BC3 Newsletter - Fall 2010

B C 3 N E W S

New Program Manager

In September, Rachel Barge left BC3 to pursue some hands-on development work with an environmental organization in India, called Loop Solutions. We're delighted to welcome Katherine Michonski as our new program manager. As Program Manager she is in charge of daily operations, partnerships, and development. Prior to joining BC3, Katherine worked on international climate and energy policy as a research associate at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. She also provides outreach and development support for EarthSpark International, a nonprofit organization that works to alleviate energy poverty in Haiti. Katherine graduated from the University of Chicago, where she worked on a number of environmental projects, including the founding university's first sustainability council. This summer we also bid farewell to interns Kate Gasner and Kyle Aarons. We're also sending off summer intern Sumir Saini.

BC3 Opposes Prop 23

As many of you know, California's landmark climate bill, AB 32, is at risk in the November elections. If passed, Prop 23 would set back the state's progressive clean air policies and remove incentives for investing in California's clean technology businesses.

As a partnership of San Francisco Bay Area businesses committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, supporting climate legislation is integral to BC3's mission-and part of the five principles to which all BC3 member companies commit. For this reason, we believe it is appropriate and necessary to support AB 32 by actively opposing Prop 23. We have registered our position with the "No on 23" campaign. If your business has not yet taken action, we urge you to join us at www.stopdirtyenergyprop.com. Many businesses, organizations, and government officials have already expressed their opposition to Prop 23, including Governor Schwarzenegger, Mayor Newsom, Meg Whitman, Attorney General Brown, the Bay Area Council, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, among others.

AAA Greenlight Awards BC3 $10,000 Grant

BC3 was awarded a grant from AAA to sponsor two workshops on alternative fuel commuting. The grant aims to help Bay Area businesses increase their use of alternative fuel vehicles. On November 23, the first workshop will educate consumers on securing rebates when purchasing zero emission vehicles, and will provide insights on utility rates and infrastructure development for electric vehicles. In March 2011, the second workshop will provide an overview of the clean vehicle choices on the market in the Bay
Area.