On Friday, November 9, a national renewable energy alliance and a regional California organization will come together to start answering this question - what is the renewable energy potential of the San Joaquin Valley?
The two groups, the 25x'25 Alliance and the San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization will sign a memorandum of understanding in Lodi agreeing to work together to define the renewable energy potential in the Valley, identify the most promising technology opportunities, identify the constraints and challenges, and define a path forward for the SJVCEO.
The project in the San Joaquin Valley (from Kern to San Joaquin counties) will have the potential to serve as a template for similar efforts throughout California and across the country.
"We would like to see this region of California work towards energy independence. From solar, wind, hydropower and geothermal energy, to the vast array of agricultural byproducts for biofuels and biomass, we know the area has the resource base to achieve the 25x'25 vision of having 25% of renewable energy resources coming from the nation's rural communities by 2025," says A.G. Kawamura, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Secretary Kawamura serves as a steering committee member of 25x'25 and is a co-convener of the San Joaquin Valley Energy Working Group.
Twenty-seven governors, including California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, have endorsed the 25x'25 vision. The National 25x'25 Alliance is a coalition of nearly 600 agricultural, forestry, environmental, business, energy, labor, civic and government organizations that advocate America's farms, ranches and forestlands can meet at least 25% of our nation's energy needs with land-based renewable resources by the year 2025, while still producing a safe, affordable and abundant supply of food, feed and fiber.
The SJVCEO is an innovative organization created by the Partnership to be its entity in leading a regional effort to coordinate efforts to increase the level of clean energy investments in the San Joaquin Valley.