Energy Commission Chair Speaks on California’s Energy Policy At Stanford University

California Energy Commission Chair Robert Weisenmiller told a crowd of energy leaders today about the need for California to think globally in combating climate change.

"California emits only 1 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, but we need to think globally about reducing emissions or it won't matter,” Weisenmiller said.

Weisenmiller was the keynote speaker at the Silicon Valley Energy Summit, which drew more than 400 people to Stanford University.



The conference gathered energy leaders to find and invest in the technologies that make economical, sustainable and secure energy a reality.

California's leadership role in climate change was on display earlier this week at the first Subnational Clean Energy Ministerial (Sub-CEM), which was held in San Francisco. The inaugural Sub-CEM highlighted action from states, provinces and cities to use cleaner energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The event featured Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., Oregon Governor Kate Brown, Washington Governor Jay Inslee and other subnational leaders from the United States, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Spain, Italy, China and India.

During his speech at Stanford, Weisenmiller shared California’s energy goals, which include increasing California’s electricity from renewable sources to 50 percent and doubling the efficiency in existing buildings.

"We don't know the precise roadmap so we need to gather our intellectual capital to find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

California expects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. This creates bountiful opportunities for entrepreneurs, businesses and venture capitalists in the green energy sector, he said.