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The year is off to a promising start for California's clean energy and climate policies, even with the current drought taking hold. The Governor presented a balanced budget to the Legislature last month that calls for spending $850 million in AB 32 cap and trade auction proceeds towards investments in clean transportation, air quality improvements and energy efficiency measures. This funding will yield significant returns for California businesses and consumers up and down the state. Last year, I joined nearly 100 California business and community leaders in calling upon Governor Brown to make good on his promise to invest auction proceeds in ways that benefit Californians. You can read more about these impacts in my recent blogpost.
As always, you can check out the latest news and op-eds from Business Alliance members and other opinion leaders by reading this recap of op-eds. You can also look at past issues of the eNews here.
Thank you for helping to grow our network of California businesses committed to fostering a clean energy economy. Please invite your colleagues and friends to sign-up to join our growing free network and please make sure to visit our Facebook page and Twitter Feed for regular updates.
~Susan Frank Director, California Business Alliance for a Green Economy
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Featured Blog

Business Alliance Applauds Brown Administration for Budget Proposal to Spend $850 Million of AB 32 Cap and Trade Auction Proceeds
By Susan Frank, Director, California Business Alliance for a Green Economy
Late last year, I was proud to join a diverse coalition calling upon Governor Brown to make good on his promise to invest in clean energy, energy efficiency, and work to reduce climate impacts. The details of our October 2013 request to the Governor can be found in this letter signed by 93 businesses and organizations from across the state.
I am pleased to now be able to share that Governor Brown and his administration have responded favorably to our request by previewing their budget proposal on the use of AB 32 cap and trade auction proceeds, which calls for investing $850 million in clean energy, clean transportation and energy efficiency measures.
Read the full blog here.
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Featured Awards
California Small Businesses Recognized for Implementing Climate-Smart Strategy
The Air Resources Board recently announced the winners
small businesses that demonstrate leadership and make notable,
voluntary achievements toward reducing their carbon footprint.
A special congratulations to the following Business Alliance Members selected as winners:
"These small-business leaders from across California prove it
only takes a few simple steps to be more sustainable," said ARB
Chairman Mary D. Nichols. "Whether it's running a boutique hotel
or repairing automobiles, they each demonstrated that making smart climate-friendly choices is good for the environment and for their bottom line."
The 13 award winners were selected from competitive applicants, representing a variety of business sectors from across
California. These businesses took a number of different actions
to save money and improve their business operations while
reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and environmental
impacts. Some of the steps they took included installing LED
lights, solar panels, energy-efficient equipment and occupancy
sensor switches; eliminating toxic chemicals and solvents; using
eco-friendly, recycled/reused/repurposed products; installing
foot pedal scrub stations and low flow shower heads and toilets;
and using alternative or renewable energy fueled vehicles and
electric bikes.
Awards will be presented to the winning businesses at a ceremony from 4 to 6 p.m. on Feb. 12, 2014, at the Cal-EPA Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. (The Business Alliance is a sponsor of the ceremony and reception.) CoolCalifornia.org is an online resource providing all Californians with the information and tools they need to take climate action. The website features money-saving actions, climate calculators, case studies and links to financial incentives to help individuals, small businesses, local government and youth gain the knowledge needed to take simple steps for a sustainable future.
For more information, visit www.coolcalifornia.org.
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Featured Member Profile
Organic Pastures "Santa" Delivers Raw Milk to Mammoth
Congratulations to Business Alliance member Organic Pastures, based in Fresno, for a Christmas-time feature story in The Fresno Bee.
On the sunny and brisk morning of Dec. 21, Windsor Czeschin and her three young children awaited their milkman as his small plane touched down at the Mammoth Airport to deliver his farm-fresh, raw milk and dairy products to the local buyer's club. The pilot, Mark McAfee, 52, owns Organic Pastures Dairy Co. in Fresno County. He was wearing a Santa hat in the spirit of the holidays -- and a wetsuit, just in case.
