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PG&E: The Leader in Energy Efficiency and Model for Future Emission Practices

Jason Lewis, Nancy McFadden and Roger Barnett

In 2007 national carbon emissions raised by 50%, while in contrast, California’s emissions remained flat. This could be a result of the fact that in recent years PG&E has been extremely active in their efforts to protect our environment, and not just behind the scenes. They have ignited a revolutionary movement in their efforts to reduce California’s carbon footprint. Rather than fighting against Global Warming, they have declared Global Warming a real issue and have teamed up with the greater California community to neutralize the effects of carbon emissions. Their efforts have been a shining example of what one company can do to help save our planet.

With an impressive background and an undeniable optimistic attitude, Nancy McFadden, PG&E’s Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, is becoming the face of change and the voice of a new generation. Nancy McFadden comes to PG&E boasting an impressive resume. With more than 18 years in Washington under her belt, she’s worked in the fields of law, policy and politics, has been named one of Americas top Lawyers Under 40 and held positions in Sacramento with Governor Swartzenegger and Gray Davis’s administration. During her years in Sacramento she spent 2 years as deputy advisor and chief of staff for Gray Davis during the energy crisis after having worked for Al Gore and the Clinton administration for 8 years.

In the past few years, PG&E has been making a difference by building an impressive internal leadership and seeking the advice of outside experts to increase their awareness and educate themselves on new and creative ways to address the issue of carbon emissions. Seeing themselves as a leader in the industry, they thought it irresponsible for an energy company of their size to not take a position on this important issue. So, to tackle Global Warming head on they enlisted a panel of world renown scientists on both sides of the issue and put together a policy forum to discuss ways in which PG&E can better serve as a leader of change.

According to Nancy McFadden,“not only is global warming a crisis facing our world, but it is clearly caused by human behavior, we, as a result have got to act to slow and reverse its effects.”

Their plan of action began with education, not only within the walls but also in the classrooms of our future leaders. PG&E visited local California schools and provided them with a curriculum on energy efficiency and solar power. In addition to their curriculum they provided the schools with solar panels to demonstrate the effects of sun power. As a result they found that when children have an education about energy efficiency and Global Warming, they become some of the best ambassadors for the cause and urge their parents to be proactive in simple ways such as turning off the lights when they leave a room or turning the heat off when they leave for the day.

“It is important for California to kick start the nation but where we really need to go is statewide and nationwide to put a mandatory cap on carbon emissions,’ says Nancy McFadden.

PG&E has become involved and active on national level, working with California state senators, such as Barbra Boxer and Diane Feinstein, to get legislation passed to seriously attack this problem facing our communities. As PG&E sees it, “there is so much creativity and innovation in our state, but also beyond California, the key will be for PG&E to tap into those new and forward thinking companies to brainstorm new ways to cultivate a new energy future,” states McFadden. “Through our experience with others, we have found that it is very important that we partner with other kinds of companies to do new and innovative things. For example, we have partnered with agricultural companies in the central valley to explore biogas as a renewable energy and use the products from agricultural companies to turn them into fuel. Also we have turned to innovative companies off of the coast of Mendocino to test wave power and use it as a resource to produce new kinds of energy that may have not been used before.”

Most recently, PG&E was a lead sponsor, donating $25,00 to Global Green’s Third Annual Gorgeous and Green benefit in San Francisco. Proceeds benefited Global Green USA efforts to rebuild a green, sustainable New Orleans, as well as providing clean, safe drinking water for the 2.4 billion people who lack access to clean water. In attendance were PG&E’s Nancy McFadden and Roger Barnett, actor Jason Lewis, model Josie Moran, as well as social activists Zem Joaquin, Matthew Petersen, and Nadine Weil.

See Related: GLOBAL GREEN USA’s Third Annual Gorgeous and Green Party Proves that Eco-Friendly is Eco-Fabulous

See Related: PG&E CLIMATE SMART

See Related: American Business led to Green Energy by San Franciscan Tom King

See Related: GLOBAL WARMING

See Related: ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION

See Related: SAN FRANCISCO ENVIRONMENT

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