May Meeting Announcement: Mark G. Anderson

The monthly OC Renewables meeting resumes Thursday, May 10 at the Duck
Club in Irvine.

Our guest speakers this month are Mark G. Anderson, CEO and Shoshanna
Chagall Gungur, COO of ReTechnology Power and Water Engineering,
specialists in the engineering and construction management of
renewable energy facilities for remote communities and developing
nations.  The presentation, titled “Today’s Solar Industry: Cause for
Concern or Opportunity for Growth?”, will address the realities of
utility-scale solar power development and how applying best business
practices result in significant cost reductions, the single most
important factor affecting the future of Concentrated Solar Power.

Mark Anderson, PE, MBA has been involved with energy project
engineering for over 30 years, beginning in the commercial nuclear
power industry and more recently with new technologies related to
utility-scale wind and solar power, waste heat recovery, waste water
treatment and ultrapure water treatment projects in the U.S. and
abroad.

Shoshanna Chagall Gungur, MBA, JD, specializes in the business
development of technical incubators based on broad international
business experience. She recently spearheaded the successful execution
of the financial and technical aspects of a film production. As an
adjunct professor at Loma Linda University addressing the learning
needs of a diverse graduate student body, Ms. Chagall Gungur brings
extensive multi-lingual skills and wide ranging practice management.

Mr. Anderson and Ms. Chagall Gungur returned from Haiti last week
where they presented energy options for the re-developing Island State
to the Secretary of Energy.

Also, there will be an important announcement regarding the 2013 U.S. Solar Decathlon, which will be held at the Great Park in Irvine next year.

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, the 10th!

April Event: Earth Day Fun Run - April 22

Last year, OC Renewables started a tradition of transforming the regularly scheduled monthly meeting in April to an event on or around Earth Day.  This year, OC Renewables is proud to co-sponsor the inaugural BDR Earth Day Family Fun Run on Sunday, April 22 at Bolsa Chica State Park.  This event is open to both competitive and recreational runners.  All are welcome!

Proceeds benefit the Brian D. Robertson Foundation to support organizations that have a positive impact on the environment and that promote family wellness. The foundation is committed to putting resources raised by this Fun Run back into the local communities of Southern California.

Register Now:

Online or download Individual or Group forms (PDF)

Date: Saturday, April 22, 2012
Start: 11:00 am
Location: Bolsa Chica State Park
Course: Flat, fast, and scenic!

Registration Options: 5K Run - Individual Registration $25/Team of 5 Registration $110
Kids 1Mile Fun Run - Individual child $15/Team of 5 Registration $60

Race Details: Registration includes race bib with a finisher medal for all participants. Registration fees also cover the costs of permitting, water, fruit & bars, toilets and insurance associated with the race. Registration fees are non-refundable, non-transferable but are TAX-DEDUCTIBLE. 

T-Shirts: Registrants may purchase Inaugural Race shirts. Options include 100% cotton t-shirts available in adult and children sizes. Performance technical dry-wick adult shirts are also available for purchase. The Basic registration does not include t-shirt. Registrants who purchase shirts may pick up their shirts on race day. 

Race Packets: Packet pick-up and late registration offered on race day. 

Volunteer Opportunities: Bad knee?  Don't let that stop you from having a fun day and helping out!  All interested in volunteering should contact Tran at bdrfunrun AT gmail DOT com.  Event organizers need help with food and beverage, course support, and registration.  Volunteers will need to fill out a waiver, which can be found here.  

See you on April 22nd!

March Meeting Announcement: Mauri Paz

OC Renewables will meet on Thursday, March 8, at 7 PM at the Duck Club in Irvine.

Our guest speaker will be Mauri Paz. Mauri is an expert in green careers from Cal State Fullerton Extension. In his day job, Mauri is a Green Building Engineer. He is Project Manager for E2 Managetech, Inc., where he applies his expertise in Energy Management and Energy Management Information Systems. He is a member of the Applied Sustainability Advisory Board.

Mauri will speak to us primarily about starting, developing, and excelling in a green career. This is a great meeting to bring a friend. Mauri says on the Cal State Fullerton website that "networking is key. Many students enrolled in certificate programs have the advantage of expanding their network by keeping an active relationship with other students and professors. This can be a great means of obtaining a job in sustainability."

We look forward to seeing you on the 8th!

February Meeting Recap - Power to the People

Thanks to James Kao from Power to the People for the informative presentation at tonight's meeting. If you did not get a chance to attend and wanted to learn more, this video is a powerful presentation of the good work this organization does. Enjoy!

Power to the People: Empowering Communities Through Renewable Energy Technologies from Brad Allgood on Vimeo.

Up to Half of Solar Costs are Administrative, DOE Says · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

Up to Half of Solar Costs are Administrative, DOE Says · Environmental Management & Energy News · Environmental Leader

2013 Solar Decathalon Coming to Irvine in 2013!

The US Department of Energy announced last week that the 2013 Solar Decathlon will be held in our back yard! In addition to welcoming 20 new collegiate teams and hundreds of new student decathletes to the 2013 competition, DOE announced a new site: the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. This venue will provide a stage worthy of displaying the teams’ energy-efficient, solar-powered houses to the world.

