Pictures of the Future      Spring 2008

How California is Cutting Carbon Emissions

Interview with Jackalyne Pfannenstiel

Jackalyne Pfannenstiel was appointed to the California Energy Commission (CEC) on April 20, 2004, by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. She was named Chairman in June 2006. Ms. Pfannenstiel was an independent energy policy and strategy advisor with the CEC from 2001 to 2004. Previously, she was vice president for planning and strategy with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). Her earlier work was with the California Public Utilities Commission, where she served as a senior economist from 1978 until 1980.

What are you doing to reduce emissions in the transportation sector?

Pfannenstiel: The state’s Clean Car Law requires a 30 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles sold in California by 2016 in comparison to today’s average vehicle. With respect to fuels, Governor Schwarzenegger has initiated a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) in California with a goal of reducing the carbon content of fuels by 10 %. While a baseline has not yet been determined, the year 2006 has been recommended to the Air Resources Board as the comparison year.

Which clean technologies could provide solutions in this sector?

Pfannenstiel: Sustainable biofuels are a good option in the near term, because they are generally available and can achieve significant petroleum reduction and greenhouse gas reduction benefits. We’re excited about the proliferation of hybrid technology in transportation, and particularly about the prospects for plug-in hybrid vehicles to dramatically affect petroleum use.
The State Alternative Fuels Plan recommends that 9 % of California’s fuels come from electricity, biofuels, natural gas, hydrogen, and others by 2012, increasing to 11 % by 2017, and finally to 26 % by 2022. We also do a significant amount of research into technologies that can reduce transportation emissions—for example, setting up a Plug-In Hybrid Research Center. A new law being implemented this year in California dramatically increases funding for programs to provide incentives for the development and use of alternative fuels in the state.

Can biofuels be developed that will not destroy forests or drive up food prices?

Pfannenstiel: Cellulosic ethanol production technology is relatively mature, with production costs similar to those of conventional fuels. We expect that a “proof of concept” cellulosic ethanol plant will be built in the state in the near future. This cellulosic ethanol will not drive up food prices, and can be derived from a variety of sources that will not destroy forests.

What legislation is in the pipeline to make buildings more efficient?

Pfannenstiel: Our latest update of building standards is expected to result in a 7–15 % reduction in energy use in new homes and buildings built after the mid-2009 effective date.With regard to appliance standards, the Energy Commission has been required to adopt new lighting standards by the end of the year aimed at reducing average residential lighting use in the state by 50 % from 2007 levels, and by 25 % from those levels in non-residential applications.

What are the most promising technologies you see on the horizon?

Pfannenstiel: Solar energy is extremely promising in California. Distributed photo-voltaic systems, which require no transmission or land and that provide local grid support, have great promise—and California has a target of developing 3,000 MW of on-site solar by 2016. Desert-located, larger solar thermal electric facilities, which require transmission but can provide most of our electrical needs with storage, also have great promise. More recently, there has been immense interest in developing our desert solar resources. Contracts for over 30,000 MW of plants have been initiated with California and Federal authorities.
The western United States also has extremely promising wind resources that have not been developed, largely because these resources require significant transmission investments to get the power to the areas where it is needed. Better energy storage technologies will be a critical piece of developing our solar and wind resources. Finally, while our near-term efforts are concentrated on renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, we believe that there is promise in carbon capture and sequestration technologies. These are important because much of our existing power infrastructure, from natural gas and coal resources, will remain in operation for some time to come. Eventually, we may need to retrofit these plants with technology to capture and sequester the carbon dioxide they produce.

                                                                      Interview conducted by Arthur F. Pease