Energy Efficiency to Resuscitate our Economy and Environment (San Francisco, CA) Focus Meeting

Friday, July 16, 2010 (12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Pacific)
Despite the wide debate about the economic conditions that led to the recent recession, the role of bad energy policy has not received the attention it warrants - especially when it comes to the topic of energy efficiency. We can go a lot further with efficiency than the vast majority of people are aware. Smart regulations and aggressive policy have the potential to create markets and spur leaps in technological advances for this invisible resource. David B. Goldstein, Energy Program Co-Director at NRDC, and MacArthur "genius award" Fellow, will give a presentation to E2 members and debut his new book, Invisible Energy: Strategies to Rescue the Economy and Save the Planet.

Invitations have been emailed to E2 members. Please contact Tommy Hayes at thayes@nrdc.org with any questions.

CLCV Awards: Building a Greener California (San Francisco, CA) SpecialEvent

Thursday, May 20, 2010 (6:00 PM - 8:30 PM Pacific)
This year, E2 is one of three honorees at the California League of Conservation Voters' annual environmental leadership awards gala. The event will celebrate leaders in the business, government and non-profit communities who are committed to creating a truly green and sustainable California for future generations. The event will take place at the Merchants Exchange Building in San Francisco, starting with a cocktail reception with the program following at 7:30 pm. For more information, including how to register, please visit the CLCV event page at http://ecovote.org/gala.

Second Annual NRDC Growing Green Awards: From Water to Farm to You (San Francisco, CA) Benefit

Thursday, April 29, 2010 (6:30 PM - 10:00 PM Pacific)
The Natural Resources Defense Council will host an evening of exquisite, locally grown food and live jazz at Yoshi’s Jazz Club and Restaurant in San Francisco. Food celebrities Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, along with industry leader Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield Farms, will take part in a fun and thought-provoking program to celebrate NRDC’s 2010 Growing Green Awards winners. Guests will test their food knowledge with the experts, enjoy delicious local cuisine and learn about new pioneers in sustainable farming and food.

For more information, including the list of winners so far, see www.nrdc.org/growinggreen or contact gga.info@nrdc.org.

Working Toward a Clean Energy Future in India (Palo Alto, CA) EcoSalon

Thursday, March 11, 2010 (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
With the second-fastest growing economy in the world and a middle class projected to reach 500 million within decades, India’s greenhouse gas emissions could skyrocket. Underlying these challenges is a unique opportunity for climate change collaboration to build an Indian clean energy economy. India has signaled its determination to green its development path and already has taken bold national action to curb its carbon emissions. Landmark opportunities now exist for increasing U.S. and India cooperation on climate change post-Copenhagen and working with Indian partners to promote energy efficiency, clean energy innovation, and adaptation plans for handling climate-related health emergencies. Guests will hear from Felicia Marcus (NRDC Western Director), Anjali Jaiswal (Co-Director of NRDC's India Initiative), Sean Randolph (President and CEO, Bay Area Council Economic Institute), and Ashok Gadgil (Acting Director of Environmental Energy Technologies at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). Note that this event is also occurring in San Francisco on March 10.
 
Invitations will be emailed to E2 members. Contact Tommy Hayes at thayes@nrdc.org with any questions about the event.

Making AB 32 A Reality: Business Re-enforcement of California's Landmark Legislation (San Francisco, CA) Focus Meeting

Thursday, February 18, 2010 (5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Pacific)
California’s action on AB 32 is one of the most significant and conclusive signs of U.S. commitment to combating climate change. A stall in moving AB 32 forward could have a chilling effect on Congress and on our partners around the world, yet the risk has never been greater. NRDC's Ann Notthoff and Kristin Grenfell Eberhard will discuss the political climate surrounding AB 32 and the challenges facing the California Air Resources Board (CARB). E2 Co-Founder Bob Epstein will highlight E2's strategy to support AB 32 implementation and help transition California to a low-carbon economy.

