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Benefits
Microgrids allow for new levels of resilience (in light of emerging threats to global power grids ranging from extreme weather events, earthquakes, and wildfires to terrorist threats) and reliability to reduce distribution outages and provide for higher power quality. While high utility rates in certain isolated load pockets have incented development, new technologies have lowered capital costs significantly. Microgrids can help organize mixed asset fleets of DER (distributed energy resources) at the distribution network level. Microgrid deployments include: 1) biomass, 2) CHP (combined heat and power), 3) diesel, 4) battery storage, 5) fuel cells, 6) hydro, 7) solar PV, and 8) wind. Controls for the microgrid can be managed through storage and communication packages internal to the microgrid. Microgrids can increase reliability for site hosts but also provide flexibility to distribution system operators as components can bid directly into wholesale markets if appropriately configured. Global/US Footprint & Growth Based on a mid-2019 report, the microgrid market (both planned and installed) identified 4475 projects totaling close to 27GW (26,965 MW) of capacity worldwide. A companion study projected growth in spending from $8.1 Billion currently to $40 Billion in 2028, sporting a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 21.4%. US microgrid capacity was nearly 9GW (8.879 MW) in 2019. Globally, on a customer segment basis, remote microgrids and commercial and industrial (C&I) represent nearly 70% of installations. Asia is the largest overall market, North America is the top market for grid-tied capacity, and Latin America is the fastest growing market, notably because of Puerto Rico’s power restoration efforts post-hurricane Maria in 2017. In the US, most microgrid projects are custom configured and largely limited to public facilities like schools, hospitals, and military bases, although chip makers represent a solid exception. Many are dependent on fossil fuels and not renewable energy sources. Overall Market Assessment The global market for microgrids continues to grow, but is not yet a smooth ride to widespread viability. Although microgrid technologies have dropped in cost, and controls functionality has improved, regulatory barriers and long project development cycles continue to frustrate efforts to move the market fully into the mainstream. Market Segments Segments are generally divided into six major areas: 1) campus/institutional, 2) commercial & industrial, 3) community, 4) remote, 5) utility distribution, and 6) military. US Utility View—Thumbs Up, Down, or Sideways? While an optimist or equipment seller can say the power sector is moving from a centralized system to a distributed system, it can be said, at least for incumbent utilities, that the train hasn’t exactly left the station. A broad view would say utilities essentially have three choices, either to obstruct, facilitate, or engage and implement. On the plus side, utilities see benefit from microgrids in several ways: 1) supporting distribution operations vulnerable to stability issues stemming from high renewable energy penetration, 2) providing a non-wires alternative to areas of growing electricity demand, and 3) deferring or supporting capital upgrade projects. In addition, there are revenue opportunities if they can fully or partially own microgrids. On the negative side, utilities view on-site generation, battery storage, and microgrids as disruptive technologies. They see declining revenues from decreased sales, conflicts over where microgrid operators can string lines and connect to the distribution system, and worries about reliability when customers separate themselves from the grid. In 2019, according to the Edison Electric Institute, 50% of all microgrids had some type of utility involvement compared to 10% several years prior. This defies the perception that utilities are often slow to innovate and resistant to disruptive change. A lingering question remains, ‘should microgrids and distributed energy resources be coordinated by a central entity, akin to the way ISOs/RTOs coordinate the bulk power market?’ Unfortunately, a lack of market rules and a disjointed regulatory environment are primary factors at play. In the end, utilities will have to adopt to a changing landscape of fewer entities to pay necessary monies for utility upgrades and expansions. At last count, utilities are collectively investing $100 billion to upgrade their networks. It is therefore incumbent upon State regulators to decide how to share those costs based on the premise that the grid is an essential public resource.  PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (KION) Venues installed for the 2020 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am were taken down Monday. Organizers of the tournament said their goal is to re-use and recycle as many materials from the event as possible.
