Community Energy Resilience Policy Summit Agenda, Bios, and Presentations

Carmen Ramírez, Esq., CouncilmemberCarmen Ramírez, Esq. was first elected to the Oxnard City Council in November 2010. She is currently serving her third term in office after being re-elected in November 2018. Ms. Ramírez was named Mayor Pro Tem in December 2012, December 2016, and December 2018. Ms.Ramírez is a public interest lawyer who has served the Oxnard community since her graduation from the Loyola University School of Law in Los Angeles. Currently, she is a private practice attorney in the City of Oxnard, focusing on consumer matters, Social Security Disability cases, and immigration. For 16 years she was the Executive Director of Channel Counties Legal Services Association, which serves the legal needs of the poor in Oxnard. Over the years, Ms. Ramírez has been actively involved in several organizations in Oxnard and Ventura County, including serving as: Board President of the bilingual Ventura County theater company, Teatro de Las Américas, member of the Community Board of St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, and a member of the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF). Previously, Ms. Ramírez served as the Director of Community Planning for CAUSE (Central Coast Alliance United for A Sustainable Economy). Prior to this, she coordinated the Ventura Superior Court’s Self-Help Legal Access Center, located in the La Colonia neighborhood of Oxnard. Ms. Ramírez’ awards and honors include the Ben E. Nordman Public Service Award of the Ventura County Bar Association and the El Concilio del Condado de Ventura Community Service Award. She was named Woman of the Year for the 35th Assembly District in 2003 by Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson and in 2009 as Senator Fran Pavley’s Woman of the Year for California Senate District 23.

CEC Vice-Chair Janea Scott is one of five commissioners on the Energy Commission, which is the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency. She was appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in February 2013 and reappointed by Governor Brown in January 2016 to serve as the Energy Commission’s public member. Governor Gavin Newsom designated her as Vice Chair of the Energy Commission in February 2019. From 2013 to 2019 she supported the state’s transition to zero-emission vehicles by serving as chair of the Plug-In Electric Vehicle Collaborative, as well as on the Public Policy Board of Veloz, a nonprofit founded by public and private sector industry veterans working together to advance the electric car movement, and the California Fuel Cell Partnership. Before joining the Energy Commission, Scott worked at the U.S. Department of the Interior in the Office of the Secretary as the Deputy Counselor for Renewable Energy and at Environmental Defense Fund in the New York and Los Angeles offices as a senior attorney in the climate and air program. Vice Chair Scott was also an AmeriCorps member working at the San Francisco Urban Service Project from 1996 to 1997. She earned her Juris doctorate from the University of Colorado Boulder Law School and her master’s of science and bachelor’s of science in earth systems from Stanford University.

CPUC Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma was appointed to the CPUC by Governor Newsom on Jan. 22, 2019. Prior to joining the CPUC, Commissioner Shiroma served as a member of the Agricultural Labor Relations Board since 1999, serving as chair since 2017 and from 2011 to 2014 and 1999 to 2006. Previously, she was Chief of the Air Quality Branch at the California Air Resources Board from 1990 to 1999 and as an air quality engineer from 1978 to 1990. From 1999 to 2018, Commissioner Shiroma was the elected director of Ward 4 of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). Commissioner Shiroma resides in Sacramento, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering from University of California, Davis. She was born and raised as a farm worker’s daughter in the Acampo-Lodi area of San Joaquin County.

Eric Lamoureux is the Assistant Director for Response for the California Office of Emergency Services. Prior to his current position he has held several positions within the agency, including acting Deputy Director of Finance and Administration, Inland Regional Administration, and Chief of Media Relations.

Senator Henry Stern is a sixth-generation Californian and native of this district. He credits his passion for public service as a family trait, whose diverse history includes farming and ranching, music and film, and a steadfast commitment to helping young people fulfill their potential. Senator Stern was elected to represent the 27th Senate District, which includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, on November 8, 2016. Senator Stern has also lectured at UCLA and UC Berkeley, enjoys volunteering at his local Boys & Girls Club and is a member of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Committee, the Jewish Federation, the American Jewish Committee, and the Truman National Security Project. He is an alumnus of Harvard University and UC Berkeley Law.

10:10 AM: Labor Perspective

Mark Kyle Mark Kyle currently practices labor, political, election, and campaign finance law on behalf of labor unions, nonprofits, and individuals. Formerly the political director for the largest building and construction trades local in North America – Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3 – he has also served as the Chief of Staff for the California Labor Federation, the Undersecretary for the California Secretary of State, as well as positions in the California State Assembly, and for several other labor unions. By working on climate mitigation and adaptation infrastructure projects at the local (San Francisco Sea Wall restoration), regional (Measure AA) and state level (off-shore wind power, high-speed rail), Mark has attempted to help bring organized labor fully into the fold of aggressive climate action.

Jennifer Kropke is the Director of Workforce and Environmental Engagement for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 11; National Electrical Contractors Association, Los Angeles Chapter; Labor-Management Cooperation Committee. In this role, she focuses on electrification strategies in transportation, goods movement and ports that provide good union jobs that pay family-sustaining wages. She was recently appointed by Governor Newsom to the California Air Resources Board Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee, is an active member of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Agency Sustainability Council, Coalition of Labor Union Women and Labor Network for Sustainability. She is a proud alumna of Rio Hondo Community College, California State University, Fullerton and UCLA School of Law; and is licensed to practice in both California and New York. She loves dark chocolate, The Wire, and attempting to embarrass her teenage daughter by singing Harry Styles and One Direction songs.

