LOS ANGELES – The Navy in California is helping lead the charge to develop energy strategies and find solutions to pressing global climate issues, a top official said recently.
Rear Adm. William French, commander of the Navy’s Southwest Region, spoke at the Governors’ Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles, Sept. 30, about the urgent need for teamwork and partnerships to face global, national and local environmental concerns.
“We share the community,” he said. “We share the same air, water, and other resources. Likewise, we share the same resource constraints.”
Government officials from around the world gathered at the summit, hosted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, to discuss global climate concerns, present ideas, and build partnerships to create a greener environment and fight climate change.
“When California first adopted its landmark legislation to curb greenhouse gas emissions, we immediately reached out to neighboring states and provinces who shared our commitment to fighting global warming and creating new, green economies,” Schwarzenegger said in a web cast during the summit. “This summit builds on those partnerships and together we are calling on our national governments to recognize the innovative solutions we have to offer. This is an incredible opportunity to create the economies of the future and we must seize it.”
French was the only representative from the Navy to speak at the event. He said the military, contrary to popular belief, is a leader in constructive environmental efforts in the state and around the world, and reiterated the need for interagency teamwork.
The Navy has “developed a better understanding about the future impact of climate change on our operations around the globe,” French said. “We realized climate change could impact our ability to train; it could impact where we operate; and it could have a significant impact on our ability to provide critical forward presence as a maritime force. As a result, we’ve made significant changes in our move toward energy conservation and sustainability.”
French pledged the Navy’s commitment to “stay at the forefront of this effort, to facilitate dialogue and teamwork with our partners in industry, our partners in government, and our partners in academia.”
Since 2007, Navy Region Southwest has partnered with 60 governmental agencies, companies, universities, and non-governmental organizations to make “significant changes in our move toward energy conservation and sustainability,” French continued.
He also said the Navy in California has made significant strides in energy conservation efforts, including a reduction by 10 percent in annual energy consumption; the installation of solar panels for 1.7 mega watts of power and a geothermal plant at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake which can produce 272 mega watts of power; and increased use of wind turbines on San Clemente and San Nicholas islands.
Note: Iinformation for this article was contributed by the office of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/13413/.
As the nation celebrated Earth Day April 22, using the occasion to spotlight industries that create recycled products or non-fossil fuel energy sources, Naval Base Coronado Wildlife Biologist Tiffany Shepherd was leading visitors to the edge of the base’s runway.
