The Climate Registry is seeking responses to a short (15 - 20 minutes) online survey in order to identify high priority climate initiatives and readily available activity data sources for small businesses. Responses to this survey will be used to develop draft Small Business Guidance, which small businesses will be able to pilot and then use to report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  

Small businesses completing the survey will also be entered into a drawing for one free year of Climate Registry Membership (a $1,000 value). To complete the survey, click here.

The deadline for completing the survey is January 10, 2014.

Background: Small businesses are committed to reducing their impact on climate change but lack specialized tools and resources to accurately estimate their GHG footprints and demonstrate GHG emissions reductions. Through the development of Small Business Guidance, The Climate Registry plans to address:

• The general principles of GHG footprints and how they typically apply to small business,
• Calculation methods and defaults for emissions sources common to small businesses. These can include fuel combustion, refrigerant emissions and emissions resulting from electricity consumption and employee commuting, among others,
• Small business climate leadership opportunities such as renewable energy procurement options, supply chain foot printing, and metrics and analytics, and
• External review and assurance processes that add value to small business strategies to address climate change.

For more information or questions, please contact Peggy Kellen.

Earlier today I was pleased to represent the more than 1,260 members of the California Business Alliance in calling upon Governor Jerry Brown to make good on his promise to invest in clean energy and work to reduce climate impacts.

In this morning's telepresser, I joined a diverse coalition of interests representing California businesses, along with local government, public health, transportation, environmental, social justice and natural lands organizations from across the state, in sending a clear message to the Governor.

Specifically, we respectfully asked Governor Brown to repay the $500 million loan of cap and trade auction proceeds to the general fund in the current budget, and make good on commitments to voters by investing these and future proceeds, as required by law, in projects that grow the economy, create jobs in the communities that need them most, reduce carbon pollution and improve air quality. The details of our request to the Governor can be found in this letter signed by 93 businesses and organizations.

It's absolutely true that small business owners are also your neighbors - people with families who have a vested interest in making California's air more breathable and its water cleaner, as was said in a Dec. 15 commentary ("Small businesses not heard on energy costs") in The Bee.

But the suggestion that small business has silently drawn the short straw when it comes to our state's pioneering energy policies just doesn't ring true to us.

As small business owners have said time and again - in public hearings, at the state Legislature, and in publications like The Bee - California's innovative energy efforts create a better state to do business in, and to live in, and create opportunities for enterprises large and small. That's why business groups from Small Business California to the Latin Business Association to the Silicon Valley Leadership Group have spoken out in favor of California's clean energy leadership.

Thirteen California organizations were recognized with the 2013 Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), the state's highest environmental honor.

"The award recognizes the creative solutions and transformative results that Californians are achieving on some of our most significant environmental challenges," said Secretary for Environmental Protection Matt Rodriquez. "Their successful approaches demonstrate that we can create a sustainable environment while also promoting a vibrant economy." 

Congratulations to Business Alliance Member Clean World Partners, Sacramento, which received one of the coveted awards. 

The annual Climate Leadership Conference (CLC) convenes forward-thinking leaders from business, government, academia, and the nonprofit community to address global climate change through policy, innovation, and business solutions.

Hosted at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego from February 24-26, the three-day conference convenes around the annual dinner to recognize recipients of the U.S. EPA's Climate Leadership Awards.

The 2014 CLC is a powerful platform for collaboration - exploring energy and climate-related solutions, introducing new opportunities and potential partnerships, and providing support for those addressing climate change in their operations.

The California Energy Commission is offering competitive grants for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to benefit projects that will support the growth of EVs as a conventional method of transportation and adoption of plug-in EVs over a wide range of California's population and socio-economic classes. 

The categories for EV charging Infrastructure include:

Destination Charging, Corridor Charging, Workplace Charging, and Multi-Unit Dwellings.

The deadline for submissions is January 28, 2014, and the grant guidelines can be found at:

http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/PON-13-606/.