Vivian Price is a professor at CSU Dominguez Hills specializing in labor and climate change. She is a Fulbright Scholar whose publications include “Labour organizing against climate change: The case of fracking in the UK” in the Routledge publication, Building a sustainable future: the role of non-state actors in the green transition. She was a co-author on Mapping Just Transition(s) to a Low-Carbon World, Report for the United Nations Research Institute on Social Development, 2018, and is a researcher on the Labor Network for Sustainability Listening Project. Her research is informed by years of blue-collar work from waitressing to being a journey-level electrician in refineries and construction.

10:40 AM: Environmental Justice Perspective

Mari Rose Taruc is the coordinator of the Reclaim Our Power Utility Justice Campaign. For 25 years, she has organized environmental justice (EJ) campaigns for clean air, affordable housing, renewable energy, and climate solutions in local, state, national, and international arenas. She has coordinated important EJ formations under the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (SNEEJ), Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), and California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA), including to ensure that multibillion-dollar California climate and energy programs benefit disadvantaged communities. Setting roots in Oakland for two decades, she co-founded a neighborhood group inspired by Hurricane Katrina to cultivate community resilience, and contributed this practice of community engagement in the development of Oakland’s 2012 Energy and Climate Action Plan. Zen flower arranging is her pleasure activism.

Gabriela Orantes is a Just Recovery Fellow for the North Bay Organizing Project. She is a passionate and dedicated community leader invested in helping communities thrive, not just survive. She has also been a Special Projects Coordinator for the Hawaii Alliance for Community Based Economic Development where she researched strategies to save youth, including relevant policies from other states and counties. She was also the Financial and Administration Manager, Teacher, and Program Manager for the Green House Sustainable Learning Center in Honolulu.

Nayamin Martinez, MPH is the Executive Director for the Central California Environmental Justice Network. Prior to joining CCEJN, Nayamin worked for the Madera County Public Health Department as a Health Education Coordinator and for ten years was the Health Projects Coordinator for the Binational Center for the Development of the Oaxacan Indigenous Communities. Nayamin has vast experience in working with immigrant and indigenous communities across the San Joaquin Valley managing public health programs in a variety of environmental topics including pesticides and air pollution. She has conducted participatory research and launching leadership and civic engagement programs. Nayamin serves in various advisory groups including the “Pests, Pesticides and IPM Project”; the “Environmental Justice Advisory Group of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District”; the “Community Stakeholders Advisory Committee” of the UCD Environmental Health Science Core Center; and the “Children’s Health & Air Pollution Study”, among others. Nayamkin holds a Master’s Degree in both Public Health and Sociology.

11:20 AM: Community Choice Agency Perspective

Carolyn Glanton is Program Manager at Sonoma Clean Power. Carolyn Glanton is responsible for the development, management, and implementation of energy storage programs. Carolyn has previously worked at the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority and Sonoma Water. She is passionate about the natural and built environment and has experience in energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate action planning, and resiliency. Carolyn is a graduate of Sonoma State University where she completed a B.A. degree in Environmental Studies & Planning with an emphasis in Energy Management & Design.

Sage Lang is an Energy Programs Analyst at Monterey Bay Community Power, where she designs and implements electrification and resiliency programs. Previously, she worked with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and was a fellow with the Environmental Defense Fund. As a Monterey native, she credits the beautiful local environment and rich history for sparking her passion for sustainability.

Stephanie Chen joined MCE in October 2019 as Senior Policy Counsel, leading regulatory advocacy before the California Public Utilities Commission and California Energy Commission on issues including cost allocation, low-income programs, public safety power shutoffs, and California’s progress toward 100% clean power. She also supports MCE’s legislative advocacy and stakeholder engagement. Prior to joining MCE, Stephanie directed Energy Equity advocacy at The Greenlining Institute for seven years, where she worked to ensure that the environmental, economic, and health benefits of clean energy reach California’s communities of color. Stephanie is a member of the state’s Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group, which works with the CPUC and the CEC to ensure that clean energy policies benefit environmental and social justice communities. Additionally, Stephanie serves on the board of directors for Vote Solar and the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) and has previously served on the boards of directors for Rising Sun Energy Center and the Conference of California Public Utility Counsel. Stephanie has a B.A. in Government from Dartmouth College and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

JP Ross is Senior Director of Local Development, Electrification, and Innovation at East Bay Community Energy, Ross has been actively engaged with solar market development and commercialization since 1999. After completing a Masters Degree in Energy and Resources from the University of California at Berkeley, JP joined Greenpeace to advocate for wind and solar as an alternative to 50GW of new gas plants in response to the California Energy crisis. JP then moved to Vote Solar, and successfully campaigned for California’s Million Solar Roofs helping make solar energy the most cost-effective source of energy. JP lead Vote Solar’s activities in pro-solar rate design regulatory proceedings across the US. In 2007 JP moved to Sungevity, where helped grow the business from 4 to 750 employees as the third largest residential solar installer in the US. JP developed and managed Sungevity’s procurement and installation operations, market expansion, strategy, and channel development. In 2015, JP joined Origin Energy, Australia’s largest energy utility, where he lead the development of Origin’s commercial solar business, IT Program, and Channel Strategy. JP is now the Senior Director of Local Development, Electrification, and Innovation at East Bay Community Energy, a CCA serving electricity to 1.5M people in Alameda County. In his spare time JP rides bikes, brews beer, and makes wood-fired pizza with his wife Monique and two children, Hazel and Keenan.