Note: This event will be repeated in Palo Alto at 12:00 noon. Invitations have been emailed to E2 members. Please contact Tommy Hayes at thayes@nrdc.org or (415) 875-6100 with any questions.

Post-Copenhagen Debrief and Roundtable on CleanTech Business Opportunities (San Francisco, CA) Meeting

Thursday, February 4, 2010
E2 is co-sponsoring this event, hosted by the Northern California District Export Council, in which five Bay Area companies who participated in a large cleantech expo at the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen will discuss the business perspective of the negotiation outcomes. For registration information, visit www.norcaldec.org.

E2 Round Table: Advocacy Priorities for 2010 (San Francisco) Focus Meeting

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 (5:00 PM - 6:15 PM Pacific)
Please join E2 Northern California for a round table discussion on our state and federal advocacy priorities for 2010 and how you can get involved. Networking will be from 5:00 - 5:30pm, and the round table discussion will be from 5:30 - 6:15 pm.

Note: The Year-end Social will take place at 6:30 PM on the same date. This program will also be offered at 12:00 pm in Palo Alto.

Invitations have been emailed to E2 members. Please contact Tommy Hayes at thayes@nrdc.org or (415) 875-6100 with any questions about this event.

Food and Climate: Reducing the Carbon Footprint of our Diet (Berkeley, CA) EcoSalon

Thursday, November 12, 2009 (5:30 PM - 8:00 PM Pacific)
Changing the way we think about and eat food will have a profound effect on reducing the amount of carbon dioxide on our planet. The overall greenhouse gas emissions embedded in the world's food supply chain are a leading cause of global warming - totaling more emissions than the transportation sector when accounting for related deforestation. This inextricable link is gaining recognition and should help guide our actions, as we seek to feed a growing world population and combat the effects of climate change. The daily choices made by consumers, coupled with innovation to the global food industry, can make significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

With room for major improvements to the way we produce, distribute, and choose our own food here in the U.S., new research indicates that consumers can improve their health, diet, and the safety of their food while helping to cut carbon emissions associated with climate change. Christopher Jones from the UC Berkeley Institute of the Environment will share the latest research on food choices and their associated carbon footprints, plus useful new tools for consumers. Jonathan Kaplan, Director of NRDC's Sustainable Agriculture Project, will talk about progress throughout the food chain and the role of business in shaping a better food system. Also hear about NRDC's 2010 Growing Green Awards and the recent call for nominations.

Invitations have been emailed. For more information, please contact Tommy Hayes at thayes@nrdc.org or (415) 875-6100.

Focus Meeting on Federal Climate Legislation (San Francisco, CA) Focus Meeting

Thursday, August 13, 2009 (5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Pacific)
Following on the heels of E2's national TeleSalon on the Senate's development of climate legislation, E2 Northern California will hold a pair of Focus Meetings to delve deeper into particular issues of interest to business leaders and how specific components of federal climate policy may affect states, such as California, which already have climate policy in place. We will talk about the direct advocacy work on which E2 and NRDC are focusing to garner support in key states, appease regional interests, and engage swing constituents in order to pass significant climate legislation. Dan Lashof, Director of NRDC's Climate Center, will join us to talk policy and strategy and answer questions.

Note: This event will be repeated in Palo Alto at 12:00 PM. Invitations will be emailed to E2 members shortly. Contact (415) 875-6100 with any questions.

Oceans: Finding the Balance (Mountainview, CA) EcoSalon

Thursday, June 18, 2009 (5:30 PM - 8:00 PM Pacific)
Sylvia Earle, called "Her Deepness" by the The New Yorker, "Living Legend" by the Library of Congress, and "Hero for the Planet" by Time, is a famed oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer. Join E2 for a program with Dr. Earle, Karen Garrison of NRDC's Oceans Program, and Google for a presentation and discussion on the sustainability of our oceans, an update on the California Marine Life Protection Act, and a special demonstration of the new Oceans in Google Earth.

