To the Astonishment of Many, Low-Carbon Fuel Standards Summit Dominated By the Petroleum Industry
As I wrote yesterday from the California Carbon & Low-Carbon Fuel Standards Summit, many in attendance were shocked and dismayed to see that the second half of the keynote address was delivered by a spokesperson from the Western States Petroleum Association, who went on a long and angry preemptive strike against anyone in the audience who could possibly be favoring alternative fuels.
I was there largely because 2GreenEnergy had been asked to be a media partner, and I have to admit, I was surprised to hear that gasoline and diesel were permanent fixtures in our transportation world, due to the irremediable inadequacies of competing solutions, e.g., electric vehicles. Like some of the attack-dog commenters here at 2GreenEnergy, the woman’s message had a clear subtext: ideology-driven attempts to phase out fossil fuels are impractical and silly. She closed her speech with the (erroneous) claim that consumers are refusing to buy EVs; they’re “demanding ever-larger vehicles with internal combustion engines because they need to get their kids to soccer practices.”
I was anxious to ask her a question that would point out the idiocy of her position, e.g., “Can’t people take kids to soccer practices in EVs? I’m pretty sure that’s possible….” but there wasn’t enough time.
Fortunately, the larger of the two breakout sessions (featuring yet another paid petroleum shill) that followed after a short break had plenty of time for questions, so I asked, in front of perhaps 200 people:
“I need your help. I’m a blogger at 2GreenEnergy.com, and I wrote a post after the keynote earlier this morning to the effect that the petroleum lady says that gasoline and diesel will be with us indefinitely. Several angry readers have already pushed back at me; they wonder how it’s possible a) that the producers of a low-carbon conference wanted its keynote delivered by a PR representative for petroleum , and b) that a speaker in this position apparently doesn’t know that we’re not going to have a civilization here in 50 – 100 years if we don’t phase out fossil fuels. They want to know: Doesn’t she read? Does she distrust science? Comments like this are pouring in, and these people are totally furious. What should I tell them?”
In response to the rising titter in the audience, and panelists looking around nervously at each other, I finally got this timid response, “Uh, we’re doing the best that we can.”
I also took the opportunity at lunch to have a similar discussion with a vice president of Argus, the sponsoring organization (based in Houston, which probably explains a lot). I told him, “I don’t think anyone here objects that petroleum has a voice in the room. But to have that voice dominate the conversation is completely appalling. I guess it goes to show what money can buy.”
The guy was half my age, and he had about five inches and thirty pounds on me, so I suppose I’m lucky he didn’t knock my teeth out. That really could have gone badly.
I walked away uninjured, though taking with me a nagging feeling that 2GreenEnergy is probably not going to be asked to be a media sponsor again next year.
Craig,
I seem to be missing something from your report concerning your participation at the California Carbon & Low-Carbon Fuel Standards Summit.
Your report isn’t helped by all the outrage and emotive hyperbole which makes the narrative a little difficult to follow
Perhaps you could clarify the following points ?
1) Why would any audience be ‘astonished’ to hear a representative of the Western States Petroleum Association speak favorably about the products produced by the members of that organization ?
2) You write ;
” Several angry readers have already pushed back at me; they wonder how it’s possible a) that the producers of a low-carbon conference wanted its keynote delivered by a PR representative for petroleum , and b) that a speaker in this positions apparently doesn’t know that we’re not going to have a civilization here in 50 – 100 years if we don’t phase out fossil fuels. They want to know: Doesn’t she read? ” .
” Comments are pouring in, and these people are totally furious. What should I tell them?”
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but reading your original report, and after reviewing the empty comments section, it would appear your “angry readers” don’t exist and therefore the questions are of your own invention !
Am I missing something ?
It’s also worth noting the organizer’s special encouragement of female speakers including a ‘private breakfast and networking for influential women shaping the carbon emissions and energy market’.
I’m truly astonished at your description of Tiffany Roberts,( WSPA Director of Legislative and Regulatory Policy) as making a ” long and angry preemptive strike against anyone in the audience who could possibly be favoring alternative fuels “.
Your statement doesn’t seem to tally with any other attendees to whom I’ve spoken ! Firstly, speakers have allocated times, and Tiffany is a very moderate entertaining speaker.
Tiffany’s career hardly suggests anything that qualifies her as an “oil company shrill”.
( from her bio:)
“Prior to joining WSPA, Tiffany held two positions with the California Legislature.