Last year, over 80 tons of building materials were donated to 'Last Chance Mercantile' in Marina. It's there that wood, carpet, laminate and mesh are offered at a discounted price. The same donations are being made after this year's event. "These are used in the community, rather than going to the landfill. If you look at the total impact, it's nearly half of the tournament waste going to re-use right off the bat," said Blue Strike Environmental Senior Sustainability Program Manager, Alex Baxter. Organizers said the take down of the tournament is planned out at least four months in advance. All leftover food from the Pro-Am is donated to the Monterey County Food Bank. Organizers expect two to three tons of leftover food to be collected from concession stands. Watch the full story here: https://kion546.com/news/monterey-county/2020/02/10/materials-used-in-att-pebble-beach-pro-am-recycled/  MARINA — Last month, Rob Nicely of Carmel Building and Design opened up a project he is currently constructing in Carmel Valley to help introduce the concept of Passive House to the region. On Thursday, the Monterey Bay Regional Climate Action Compact’s meeting in Marina began to lay the foundation for entities in the area to come together to put the Passive House concept into action. The compact will have “more of a facilitation role to get people to the table to talk about solutions,” said Kristin Cushman, chair of the Monterey Bay Regional Climate Action Compact. “We are going to conduct some followup meetings of focused group discussions.” The compact will take an active role in promoting the Passive House concept to the region. At Thursday’s meeting, held at the Marina Branch Library, about 30 people came out to hear the presentations from Nicely, Bronwyn Barry, president of the North American Passive House Network, and Jay Gentry, Passive House California board member. “We need to act quickly and effectively to bring carbon neutrality to the Monterey Bay Area,” said Nicely. “It is widely agreed that we need to achieve at least a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. According to the United Nations Environment Program’s ‘Emissions Gap Report 2018,’ we need to drive down carbon emissions by 55% by 2030 to have a 50/50 chance of staying below a 1.5 to 2.0 degree Celsius rise in temperature. Nicely said that his area of expertise lies in the building industry so his plan is for changes in that sector. “If we’re to succeed in averting a climate catastrophe, it will take changes in every sector including building, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture and energy production,” said Nicely. Passive House consists of design principles used to attain a high level of energy efficiency and comfort level by employing continuous insulation and an air-tight envelope that prevents outside air coming in and the loss of conditioned air going out. Think of an insulated thermos versus a coffee pot on a heating element. The thermos keeps the beverage hot for a long period of time without added energy while a pot on a warmer continuously uses energy to keep the beverage hot. Passive design is all-electric and uses high-performance windows and doors, and capitalizes on the position of the sun to maximize heating in the cold season and minimize overheating during the warm season. It uses a form of balanced heat and moisture-recovery ventilation system.  Passive design strategy carefully models and balances a comprehensive set of factors including heat coming from appliances and occupants to keep the building at comfortable and consistent indoor temperatures, resulting in long-term benefits in addition to energy efficiency. The continuous mechanical ventilation of fresh-filtered air provides superb indoor air quality. Many occupants of Passive House structures have reported reduced allergies and irritations, resulting in health care savings.
