At the end of the month, the MSRC will host "Clean Transportation Funding: The Road Ahead," a conference to reflect on more than 20 years of funding clean air projects in the South Coast Air Basin and to look forward to see how the MSRC can continue these successful projects in the future.
The event will bring together some of the leading voices of air quality in California. John Longville, who was one of the MSRC's founding members and served as Chair for five years before being elected to the California Assembly, will kick off the day with a look back at the MSRC's first 20 years, beginning with the origins of the MSRC, its founding members, and a reflection upon some of the early projects it funded. The program's focus will then shift to explore the current path of the MSRC and what lies ahead. Moderators include the editor of Edmunds Green Car Advisor,
John O'Dell, and local environmental leaders.
Experts in the alternative fuel and transportation strategies sector will discuss new technologies and strategies for the next 20 years to reduce emissions from mobile sources, take cars off the road, and get traffic moving. Panelists will include representatives from the California Energy Commission, the California Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative, the California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition, and the California Fuel Cell Partnership.
Leaders from air quality and transportation agencies, as well as the state's petroleum industry will explore regulatory strategies for achieving air quality goals. Speakers will include representatives from the AQMD, Air Resources Board, LA Metro and the Western State Petroleum Association. The panels will conclude with MSRC success stories, where former and current MSRC project partners will share their experiences about how the MSRC's Clean Transportation Funding helped them go above and beyond achieving their clean air goals.
The luncheon will feature Terry Tamminen as the keynote speaker. Terry is the President and Founder of Seventh Generation Advisors, an organization that helps other states and world governments adopt clean energy and sustainability policies based on California's successful strategies. He served in the Schwarzenegger Administration as Secretary of CalEPA, Cabinet Secretary, and later, Chief Policy Advisor to the Governor. In addition to the many other hats Terry has worn during his career, Terry is a well-known author whose latest book Cracking the Carbon Code: The Keys to Sustainable Profits in the New Economy examines how to find low carbon products and services that save money, get ahead of regulations, and preserve resources for generations to come. His previous book Lives Per Gallon: The True Cost of Oil Addiction looks at our dependence on oil and a strategy to evolve to more sustainable energy sources.
"We are very excited to host this day of reflection and celebration and of looking forward to what's next for the MSRC," said Greg Winterbottom, Chair of the MSRC. "We are delighted to welcome back former MSRC members and colleagues to commemorate their hard work in making the MSRC what it is today and to highlight their accomplishments in helping improve air quality in Southern California over the last two decades. We are equally honored to have such distinguished panelists to provide their expertise on air quality and transportation to see what's on the horizon for the MSRC. We can't wait for the next 20 years!"
