In the closing quarter of 2014, nearly two hundred California public agency representatives, utility partners and community collaborators joined The Energy Network's Workshops on Financing, The Water-Energy Nexus and Street Lighting. 

The Energy Network's Financing Workshop - 11/18/14

In partnership with the Local Government Commission (LGC), Southern California Edison (SCE) and Southern California Gas (SCG), The Energy Network's Financing Workshop took place on November 18th, 2014 as a special session during the annual SCE and SCG Local Government Partnership Meeting. Session topics included "Getting Green To Pencil Out" and "Selling Energy Projects Within Your Organization."  

Here's what post-workshop survey participants had to say about The Energy Network's session: 

Thoughts & Comments   -Very helpful session, I especially appreciated the comments from Sara Neff [financing]. Her enthusiasm was contagious.   -This was an engaging and entertaining, yet educational way to discuss financing. I have a better understanding of this typically dry and opaque topic.

Survey Says!    -100% agreed or strongly agreed that they increased their knowledge and understanding of issues and programs covered   -95% strongly agreed or agreed that they feel better equipped to discuss the issues and programs covered with others

 The Energy Network's Water-Energy Nexus Workshop - 11/19/14

The Water-Energy Nexus Workshop was held in collaboration with the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) at their main facility in Riverside. Panelists reviewed real-world projects (planning, implementation, successes and challenges) and included Orange County Sanitation District's Umesh Murphey, the City of Oxnard's John Jardin, the Lincus/WISE Program's Hob Issa and Wyatt Troxel of EnerVention Strategies.  Participants also toured SAWPA's Arlington Desalter. 

Here are the highlights from The Energy Network's Water-Energy Nexus Workshop post-survey:

Thoughts & Comments   - All of the topics were interesting. The portions that I found were really helpful for me were when the speakers talked about their own experiences and how they sold the projects at their agencies.   - Representing the water company I'm associated with, your agency clearly points a clear path to feasible energy savings. On a larger scale, relating to district customers, city residents and county stakeholders of the successful collaboration between public and private agencies gives positive feedback in a rebounding economy.     Participants tour the Arlington Desalter - SAWPA, Riverside

Attendees discuss projects over lunch at The Energy Network's Water-Energy Workshop Survey Says!      - 100% of survey participants rated the workshop's usefulness and relevancy at a "5" out of "5."    - 100% of those surveyed plan to take action based on what they learned at the workshop Actions include:   - Using financial methods taught at the workshop to present new projects to customers.  Showing them [customers] the return on investment.    - Relaying successes of The Energy Network in the water-agency space to utility team.    - Checking with other leaders and relaying the need for regional collaboration.

 For more information about The Energy Networks Water-Energy Nexus Workshop, or to learn more about The Energy Network's services contact Jamie Ferro at jferro@energynetwork.com 

The Energy Network's Street Lighting Workshop - 12/4/14

Working in tandem with SCE, The Energy Network held a Street Lighting Workshop at SCE's Energy Education Center in Irwindale in early December 2014.  SCE representatives discussed LS-1 Acquisition, SCE Financing and provided an AB 719 update while experts from the Cities of Palmdale, Huntington Beach and Arcadia discussed their city's street lighting retrofit projects along side project specific engineers and contractors. Attendees toured the Energy Innovation Center's Street Light demonstration area.

Here are the highlights from the post-workshop survey:  

SCE's Matt Garcia welcomes attendees at The Energy Network's Street Lighting Workshop Attendee Thoughts     - I am a big fan of The Energy Network program and like what our partnership has achieved so far.    -Everything went well and was very informative.           SCE's Energy Education Center, Irwindale

Survey Says!   - 100% of those surveyed rated the workshop as extremely useful    - 100% of survey participants plan to take action following the workshop.   Actions include:    - Implementing a street lighting project that has "been on the shelf"   - Moving forward with acquisition of streetlights   - Pushing to use OBF to retrofit our LS 2 lights sooner rather than later.   Aaron Klemm of Los Angeles County speaking at The Energy Network Street Lighting Workshop