Passive building principles can be applied to all building types from single-family homes to multi-family apartment buildings, offices and skyscrapers. But the advocates for Passive House said it will take a concerted effort by many local industries, entities and jurisdictions to change policies and move the built environment — man-made structures, features and facilities viewed collectively as an environment in which people live and work — toward Passive House concepts. Monterey County District 5 Supervisor Mary Adams addressed the meeting as did Catherine Moon from Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s office. Adams noted that the county has moved to install solar panels on its buildings, a first step toward decreasing a carbon footprint. She also introduced Ashley Paulsworth, the newly hired sustainability manager for Monterey County, who stayed throughout the meeting while the supervisor left for another engagement. Panetta, who was at another engagement in Del Rey Oaks, issued a statement that read in part, “Increasing the energy efficiency of our homes will be a critical piece of addressing the climate crisis. Passive House’s goal to arrive at a plan that produces 1,000 Passive House level buildings in service in the Monterey Bay area must be a part of a larger regional effort to arrive at a net zero carbon footprint by 2050. On the federal level, I am also working to drive use toward net zero. I introduced the Climate Action Rebate Act to establish a carbon fee and dividend program that reduces our energy footprint to net zero by 2050, in line with the goals set forth by Passive House in Monterey County.” This was the first meeting hosted by the Climate Action Compact to hold a forum about Passive House — A Workable Solution for the Monterey Bay Area. According to Nicely, a survey of other regions in North America that have embarked on an aggressive effort to combat the climate emergency reveal common elements of success including identifying leaders who have the means and the will to lead. Barry said a higher bar should be set by focusing efforts on achieving a 65% reduction in carbon emissions and by doing so, “manufacturers will step up to supply the demand.” She spoke of how local leadership and entities can help jurisdictions support aggressive energy-efficient projects such as the Passive House Multi-Family alternative path. The cities of Seaside, with its proposed Campus Town development, and Sand City, with its South of Tioga project on the horizon, would seem to be prime candidates to implement some, if not all, Passive House techniques in their respective multi-family housing designs. The city of Monterey will also be embarking on building housing along Garden Road, which could be designed with Passive House in mind. Marina City Manager Layne Long was in attendance and said his interest is on a personal and professional level. “I’ve been following (the Passive House movement) since the ’70s,” he said. Marina has been the center of housing development on the Monterey Peninsula since the end of the recession with its Dunes On Monterey Bay and Sea Haven development projects. Other attendees included members of the real estate, lumber and building materials, and architecture professions, as well as representatives from Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, 831 Conserve, CSU Monterey Bay, U.S. Green Building Council, Green Power, Monterey Bay Community Power, and the cities of Pacific Grove, Monterey, Marina and Santa Cruz. Cushman said the Monterey Bay Regional Climate Action Compact will have six group sessions over the next six months to identify steps in the market to spread the word about Passive House and help spur policy changes, identify training opportunities and resources, and leverage programs not yet tapped into. The presenters stressed the importance of education beginning with the individual, then city and county planning and building departments, professionals in design, engineering and energy modeling, and the trades — contractors, heating ventilation air conditioning installers, and electricians. Monterey County and its cities can work to remove barriers to Passive House design, add incentives to increase Passive House uptake and develop their own Passive House pilot projects. The city of Seaside is currently pushing accessory dwelling unit production with a project to build at least four different accessory dwelling unit prototypes on city-owned properties and Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay has proposed its own pilot project to help Seaside residents build additional accessory dwelling units. According to Passive House experts, those concepts can be used in any type of dwelling. According to Jay Gentry, Passive House California Board member, as California grapples with its housing shortage,180,000 living units will need to built every year for the next five years to provide enough housing for its inhabitants. The operational energy required for each unit built to current code would exceed a unit built to Passive House standard by 70%. And the infiltration of airborne pollutants and allergens in a code-compliant unit is 95% higher than in a Passive House unit. The investment needed to design and build to Passive House standards is about 5% less now, said Gentry. Introduction
