SAN DIEGO, California - The California Climate Action Registry announced the recipients of its first annual Climate Action Champion Awards last night at the Registry's conference entitled GHG Registries, Climate Policy and the Bottom Line. The awards were presented to two individuals and one company, all being recognized for demonstrating exemplary leadership in addressing climate change in California. The awards went to:

Byron Sher, California State Senator - Senator Sher has been protecting California's environment in the State Assembly and Senate since 1980. He is the author of many landmark laws to protect California's environment, including the California Clean Air Act, which was the foundation for the National Clean Air Act. He also authored a bill that has assured that California measured its statewide greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the bill which created the Registry in 2000. Most recently he authored the Renewable Portfolio Standard law, which calls for 20% of California's electricity to be renewable by 2017.

Michael Peevey, President of California Public Utilities Commission - As PUC president, Peevey has been at the forefront of the climate change issue in the power sector. He ensured that the California Climate Action Registry was specifically recognized in the state's Energy Action Plan as an important element in helping reduce greenhouse gases. He has been a leader in championing energy efficiency programs and he has personally worked to get an accelerated renewable portfolio standard in place in California. Peevey's support of the Registry has been invaluable in engaging the power sector, whose participation is crucial for successfully addressing climate change in California.

Pacific Gas & Electric Company - PG&E Company is one of the largest combination natural gas and electric utilities in the United States, serving 13 million people (nearly one in 20 Americans). PG&E employs 20,000 people and operates facilities throughout Northern and Central California. PG&E has a long-standing commitment to environmental leadership, including the reduction of greenhouse gases. Through its energy efficiency programs over nearly three decades, PG&E has avoided releasing approximately 50 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. As a charter member, PG&E's support for the Registry has been unflagging, and has included sitting on the Registry's Technical Advisory Committee and participating in the Registry's Power/Utility Protocol working group.

Member Appreciation Awards were also presented to recognize individuals within the Registry's member organizations whose help and dedication has been invaluable over the last year. Recipients include: Alan Ball of QUALCOMM, Bud Beebe of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), Michelle Passero of the Pacific Forest Trust, Greg San Martin of PG&E, Kathryn Shanks of BP and Steve Zegler of Bentley Prince Street.

The California Climate Action Registry is a non-profit public/private partnership that serves as a voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) registry to protect, encourage, and promote early actions to reduce GHG emissions. Over 40 major companies, cities, government agencies and NGOs measure and publicly report their GHG emissions through the Registry. More information is available at www.climateregistry.org.

California Climate Action Registry

California Climate Action Registry

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