Invitations will be emailed soon. Members will receive priority registration. For more information contact Tommy Hayes at thayes@nrdc.org, or 415-875-6150.

NRDC San Francisco Benefit (California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA) Benefit

Saturday, May 9, 2009 (7:00 PM Pacific)
Please join us for our annual NRDC San Francisco benefit on May 9, 2009. This year, we will be honoring journalist and author Michael Pollan and celebrating NRDC's Growing Green Awards to recognize leadership and innovation in the field of sustainable food. Benefit Co-chairs include Joy Covey, Bob Epstein and Amy Roth, Randi and Bob Fisher, Nicole Lederer and Larry Orr, Robert Redford and Sibylle Szaggars, Christine Russell and Mark Schlesinger, Wendy and Eric Schmidt, and Kirby Walker and Paul Danielsen.

Tables are available for $25,000, $10,000 and $5,000, and tickets are available for $2,500 and $1,000. Limited tickets will also be available for $500.

Invitations have been mailed. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Kelly McGonigle at (415) 875-6100.

Making Carbon Policy A Reality: Challenges to overcome on the path to carbon trading (San Francisco, CA) Focus Meeting

Tuesday, April 7, 2009 (5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Pacific)
As E2 gears up for its annual trip to Washington, DC, in the next month, the stakes are higher than ever for E2 and NRDC to bring their business case for energy policy to legislators on Capitol Hill. Congress is now in the midst of heated debate on what a national carbon framework should look like, and legislation may be introduced later this year. In California, AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, is already underway, with a cap-and-trade program scheduled to take effect in 2012. Please join us to hear Felicia Marcus, NRDC Western Regional Director, and Kristin Grenfell, Legal Director of NRDC's Western Energy and Climate Projects, discuss the political hurdles a carbon cap-and-invest system will face, as well as the technical choices that must be made and why a cap-and-invest system is superior to a carbon tax.

This is the latest update in our E2 series on carbon policy, and this program is being repeated in Palo Alto at 12:00 noon. Space is limited and will be prioritized for E2 Members. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Tommy Hayes at thayes@nrdc.org or (415) 875-6150.

Fighting Global Warming Through Smart Growth: A New California Model (Sausalito, CA) EcoSalon

Thursday, January 8, 2009 (5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Pacific)
At E2's first event at Cavallo Point Lodge in Sausalito, CA, Senate Pro Tempore-elect Darrell Steinberg, author of SB 375 (the nation's first law to control greenhouse gas emissions by curbing sprawl), Peter Calthorpe, Principal at Calthorpe Associates, and Dan Tishman, Chairman and CEO of Tishman Construction Corp. and Chair of NRDC's Board of Trustees, will lead a discussion on the impact state and regional leadership, sustainable communities, and green buildings can have on global warming.

Invitations have been emailed. Registration is $25 for E2 members and $35 for non-members. For more information please contact Tommy Hayes, E2 Program Assistant, at (415) 875-6100 or thayes@nrdc.org.

Year-end Happy Hour (San Francisco, CA) SpecialEvent

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 (6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Pacific)
Join E2 Northern California for an evening of socializing and networking in celebration of a successful and exciting 2008. We will gather at Roots Restaurant from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm to enjoy E2-inspired cocktails and complimentary appetizers and menu tastings.

Invitations have been emailed. Please contact Tommy Hayes, E2 Program Assistant, at 415-875-6150 or thayes@nrdc.org with any questions.

Two Years Later: Lessons Learned from California's Global Warming Bill (San Francisco, CA) Focus Meeting

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 (5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Eastern)
In September 2006, California became the first state in the nation to pass legislation to limit global warming. Now, with two years of experience under its belt, we can hear firsthand about the lessons learned and progress made from the Special Assistant to the Chairman at the California Air Resources Board Virgil Welch, the co-chair of the technical implementation committee and E2 Co-founder Bob Epstein, and Director of NRDC's California Advocacy Program, Ann Notthoff. Please join us to see how this important effort is progressing and the implications at the national as well as the state level.