The macro operating environment for power companies has changed dramatically in recent years. Renewable energy is increasingly competitive with fossil fuels. Distributed energy (behind-the-meter resources) is unending the economics of the grid. Climate change is presenting new threats to power systems and their regulatory models. Further, companies that outsource supply management face billing surprises through third parties. The standard rate-making regime, with a predictable tariff structure, is being asked to integrate new performance-based metrics into utility revenue models. Examples include standards or metrics for energy efficiency, customer engagement, and sustainability. Public Power Impact While Public Power may be somewhat insulated, given its non-profit structure, both Generation & Transmission and Distribution companies are still subject to internal and external changes and threats. This is true for those who take an active or passive risk approach to supply management and for those who manage risks internally or outsource externally. Most importantly, opting for third-party load management doesn’t assure sound risk management by the selected vendors because settlement data is not made available. Significantly, all this is happening against a backdrop of stagnating electricity demand and during a period of weak commodity prices. Risk Exposures/Impacts by Category
Conclusion Managing supply and demand in a rapidly changing environment is much more than a daily system and load-balancing challenge. The old adage, you can’t manage what you don’t measure is more applicable than ever. Whether it’s the competing regulatory dissonance between Federal and State mandates, the necessity of carbon transition, the competition for and retention of customers threatened by new entities (community choice aggregation), or customer demand for higher green content, an active approach both to internal and external management of power distribution requires constant vigilance.  Written and published by GEO Foundation
The 2019 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am has achieved GEO Certified® Tournament status, the internationally recognized certification for sustainability in golf, administered by Scotland-based GEO Foundation (GEO). The award comes after strong commitments and efforts from all the tournament organizers to minimise negative impacts, while helping to foster nature, conserve resources, take climate action and strengthen communities. To achieve this, a comprehensive Sustainability Action Plan was put into place, outlining goals and implementation responsibilities, and allowing a coordinated effort across all tournament operations. As a mainstay of the PGA Tour, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is a major sporting event, attracting top golfers, celebrities, and thousands of fans to California’s beautiful Monterey Peninsula each year. With such significant reach and influence, the tournament’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility demonstrates valuable leadership in advancing sustainability in and through golf. Jonathan Smith, Executive Director, GEO Foundation, commented on the award: “Building on a strong track record of responsible management of the Pebble Beach Resort and the Monterey Peninsula, we commend the partners for taking such determined steps to make the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am a leader in sustainable golf tournaments, sport and events.” Managing Director of the Council for Responsible Sport and lead verifier for the event, Shelley Villalobos, said: “For years now, this tournament's key partners have taken initiative to exemplify industry best practices in responsible tournament management. It's terrific to see this hard-earned certificate give testament to the intentional planning and leadership demonstrated consistently by this special event.” Some of the sustainability highlights from the 2019 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am include: All tournament proceeds are donated to local charitable organisations. In 2018, donations amounted to $15.6 million, with a similar figure expected for 2019 88% of waste diverted from landfill through sustainable procurement policies, composting, recycling, reuse and donation. Irrigation water comes from the Monterey Peninsula Waste Water Reclamation Project, which has saved over 6.4 billion gallons of potable water for the local community Community engagement: The Chevron STEM Zone provided an educational experience for local school children, and 4,000 complimentary tickets were donated to military personnel and veterans. Looking forward, the tournament organisers are committed to building on this first certification and improving sustainability efforts across tournament operations year-on-year. Tim Heitmann, Operations Manager of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, said: “Our Sustainability Action Plan lay at the heart of everything we did in 2019, and from lessons learned, is evolving for the 2020 and other future editions of the event. We covered all aspects of sustainable event management, focusing on practical actions and real outcomes.” To achieve GEO Certification, the organizers completed a robust, custom-built program for golf tournaments that includes document and evidence submission, a third-party verification carried out by the Council for Responsible Sport, a thorough review by GEO, and agreement to Continual Improvement Points for future tournaments. The 2019 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am achieved 46 of 49 credits attempted (from a maximum of 55), across six categories - planning & communications, site protection, procurement, resource management, access & equity and community legacy. View the full 2019 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am GEO Certified® Report. About the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am The AT&T Pebble Beach is one of the most exciting and popular events on the PGA Tour. Each year, thousands of spectators and millions of television viewers enjoy watching the world’s top golfers and other big-name celebrities in action, to the stunning backdrop of central California’s Monterey Peninsula. This year’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am will be held from February 6th to 9th 2020. About the Council for Responsible Sport The Council’s mission is to provide objective, independent verification of the socially and environmentally responsible work event organizers are doing, and to actively support event organizers who strive to make a difference in their communities. Since 2008, the Council has certified over 100 events, reaching over one million participants and countless spectators. .  