On Point is headed west!
No, no. Not for good. Only for one show. But it’s a very special show! The NPR station in Thousand Oaks, California – KCLU – is celebrating their 15th anniversary. We’re lucky to have been on their airwaves for nearly seven years, and they invited us out west to host a live show. How could we refuse? (A chance to meet some of our loyal listeners? You bet. Sunny Southern California just as Boston sinks slowly into winter? No question!)
Our topic out in Thousand Oaks will be California, energy, and climate change. The show will be recorded in front of a live audience on Saturday, November 7, from 8-9 pm PT. Those of you who can’t make it will hear the broadcast (and podcast) on Monday, November 9, at 11am ET. If you’re in the area and want to join us you can find details and tickets here.
But no matter where you may be, here’s where we can use your help. Since the show will be pre-recorded, we won’t be able to take live listener calls during the hour. That means we need your questions!
The Golden State has long been a leader on energy. An innovator. But with overcrowded prisons, partisan standoffs, high unemployment, soaring foreclosures, public schools in dire need, and you name what else, does the state’s new energy economy really have a chance of taking off? Can “greentech” save California, and can California help save the rest of us?
We have some great guests lined up. We’ll talk to Mary Nichols, Chair of the California Air Resources Board. She’s in charge of implementing California’s bold new climate legislation, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. We’ll also talk to Bill Gross. He’s CEO of Idealab, a company famous for fostering and helping to fund cutting-edge new companies. What are they banking on now? You guessed it: Greentech. Also on the panel is Gary Polakovic, former environmental reporter at the Los Angeles Times. He shared a Pulitzer Prize and now runs his own consulting group, Make Over Earth, Inc.
Please post your thoughts, comments, concerns, and questions here. We want to hear from you. On climate change. On California. On whether California can help lead the rest of the nation into a new energy era. Is California cutting edge? Or is the state headed out on a limb? We’ll put selected questions to our panel.
Please discuss the battle over water rights and usage.
In the far north where I live (at the headwaters of the massive Klamath and Sacramento river watersheds) the battle lines are drawn between water for salmon or farmers.
Numerous dams already restrict many traditional salmon runs and there’s calls to remove some. Salmon fishermen and salmon are stuggling.
On the other hand, farmers need water for irrigation.
Finally, long-term drought and increased demands for water in the south are stressing system to breaking point.
Other than moving to where the water is (Cleveland, Buffalo), what do Californians do?
Posted by Chris Rodriguez, on November 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 am ESTThe way I see it, climate affects energy and energy affects climate. Common sense and observation should tell you what to do next. If cleaner technology is available implement it. The majority of the population lives along the coast, and the ocean contains the resources we need from bio-fuel to desalinized water. If those in charge want to do the right thing, it can be done.
Posted by jeff schaver, on November 7th, 2009 at 1:29 am ESTAsk why the focus of future energy is not on harvesting locally – that is, LA Power wants to build huge power lines from the desert to supply LA… local solar panels and wind power would render the power lines unnecessary – so why is the old power model still being considered ?
Posted by Paula, on November 7th, 2009 at 1:21 pm ESTWind and Solar – California has an abundance of both. Can’t we use these resources to be the leaders and innovators of these renewables (think .com) and export this vast resource to the rest of the world by making this a venture between private and public funds?
Posted by Mary Sandor, on November 7th, 2009 at 3:28 pm ESTI grew up in Southern California and visit my 94 year old mother who still lives there. I know LA well and over the years traffic has increased to the point of insanity.
My question is, how many of you in the audience would be willing to take some form of public transportation instead of driving your car a few days a week or more?
Also, how many of you carpool and (be honest) do you carpool to use the carpool lane or do you carpool for environmental reasons?
Posted by Richard, on November 7th, 2009 at 3:55 pm ESTAB 32 and the associated legislation is surely a bold and necessary step. California is again a leader in a key environmental area. Yet, climate change is more than a regional issue, it is a global issue, and if the whole of the United States is not on board, the efforts of California will be in vain. What is the state government doing to ensure effective legislation at the federal level? Additionally, what efforts in the area of carbon sequestration are being done by the state government or in the private sector in California. Thank you.
Posted by Elliot Chasin, on November 7th, 2009 at 9:31 pm ESTWhat can be done to overcome the highly partisan posturing that occurs when responsible solutions are sought to deal with issue of climate change? How bad do things have to get before we can ALL agree that global warming is real and poses a huge threat to the planet and life as we know it?
Posted by Mere C, on November 7th, 2009 at 10:42 pm ESTWe hear about the two extremes of change, ie. enormous wind and solar farms in the desert and tiny two person automobiles plugged into the wall socket in the garage.
What about the opportunities for neighborhoods and local government (cities, counties) to be part of the “micro energy” grid? Let us put solar/thermal technology on the top of every city hall, firestation, school, shopping mall, homeowners association clubhouse, or whatever building is central to a neighborhood or town.
This “micro energy” technology can not only provide ALL the electric and thermal needs of individual residences, businesses and community needs, but the provider can also SELL the excess to the major utilities AND provide tax breaks and other financial benefits to support the schools, the transportation needs and all the financial needs.
The “macro” grid is a dinosaur…it’s time to think “micro”.
Posted by Eileen MacEnery, on November 8th, 2009 at 2:46 pm ESTI was at the taping last night at the Kavli Theater in Thousand Oaks. It was a pleasure to see Tom and his guests hash out one of the most complex issues of this time in history. He answered questions after the one-hour taping, and turns out he’s every bit as good-humored and easy going as he is a balanced newsman. Thanks for sharing him with Southern California for an evening!
Posted by Anna Bakalis, on November 8th, 2009 at 3:01 pm ESTAre you planning more trees in California?
Posted by akilez, on November 9th, 2009 at 11:40 am EST