Organic Pastures is rooted in the innovative farming and dairy endeavors of the McAfee grandparents. Since the 1950s, McAfee Farms have been leading advocates of nature friendly farm practices. In 1988, the family established an organic farm and by 2000, Organic Pastures Dairy Company became California's first raw milk dairy with certified organic pasture land. The dairy is located near Fresno, California, in the heart of the fertile San Joaquin Valley, and is one of the few remaining family-owned and operated dairies in California.
Read the full article here.
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Featured Event
Navigating the American Carbon World, March 26-28
As the nation's longest running and most anticipated conference for discussing climate policy and carbon markets, Navigating the American Carbon World (NACW) has a well-established history of providing the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on pressing topics in carbon. And because it is North America's largest carbon conference, it is known as the best event for networking with colleagues from the business, government, nonprofit and academic sectors. In its twelfth consecutive year, NACW 2014 will take a close look at the future growth and expansion of California's historic cap-and-trade program, other established and emerging carbon markets around the world, the status of potential linkages between markets, national climate change policy and other innovative environmental initiatives.
NACW 2014 takes place March 26-28 in San Francisco and is hosted by the Climate Action Reserve.
To learn more about NACW 2014, please click here.
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Featured Event
Climate Leadership Conference, Feb. 24-26
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. Several Business Alliance members including founding member, Tom Bowman with Bowman Design Group, and Richard McCaskill with Recon Recycling, along with Susan Frank, Director of the Business Alliance, will be participating on a small business panel on Monday, February 24.
Register for the conference here.
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Featured Event
Cleantech Innovation Summit, Feb. 12
Cleantech is undergoing a dramatic shift where we are now seeing more sustainable innovation coming into the market. Corporations have come to the realization that they need sustainable innovation to reduce costs and energy intensity while improving their environmental footprint.
This February 12 summit will spotlight key strategies on identifying and tapping external innovation to accomplish these objectives while providing a valuable networking experience.
Featuring a keynote address by Colleen Calhoun, Senior Executive Director, GE Ventures, the conference will address:
- Corporate sustainable innovation strategies
- Who's funding CleanTech
- GE's approach to open source innovation
- The next frontier for Cleantech: Leveraging IT to change the world.
To learn more click here.
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Featured Event
Water in the Age of Uncertainty: A Southern California Response to Climate Change, Feb. 12
The State of California, in response to the growing threats of climate change, created the first California Adaptation Strategy in 2009. Today, the California Natural Resources Agency is updating the Strategy. This important policy will guide policymakers in the coming decades, determining how the state will thrive in the face of a changed environment. Safeguarding California: Reducing Climate Risk lays out nine issue areas that will be impacted by climate change -- the most vital issue of which is water.
On February 12, leaders are invited to join a discussion of California's water future at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles. You'll hear the scientific forecast and what can be done to safeguard our future.
Register for the event here.
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Best,
 Susan Frank Director, California Business Alliance for a Green Economy
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CALENDAR AT A GLANCE
Feb. 4-5
Solar Power Generation USA Congress
(San Diego)
Feb. 10-11
Good Jobs, Green Jobs
(Washington D.C.)
Feb. 12
Cleantech Innovation Summit
(Newport Beach)
Read More
Feb. 12
Water in the Age of Uncertainty: a Southern California Response to Climate Change
(Los Angeles)
Read More
Feb. 13
PortTech Forum: Energy Conservation, Consumption and Cost
(Los Angeles)
Feb. 24-26
Climate Leadership Conference
(San Diego)
Read More
March 5
Behind the Scenes of the Natural Foods Revolution
(Los Angeles)
March 26-28
San Francisco
Read More
March 28
(San Jose)
April 8-9
(Sacramento)
May 17-20
Climate Ride California 2014
(San Francisco to Sacramento)
May 19-21
Fortune Brainstorm Green:Sustainable Solutions
(Laguna Niguel)
Sept. 23-24
Water Innovation Summit 2014
(Berkeley)
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