pstoner@lgc.org.