The in-person venue for this event is full. Members and guests may still participate via conference line. Please contact Tommy Hayes, E2 Program Assistant, at (415) 875-6100 or Thayes@nrdc.org if you still need the dial-in information or if you have any other questions.

Global Warming Legislative Trends: Challenges and Opportunities (San Francisco, CA) Focus Meeting

Tuesday, July 22, 2008 (5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Pacific)
Please join E2 Northern California for a focus meeting featuring Peter Lehner, Executive Director of NRDC, for a discussion about global warming legislative trends, what happened with the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act and where we are heading in the U.S. on global warming policy. Peter will highlight NRDC's plans for moving forward, and outline the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

This program will also be offered at 12:00 noon in Palo Alto. Invitations have been emailed to E2 members. Please contact April Mo at (415) 875-6100 or amo@nrdc.org with any questions about this event.

Update: C-Neutral, Costa Rica's Plan to Eliminate Greenhouse Gas Emissions (San Francisco, CA) Focus Meeting

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 (5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Pacific)
Last July, co-founder Bob Epstein presented the energy situation and opportunities in Costa Rica for becoming carbon neutral, and how Costa Rica and the United States can help one another address global warming and oil dependence. Over the last year NRDC and E2 have continued to work closely with the Costa Rican government and industries to develop concrete strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. NRDC is now sponsoring a study tour, in collaboration with Harvard University and UC Berkeley's Center for Latin American studies for Costa Rican energy officials to meet with experts here in the U.S. to develop further strategies for carbon neutrality in Costa Rica by 2021. Please join us for a Focus Meeting with Costa Rican energy officials to hear about initial findings and next steps in our collaboration.

Invitations have been emailed. Please call (415) 875-6100 with any questions about this event.

Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gases: Costs and Opportunities (San Francisco, CA) Focus Meeting

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 (12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Pacific)
McKinsey & Company has released its year long, in-depth report on the cost and opportunities for reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Sponsored by NRDC and six other groups, the comprehensive study covers seven major industrial sectors of the economy, with region-by-region analyses of various abatement options. On January 30, please join Rick Duke, Director of NRDC's Center for Market Innovation, for a briefing on the report's findings, what it will mean for businesses and the economy, and how NRDC's Center for Market Innovation can play an important role in leveraging these market forces to protect environmental and human health.

Invitations have been sent. Please contact Christine Luong at cluong@nrdc.org with any questions.

Creating Competitive Advantage in the Clean Energy Economy (San Francisco, CA) SpecialEvent

Monday, January 14, 2008 (9:00 AM - 12:30 PM Pacific)
Hosted by Environmental Entrepreneurs, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and Small Business California, this event aims to educate local Northern California Chambers of Commerce about the opportunities associated with AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act. We want to show local Chambers how to get involved in the implementation process for this landmark legislation. Bob Epstein (E2), Scott Hague (Small Business California) and James Goldstene (California Air Resources Board) will discuss different aspects of California's clean energy economy. The event is organized by the Environmental Entrepreneurs Climate Campaign (E2C2) and will take place at San Francisco State University's Downtown Campus, Westfield San Francisco Centre, 835 Market Street.

Limited space available. If you would like to attend, please RSVP, or if you have questions, please contact Sam Blodgett at sam@e2.org.

Up-to-the-Minute Report on Federal Energy and Global Warming Bills (Palo Alto, CA) Focus Meeting

Tuesday, December 11, 2007 (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Pacific)
With major progress on the provisions in the Federal Energy bill, and with the Lieberman-Warner Global Warming bill (America?s Climate Security Act of 2007) passing out of committee, this is proving to be a historic time for energy and global warming policy in the U.S. Please join Karen Wayland, Federal Legislative Director for NRDC, and close associate of E2, for a discussion of these key achievements and the challenges that lie ahead. Karen will discuss the ongoing, in-the-trenches efforts to negotiate for the strongest and most effective Energy and Global Warming bills possible, both of which Congress is currently debating.