The Solar Decathlon challenges international collegiate teams to design and build solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive while promoting the education and economic benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency.  Visitors will be able to tour the renewable energy houses that combine energy-efficient construction and appliances at a specially-constructed Great Park Solar Village in the fall of 2013.

The Great Park received broad-based community support to stage the 2013 Solar Decathlon from many of the region’s elected officials, educational institutions and clean energy organizations, including Senator Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Representatives John Campbell and Loretta Sanchez, Scott Samuleson, Director of the Advanced Power and Energy Program at the University of California Irvine, Bill Habermehl, Superintendent, Orange County Department of Education, the Orange County Business Council, the Building Industry Association of Orange County, Clean TechOC and Southern California Edison.

We have already made contact with the DOE on volunteer opportunities. How else would you like to help bring international attention to renewable energy here in Orange County? Let us know!

CleanTech San Diego Symposium - March 6

CleanTECH San Diego &
The Solar Electric Power Association
present
San Diego Solar Energy Symposium
TUESDAY | MARCH 6TH, 2012
1:00 - 4:30 PM


University of San Diego
University Center Forums A, B, and C
Reception to follow from 4:30 - 6:30 PM
University of San Diego
Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice

A recent report identified San Diego as having the most rooftop solar installations in the state. To ensure this continued success, CleanTECH San Diego and the Solar Electric Power Association are offering a half-day Solar Energy Symposium on March 6 at the University of San Diego to discuss the future of solar energy in the region. Experts will share information about the expansion of solar energy in San Diego, discuss its benefits, address misconceptions and identify ways to build a foundation for long-term solar growth.

Register for this event at
sdsolarenergysymposium2012.eventbrite.com

About CleanTECH San Diego | CleanTECH San Diego is a private, non-profit member organization formed in 2007. As one of the nation's premier cleantech cluster organizations, its mission is to position the region as a global leader in the cleantech economy. CleanTECH San Diego serves as a catalyst for a diverse group of stakeholders to advance a common agenda.
www.cleantechsandiego.org

About SEPA | The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) is an educational non-profit organization dedicated to helping utilities integrate solar energy into their portfolio. From facilitating peer-to-peer interaction between utilities and the solar industry to hosting one of the industry's leading educational forums on utility solar, SEPA is the go-to resource for unbiased utility solar information.
www.solarelectricpower.org

Advocacy - Regional Transportation Plans Are Limited in Renewable Energy

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has been tasked with creating "Sustainable Community Strategies" (SCS) under a law known as SB 375.  SB 375 was enacted to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from automobiles and light trucks through integrated transportation, land use, housing and environmental planning. Using the regional GHG emissions reduction targets set by the California Air Resources Board (ARB), SCAG is tasked with developing a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), a newly required element of the 2012 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) that sets a plan for meeting the GHG emissions reduction targets.

SCAG has drafted a Regional Transportation Plan that spans from 2012 to 2035. There's a tremendous amount of data and reporting going on. But, if you'd like, you can read the entire plan here. You can also visit the draft plan's page at this location - it's much easier to break it down into sections.

The bottom line is this: There is only one mention of renewable energy throughout the entire draft report.

Page 81 says "The [Preliminary Environmental Impact Report] also includes mitigation measures relating to energy designed to reduce consumption and increase the use and availability of renewable sources of energy in the region. Since these measures not only reduce energy consumption but also reduce GHG emissions they are addressed above under GHG."

Public comment ends on Tuesday, February 14. I would encourage everyone to fill out the public comment form in support of renewable energy.

SCAG had an Energy Working Group that was active in this issue up until 2007. Encouraging SCAG to bring back the Energy Working Group to help build some renewable energy infrastructure in Orange County and all of Southern California would be a step in the right direction.

For more questions or comments, please contact Mike Harmanos.

February Meeting Announcement: James Kao

The next meeting of OC Renewables will be held on Thursday, February 9, 6:30 PM, at the Duck Club in Irvine.

Our speaker will be James Kao, Member of the Advisory Board of Power To The People. James is a city planner with experience in landscape architecture, urban design, smart growth, green building and sustainable communities.  He currently works at the City of Signal Hill near Long Beach where he has begun coordinating development and implementation of a sustainable city plan.  James holds a BS degree in landscape architecture from Cornell University and a Masters in Real Estate Development from USC.  He is a lifelong outdoors and nature enthusiast with a passion for world culture, languages and adventure travel and has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and Europe.  James is a proponent of developing sustainable communities powered by renewable energy here and abroad and is also a member of a dozen environmental advocacy organizations that focus on alternative transportation, urban forestry, wildlife conservation, and environmental education. 

We will also introduce the Board of Trustees for 2012 and talk about our plans for the upcoming year.

Hope to see you on Thursday the 9th at 6:30!