Marin Conservation League
Climate Action Working Group Meeting
Wednesday 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
In-person/ Zoom Hybrid

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwoduysrDMsGt16JMYC3r6_mA1R0EYqLgKn

August 19: Expanding renewable energy possibilities:  Latest developments in geothermal energy systems

Join MCL’s Climate Action Working Group meeting to hear about the latest developments in geothermal energy systems that can provide round-the-clock renewable energy that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  Even though the rapid growth of solar plus batteries, along with wind, has lessened California’ natural gas use and GHG emissions, “clean, firm” renewable energy still is needed to replace gas during some key periods, either daily or seasonally.

While conventional geothermal requires subsurface heat, fluids, and permeable rock together in one place to generate electricity, newer geothermal systems require the subsurface heat and add the other components.  Woody Hastings from The Climate Center will discuss conventional, enhanced, closed loop and superhot rock geothermal systems, including the potential, challenges and opportunities for each.  He also will discuss the environmental impact of each type, beyond lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

CB Hall from MCE will describe the large conventional geothermal contract that MCE will be taking over in mid-2027 and discuss geothermal benefits and challenges.

Also at this meeting:  an update of MCL’s recent advocacy with MCE, the latest Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s rules on heat pump water and space heaters, and more.

Join us!

Speakers:

Woody Hastings is an energy and environmental policy analyst, strategic planner, and community organizer at The Climate Center, with over thirty years of experience in the non-profit, governmental, and private sectors. He has given a series of talks on various types of geothermal energy systems.  Woody received his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from San Francisco State University with an emphasis on sustainability and social justice. He is also a Fellow of the Leadership Institute for Just and Resilient Communities.

CB Hall is Director of Power Resources at MCE.  He evaluates long-term offers, procures short-term supply and helps manage MCE’s market operations. CB has 20+ years of energy and finance experience and has worked for the California ISO, PG&E, Sonoma Clean Power, and Morgan Stanley. He holds a BA in Economics from Brown University and an MBA from Dartmouth College.