Invitations have been sent to E2 members. If you have any questions, or wish to bring a guest, please contact Christine Luong at cluong@nrdc.org or 415.875.6124.

NOTE: This program will also be presented in San Francisco, December 12, 4:00 - 5:00 pm.

California's AB 32 One Year Later & Promoting U.S. Leadership in Global Cleantech Markets (Palo Alto, CA) Focus Meeting

Thursday, November 8, 2007 (12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Pacific)
Please join us for a Focus Meeting featuring Bob Epstein, Co-founder of Environmental Entrepreneurs and David Bohigian, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce. We will review what has happened in California during the first year of the implementation process for AB 32 (California's Global Warming Solutions Act) and what to expect in 2008. We will also discuss the international trade opportunities for low carbon products, specifically with regard to the Department of Commerce's upcoming Clean Energy Trade Mission to India and China.

This program will be repeated in San Francisco on Friday, November 9.

Space is limited and invitations and seats are prioritized for E2 Members. Please contact April Mo at amo@nrdc.org or (415) 875-6100 with any questions.

America's Clean Energy Future: Views from California's Leadership (Berkeley, CA) EcoSalon

Tuesday, August 7, 2007 (6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Pacific)
America's per-capita energy use has been steadily increasing over the last three decades while California's per-capita consumption has held steady and is expected even to decline. In September 2006, Pro Tem Perata's Senate Bill 1368 became law, setting an unprecedented greenhouse gas emissions standard for electric generation that serves Californians. Please join us for an EcoSalon featuring The Honorable Don Perata, President Pro Tem of California's State Senate, Audrey Chang of NRDC's Energy Program, and George Peridas of NRDC's Climate Center to discuss how SB 1368 will shape California's energy investments, California's leadership on energy efficiency and renewables, and ways to manage the carbon footprint of fossil fuels across the nation.

This event is full. Please contact April Mo at amo@nrdc.org or (415) 875-6100 with any questions.

NRDC 2007 Annual San Francisco Benefit (San Francisco, CA) Benefit

Tuesday, April 17, 2007 (6:30 PM Pacific)
Please join us for NRDC's San Francisco Benefit on April 17, 2007, honoring Leon Panetta and Kiehl's Since 1851 for their outstanding environmental leadership. This festive event will feature cocktails, a seated dinner, a special performance by Samantha Stollenwerck, as well as appearances by other surprise guests. A Bay Area native, Samantha is bringing folk guitar to a new generation. Her music has inspired the phrase "Cali Soul." She plays at local venues such as The Fillmore and also tours nationally. Tickets are available at $500, $1,000 and $2,500. E2 members can renew their E2 membership by purchasing a total of at least $2,500 in tickets. For further information please contact Jennifer Alley or Liz Epstein at (415) 875-6100 or lepstein@nrdc.org.

Fresh Water: A Dwindling Global Resource (San Francisco, CA) EcoSalon

Thursday, February 15, 2007 (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Pacific)
Clean, fresh water is essential for the well-being of both our economy and our environment. The availability and affordability of this scarce resource is now more at risk then ever as global warming disturbs once predictable precipitation patterns, and outdated water management policies strain and misallocate freshwater supplies. Please join us for a dinner discussion featuring William Reilly, Former Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Barry Nelson, Co-Director of NRDC's Western Water Project, and Ronnie Cohen, Senior Policy Analyst for NRDC's Western Water Project. Our speakers will discuss opportunities in the U.S. and around the world for improving water management practices, and how lessons learned from the San Joaquin River restoration agreement can inform water conservation and management efforts in other regions.

Please contact Teryn Hanggi at thanggi@nrdc.org or (415) 875-6100 with any questions.