Wharf to Wharf Race Director Scott McConville and race Finish Line Director Stephen Hoversten proudly hold the refillable aluminum water bottles that will be given to each finisher this year as part of the organization’s effort to reduce waste and encourage sustainability. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel) By ELAINE INGALLS | eingalls@santacruzsentinel.com | Santa Cruz Sentinel
CAPITOLA — In its 47th year, Wharf to Wharf Inc. is putting new sustainability practices in place at Sunday’s race, in hopes of obtaining gold-level certification from the Council for Responsible Sport. Last year, Wharf to Wharf Inc. conducted a case study with the council to examine the race’s environmental and social impacts. This year, Wharf to Wharf Inc. is partnering with a third-party evaluator, Blue Strike Environmental, to establish sustainability policies and execute them during the event, all to achieve council certification. “It took me a while to have the confidence to move forward with the board of directors’ support and push this change for the future,” said Scott McConville, Wharf to Wharf race director. “It’s ambitious, but we think we have a good shot.” McConville has been the race director since 2013. His focus on sustainability started when he graduated from college with an environmental studies degree. As part of its sustainability movement, Wharf to Wharf is partnering with San Francisco-based company Pathwater to provide racers with reusable aluminum water bottles instead of plastic water bottles. While Pathwater is donating the bottles, Wharf to Wharf will be spending money on the process for certification, McConville said. Other features of the race are “going green.” All aid stations will use compostable cups, replacing its 40,000 water cups the race used previously. Green Waste will provide specific dumpsters for the compostable cups to later be used as soil and fertilizer. Wharf to Wharf will also give runners reusable giveaway bags. “It shows a commitment to the place they’re running on,” said Alex Baxter, Blue Strike Environmental’s sustainability program manager. “It shows they’re good stewards of the land…It’s about committing a legacy to the community, pushing socioeconomic barriers.” If Wharf to Wharf does achieve this certification, it will be the first event in Santa Cruz County to achieve it, as well as the first in the San Francisco Bay Area to achieve it since 2011, according to a press release. “Our goal is not to be perfect, but to improve as an event, to lower our carbon footprint and take the appropriate next steps to continue to lower our environmental impact,” McConville said. Founded in 2008, the Council for Responsible Sport leads a certification program that evaluates events on their environmental and social impacts and ranks their practices. The council has certified 165 events globally, according to Managing Director Shelley Villalabos. “It (the council) aims to have a world where responsible events are the norm, not the exception,” said Villalabos. “Consumers want more sustainable options when they are purchasing. Experiences aren’t the exception.” The certification process typically takes about 10 months. Events/organizations must be recertified every two years. Certification levels, ranging from basic to evergreen, are based on how many standards an event meets out of 61. For example, a certified event meets 27-35 standards, while an evergreen event meets 55 or more of them. Standards are comprised of five sections: planning and communications, procurement (how an organization partners in hosting an event), resource management, access and equity and community legacy. The council has certified more than 100 road races around the world, but only 20 U.S. road races have earned the gold ranking, according to a press release. Runners are encouraged to help the event in its sustainable practices after the race. Runners can take the Wharf to Wharf Sustainability Survey and bring their old running shoes for donation at Fleet Feet’s finish village booth. They can also speak with the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency at the finish to learn about local water security. 6/13/2019 For the first time, the US Open at Pebble Beach partners with a local business targeting zero waste.Read Now  Rico Tesio is COO of Blue Strike Environmental, which interfaces with fans at trash stations, but does most of its work behind the scenes of big events. Photo by Nic Coury It’s June 10, and practice rounds for the U.S. Open have begun. Fans are wearing shorts and sandals on this hot day, but Rico Tesio is wearing pants and heavy work boots – appropriate for the staging area that resembles a construction zone. Beyond some metal barricades, there are two-by-fours stacked high, rows of parked tractors and golf carts, a heap of pallets and a crew unloading flowers from a Swenson & Silacci van.
