California and Jalisco Sign Agreement for Promise of a Brighter Future
California and the Mexican state of Jalisco have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate and reaffirm a commitment to share knowledge on clean energy efforts to combat climate change.
The MOU, which was signed March 9, builds on years of collaboration between California and Jalisco State and the Mexican federal government on energy efficiency. The partnership has led to the recent opening of a lighting efficiency center in Jalisco. The center is modeled on the California Lighting Technology Center at the University of California, Davis.
Jalisco, like California, is at the forefront in researching and deploying clean energy technology. The 15,000-square-foot lighting center was created to accelerate the development and adoption of energy-efficient lighting and daylighting technologies. Such efforts can help Mexico meet its long-term energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.
Commissioner J. Andrew McAllister of the California Energy Commission (CEC) attended the opening ceremony for the Centro de TecnologÃa en Iluminación (CTI) at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara.
“The CTI is an example of how we will find solutions that apply here, there and far beyond—through collaboration. These actions are going to change Mexico and the world,” McAllister said at the December ceremony.
The center, which highlights the university’s futuristic lighting technology, has 11 laboratories that can simulate a range of environments such as retail, classroom, and health care. With space for research, demonstrations, and benchmark testing, the facility will help support technological innovations. The plan is to build talent and human capital for Mexico’s lighting industry by offering on-site training and certification.
The center’s roots can be traced to a 2016 MOU signed by CEC Chair Robert B. Weisenmiller and Jalisco Governor Aristóteles Sandoval at the Climate Summit of the Americas in Guadalajara, Mexico. The MOU supported cooperation on clean energy policies and programs involving energy efficiency, renewable energy development and grid integration, and low- and zero-emission vehicles.
In 2017, the Mexican Ministry of Energy and the Mexican Council for Science and Technology awarded funds to the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara to partner with UC Davis to establish the center. The facility provides the vehicle to translate energy-efficient research into action and train professionals with the information to implement it.
CEC’s Public Advisor’s Office Expanding Its Role
The office advises the public, tribes, stakeholders, and the CEC to ensure the full and effective participation by all interested groups and the public at large in the planning, procedures, proceedings, business meetings, workshops, and other activities of the CEC.
Under the expansion, which was announced at the November 15 business meeting, the office, which is now the Office of the Public Advisor, Energy Equity, and Tribal Affairs, includes a deputy public advisor who is also the tribal liaison and will support the CEC’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Initiative led by Public Advisor Noemà Otilia Osuna Gallardo and Equal Employment Opportunity Officer Carousel Gore.
The office’s name change amplifies the CEC’s commitment to advancing a clean energy future for all and makes the importance of energy equity and tribal relationships more apparent to the public, Gallardo said.
“It makes a lot of sense for the Public Advisor’s Office to officially take on a title that reflects the year of hard work and the many contributions that the office has been making in order to help ensure that the Energy Commission’s work around equity, diversity, and inclusion (has impact),” said Commissioner Karen Douglas, who is the lead commissioner on tribal affairs.
The CEC’s Tribal Program, which was housed under the Siting, Transmission, and Environmental Protection Division, was shifted in order to help expand outreach and engagement with tribes about potential opportunities and funding beyond cultural resources. The program assists California Native American tribes with planning and development efforts for energy policy and technologies. Efforts include climate change assessments, energy research, project funding, and regulation drafting.
In May 2021, the CEC hosted a Tribal Energy Resilience Conference where state agencies and federal and tribal nations discussed pathways for increased clean energy funding, renewable energy incentives, and greater energy and climate change resiliency on tribal lands and resources. Part of the conference outcomes included a report summarizing the discussions and recommendations from the event.
There was a consensus at the business meeting that efforts should be made to ensure that indigenous voices are heard and incorporated into infrastructure policies, acknowledging the role of the government to listen to and honor the history of California tribes.
Vice Chair Janea A. Scott Departs CEC and Joins Interior Department
This marks a return for her since she worked as the deputy counselor for renewable energy for the Interior Department Secretary.
At the January 25 business meeting, Chair David Hochschild presented Scott with a resolution recognizing her contributions to the CEC.
California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot acknowledged she made great impact during her tenure.
“As I reflect on Janea’s work at the Energy Commission, I can honestly say that very few people in California have been as consequential to the state’s energy vision over the last decade,” Crowfoot said. “Your vision, your intelligence, your organizational acumen, your example of leadership that you’ve been able to provide have just been huge, positive... consistently ambitious on behalf of the state.”
Scott helped the CEC develop key policies and programs that are helping to lead California to a 100 percent clean energy future. As the lead commissioner for the Fuels and Transportation Division, she shaped the Clean Transportation Program, which investment more than $750 million in projects statewide.
As the lead commissioner for the Energy Research and Development Division, she helped shepherd the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Program. EPIC has been renewed until 2030 through a $1.5 billion investment in clean energy research.
Commissioners recognized her for her achievements and the passion and character she brought to her work.
“What stood out when I started working with you is that you are both a consummate professional and you are so nice to work with,” said Commissioner Patty Monahan. “Now, we have a partner in the Biden administration in terms of advancing clean energy for all and you are going to be such a key leader in that.”
Commissioner Karen Douglas wrote a song about Scott to the tune of “Hey There Delilah” and played it on her ukulele.
Former California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols said she hopes Scott’s new role will help to strengthen the partnership between the state and federal government.
“If there’s one message that I want to send back to her and with her is California is definitely part of the West,” Nichols said. “We are not an island unto ourselves and our relationship with the federal government through all the many agencies that touch on us is extremely important.”
Scott expressed appreciation for time with the CEC.
“It has been such an honor and a privilege to get to work on behalf of the people in California,” she said.
In addition to the formal program, a number of CEC staff provided remarks and offered their gratitude to Scott, particularly noting for her enthusiasm and detailed attention to the work.
Watch a video recording of the presentation on YouTube.