Driving the Cleantech Market: How Alternative Technologies are Changing Transportation (Palo Alto, CA) EcoSalon

Wednesday, September 20, 2006 (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Pacific)
Long before President Bush announced that the nation is dependent on oil, and before Congress recognized the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, innovators and entrepreneurs were busy introducing new fuels and technologies to the transportation market. Now that California is leading the way with regulations mandating regulations in global warming pollution and Congress is considering several bills aimed at reducing our addiction to fossil fuels, these new technologies have a brighter opportunity than ever to penetrate the marketplace. Please join E2 for an EcoSalon that will feature NRDC Vehicles Policy Director Roland Hwang, and a panel of business leaders from the clean tech and automobile sectors, for a discussion on how alternative fuels can move us toward carbon-neutrality while satisfying consumer demands and boosting the economy. The event will also feature a showing of the newest alternative-fuel vehicles on the market today.

Invitations have been sent. Please contact April Mo at (415) 875-6100 or amo@nrdc.org with any questions.

E2 Turns Up the Heat on Global Warming Solutions in California (Palo Alto, CA) Focus Meeting

Thursday, June 29, 2006 (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Pacific)
With California leading the way in implementing solutions to global warming, E2 members have a unique opportunity to move the needle on global warming over the next 90 days. This year the California legislature is evaluating the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32). Please join us for a lunch-hour focus meeting with Devra Wang, director of NRDC's California energy program, and the E2 California Climate Team to learn about how this policy can reduce energy costs, spur competition from renewable energy sources, produce public health benefits and secure a larger market share in Clean Tech for the state of California.

Space is limited. This program will be repeated in San Francisco on July 13.

Please contact April Mo at amo@nrdc.org or (415) 875-6100 with any questions.

Global Warming: Where do we go from here? (Google, Inc., Mountain View, CA) EcoSalon

Thursday, February 23, 2006 (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Pacific)
The debate on global warming is no longer focused on whether it will occur - the impacts of this phenomenon are already evident around the world. The relevant discussion now is: What do we need to do to curb its effects on the natural systems upon which society depends? David Hawkins, Director of NRDC's Climate Center and an international authority on global warming, will present a road map of policy solutions to control the severity and impacts of global warming. Michael Jones, CTO of Google Earth, will discuss the use of Google Earth technology to illustrate evidence of global warming and other impacts of human activity on our planet to millions of people around the world.

This event is being hosted on the campus of Google, Inc.

Invitations have been sent. Space is limited. Please contact Teryn Hanggi at thanggi@nrdc.org with any questions.

SOLD OUT: NRDC 2005 San Francisco Benefit: Celebrating NRDC's 35th and E2's 5th Anniversaries (San Francisco, CA) Benefit

Wednesday, November 2, 2005 (7:00 PM Pacific)
E2 and NRDC are pleased to announce that year's Benefit will take place Wednesday, November 2, at Terra, an exciting new venue in San Francisco's South of Market district. This year's event will be a double celebration, commemorating both the 5th anniversary of E2 and NRDC's 35th anniversary.

Part of the evening will be dedicated to honoring the terrific achievements of E2, founded by trustees Bob Epstein and Nicole Lederer. Now five years old, E2 - with more than 600 members in 22 states - galvanizes support from the business community for NRDC's initiatives by emphasizing the economic benefits of environmental policies. We are happy to celebrate E2's 5th anniversary at this year's event and to recognize Bob and Nicole for their dedication and leadership.

Our special celebrity guests at the event will be NRDC Trustee and actor Robert Redfor, singer/songwriter Carole King and California Cabinet Secretary Terry Tamminen. We also plan to honor NRDC founder and President, John Adams for his leadership during NRDC's 35-year history. The event will include a seated dinner beginning at 7:00 p.m.

This event is SOLD OUT. Ticketholders should contact Jennifer Alley, development director for Northern California, at jalley@nrdc.org or (415) 875-6100 with any questions.