From the decor to the construction materials, fenced yards like this will support the four-day event – then it will all go away. One side effect: an immense amount of waste. Tesio, COO of Blue Strike Environmental, points at rolls of gray carpet, remnants of 200,000-plus square feet that are spread out on temporary walkways and floors in Pebble Beach for the week. “We are helping them to divert all of that from the landfill,” he says. Blue Strike will have a dozen staff members on site throughout the tournament attending to trash cans, helping fans toss recyclables and compostables accordingly, leaving trash bins for just actual trash. (The carpet will go to the California Carpet Stewardship Program, managed by CalRecycle.) The Monterey Peninsula is accustomed to pop-up events that entail construction of miniature cities, only to be dismantled after a few days, or races that involve lots of throwaway products. But the U.S. Open is on a different scale, with more structures and more people (more than 250,000 are expected). “That’s the impact they’re minimizing,” Tesio says. The U.S. Open in 2018 in Shinnecock Hills on Long Island, New York, generated almost 1,100 tons of waste; of that, 60 percent, or about 660 tons – more than the weight of six blue whales – was diverted. (The industry standard for “zero waste” is 90-percent diversion or higher.) Blue Strike is a business that splintered from nonprofit The Offset Project, which for a decade managed zero-waste targets at local events. Blue Strike formed in order to scale up, and now handles trash diversion at events like Cali Roots and the AT&T Pro-Am – as well as beyond Monterey County. “It was so successful, we decided to expand nationally,” says Blue Strike CEO Kristin Cushman, who also founded The Offset Project, then launched Blue Strike in 2017. (A disclosure: Cushman is the spouse of Weekly Publisher Erik Cushman.) Growth has happened fast: “We’ve tripled our income in the last 12 months as we’ve expanded,” Cushman says. Some events are limited by local infrastructure; for instance, Blue Strike looked into a PGA tour event in New Orleans, but would have to truck recyclables. (Monterey Regional Waste Management District can process compostable goods.) Alex Baxter, sustainability program manager at Blue Strike, sees sporting events as a unique chance to engage fans. “This is not typically part of golf culture,” he says. “Maybe it’s an imprint, and they think about it next time they’re at a Starbucks or they go to dispose.” Tesio says he’ll try to fit in a few minutes of simply being a golf fan this weekend. “This is the game’s greatest stage,” he says. “And it allows us to raise awareness on that same stage.” DEL MONTE FOREST, Calif. — Everything about the U.S. Open is massive, including the amount of trash that will be generated during the week-long event.The 250,000 fans estimated to pass through the gates of the Open are expected to buy food, bottled water and packaged souvenirs. Spectator trash, in combination with the temporary infrastructure that will be torn down when the golfers leave, will amount to some serious tonnage headed out to local waste management.
