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California Department of Food and Agriculture

Media Contact: Steve Lyle, Director of Public Affairs, (916) 654-0462

California Department of Food and Agriculture
Release #07-095
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CDFA APPLAUDS ALLIANCE BETWEEN 25X’25 AND THE CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP FOR THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY TO FORGE A RENEWABLE ENERGY PILOT PROJECT

SACRAMENTO – 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 (SJVCEO) 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 percent of renewable energy resources coming from the nation’s rural communities by 2025,” said 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.


The signing will be held in conjunction with the quarterly meeting of the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Board of Directors at 10:10 a.m. at the Garden Ballroom of Wine & Roses, 2505 West Turner Road, Lodi. George Gomes, Undersecretary for CDFA will serve as emcee of the ceremony with scheduled remarks by Mike Chrisman, Secretary of the California Resources Agency; Rollie Smith, chair of the SJVCEO Board of Directors; and Bill Carlson, a member of the 25x’25 Steering Committee.


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 percent 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.


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California Department of Food and Agriculture Office of Public Affairs
1220 N St., Ste. 214, Sacramento, CA 95814
916-654-0462, www.cdfa.ca.gov