Monterey Regional Waste Management District does not have an estimate on the tonnage of waste it will receive but it does have a plan in place to divert 70 percent of it towards recycling and reuse. "We started seeing food waste loads from the event, they started showing up yesterday from disposal loads also coming in, and then I think we've also seen some of the recyclable materials showing up here," said Jeff Lindenthal with MRWMD. Lindenthal said the food waste is being composted and much of the service ware is also compostable. Plastics and other recyclables are being sorted on site at Pebble Beach before the reach waste management thanks to massive manpower on the part of Pebble Beach Company and its contractor Blue Strike Environmental. "I think you are seeing this more and more in professional sports, this move to be more sustainable," said Rico Tesio with Blue Strike. Sporting events generate huge amounts of waste in terms of both trash and recyclables. According to a Cardiff University study, average sporting event attendees generate a footprint seven times greater than someone going about normal, everyday life. Tesio said in recent years consumers and corporate sponsors have been pushing for green solutions. Blue Strike has been integral in coordinating the disposal of the infrastructure material when the Open is over next week. A small village has been built out on the greens at Pebble Beach with a massive players locker room, media center, merchandise tent and concessions stands. About 250,000 square feet of carpet alone was used in the construction. Following the Open, the carpet, wood and plastic fencing will be salvaged and hopefully reused. The materials will be taken to Last Chance Mercantile out at MRWMD and what doesn't sell will be recycled through the construction material recycling program. To make this happen United States Golf Association, Blue Strike and Pebble Beach Company started working with MRWMD more than a year in advance. And fortunately, the Marina facility is one of the few in the country that has made the effort to find markets for recyclables. Spectators out on the course can do their part too by making sure their waste is disposed of in the proper bins. Fans can also bring their own water bottle however, the USGA's rules on bringing your own bottle are not very green. Only empty clear plastic bottles are allowed through the gates. The USGA also prohibits other green alternatives including containers and outside food with exceptions made only for medical needs and infants. Please join us for the third in our series of four webinars on Community Choice Agencies (CCAs) and Integrated Distributed Energy Resources (IDERs). This webinar will focus on potential opportunities for CCAs to selectively work together to optimize efforts and resources, through continued knowledge sharing and ultimately collaboration as they define their role in the deployment of IDERs. As the Community Choice movement continues to grow and rapidly evolve in California, changes in market conditions and the regulatory landscape such as price volatility, the PCIA decision, changes in Resource Adequacy procurement, etc., are creating new challenges and barriers to entry for new and existing CCAs. Our focus will be on how collaboration between CCAs can help the agencies reduce costs, stabilize and fortify competitive retail rates, and reduce risk exposure as they navigate through the challenges and barriers ahead. As a primary example, we will explore how CCAs can benefit from a collaborative approach to developing an integrated CCA data platform.
Our presenters for this webinar include Taj Ait-Laoussine, Vice-President, Technology & Analytics for East Bay Community Energy, and Chris Sentieri, Senior Manager of the Climate Division, Blue Strike Environmental. Mr. Sentieri will lead off by framing the rapidly changing situation, providing some context about the need for CCAs to get more sophisticated, a vision for how a data platform fits in, and what it can eventually enable, including IDER deployment. Mr. Ait-Laoussine will follow with a non-technical presentation about how to visualize the data platform, how it’s already paying dividends and could evolve, and then explore concepts of potential collaboration. Support for the Clean Power Exchange program provided by the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation. Thank you sponsors! – CPX Team By Drew Andre
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is one of the biggest events on the Central Coast, and with the thousands of people eating and drinking it creates mountains of trash. “Our job out here first and foremost is to take care of the golf course, and all the waste that comes off the golf course,” COO Blue Strike Environmental Rico Tesio said. For the past five years the Pro-Am has been a zero waste event. The event has been Gold Level certified by the council for responsible sport in each of those five years. “Millions and millions of dollars in hotel rooms and restaurant tabs, and all that goes on this week but there’s a tremendous environmental footprint that goes along with that that often times doesn’t get seen,” Tesio said. The tournament hires Blue Strike Environmental to make sure garbage form every purchase is properly handled. Last year, there was more than 170 tons of waste throughout the event. Blue Strike hires local non-profits like Victory Outreach Home in Salinas to help pickup and sort that waste. “Make sure the recycling is recycled so it can be reused, and the trash that is compostable goes to the compost and the the trash trash is separated out,” Sarah Ingraham from Victory Outreach said. “When we come out here it actually helps out our homes, it helps keep the doors open for our ministry,” Ingraham said. IN 2018, 91% of the events waste was diverted from the landfill. “To be able to minimize that only allows these events to continue to give back to the communities buy not damaging and hurting them,” Tesio said. Tesio said this event produces more waste than any other on the central coast, but it will be nothing compared to the U.S. Open coming to Pebble beach in June. This year the tournament is seeking an environmental certification from the Golf Environment Organization. |
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