First, she served for over five years as the Legislative Analyst’s Office Senior Energy and Climate Policy and Fiscal Analyst. In this role, she served as the non-partisan advisor to the California Legislature on energy and climate policies including AB32, cap-and-trade, hydraulic fracturing, nuclear energy policy, offshore oil drilling, and California’s alternative energy and fuel regulations. She later served as a consultant to the Senate Republican Caucus for the Senate’s Committee on Environmental Quality.
Prior to her roles in the Legislature, Tiffany worked at the local government level, helping craft the City of Hayward’s Climate Action Plan.
Tiffany holds a Master’s degree in Economics from California State University, Hayward and a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies with minors in French and Spanish. Her view on the role that affordable energy plays in society is informed by significant experience living and working abroad, including two years serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the former Soviet Republic of Turkmenistan ”
Craig, I’ve been an investor, supporter and early adopter (20 years) in the Electric Vehicle Industry, after viewing a video of Tiffany’s speech, I find nothing offensive or inaccurate in her presentation which was delivered with style and moderation. While I don’t necessarily agree with all her conclusions, her facts were accurate and indisputable.
I know at least a third of the invited speakers and many attendees, I’ve yet to discover anyone who agrees with your depiction of Tiffany’s presentation.
The Ritz-Carlton at Half-Moon has yet to topple into the sea :), and I’ve always enjoyed the hospitality and facilities.
The 35 speakers who addressed the California Carbon & Low-Carbon Fuel Standards conference were among the best qualified and diversified participants in the world, certainly California.
It’s disappointing you didn’t take full advancement of the privilege extended to you by attending to gather knowledge objectively, instead of attending with a closed mind and combative attitude.
As I say, maybe I missed something ?
I don’t know too much about Tiffany’s master degree, but I can tell you that people were swarming around me at lunch thanking me for having shown the guts and integrity to have made the effort to put this thing into perspective. That incident alone made the whole trip more than worthwhile.
You sure are the dutiful little correspondent for your cause, aren’t you? I mention my minor role in a minor conference, and you’re ALL OVER Googlin’ that lil sucka.
Seriously, you’re on a mission. Guess what. So am I.
Craig,
What’s happening to you ?
You seem to be losing perspective ! I mean, what’s with the Upper Case ?
I meant no offense,I genuinely thought I had missed something. There’s no ‘ conspiracy’ I have no covert ’cause’ or have any idea what you mean by any mysterious “mission” ! I simply want you to either prove your claim or admit it was just a wistful exaggeration. (bit like Trump’s inaugural exaggeration):) !
Why is it so hard to admit you exaggerated ?
I’m not sure what you mean by “that lil sucka ” ?! I’m sure you would not be so crass or sexist as to label Tiffany Roberts as “that lil sucka ” so, I invite you to clarify to avoid being misunderstood.
I also would also again invite you to explain where I can find all those ” comments poring in from angry readers” are to be found ? I’d love to read them.
I don’t have to ” google” young Tiffany, her contributions in publications ranging from Wall Street Journal, Scientific American, Bloomberg’s Business Week, New York Post, Los Angeles Times, Washington Examiner, San Francisco Chronicle, including interviews and programs on Fox, AAP, Reuters, NBC, CBS, CNN, NPR,ABC Japanese Public Radio,BBC and countless other media outlets have made her a familiar figure among energy industry and environmental circles.
Nor do I understand why it took “guts and integrity ” to be offensive or express an opposing dissent form any of the speakers opinions ? What did you imagine would happen? Young Tiffany would attack you physically ?
Did you think Jessica Dellor or Will Murtha from Argus Publishing would have you sent to a Gulag ?
Perhaps I can reassure you, Jessica is another of those Berkeley peacenik Peace corp volunteer environmentalists, and Will Murtha after leaving the peace corp program studied Nature Conservancy before graduating from Yale’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and joining Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program.
At the worst, these two very earnest Argus employees might bore you to death with endless facts, but I assure you both are very genuine and completely harmless, despite Jessica’s attendance at the London School of Economics !
I can’t imagine who the Vice President at Argus Publishing was to whom you spoke, but I very much doubt you were in any physical danger ! From my personal experience of the folk at Angus Publishing, you are doing yourself and the folks at Angus, a terrible disservice by suggesting that you were in any danger of being treated with anything else but patient courtesy by your hosts, whose hospitality you’ve disrespected.
I’ll be interested to see if there are “swarms ” of “irate readers’, leaping to your defense.
Take it easy on the Red Bull. There’s a certain blend of sincerity and attempts at humor here that you don’t seem to be getting. Relax.
Craig,
What there is, is a certain degree of irony ! When caught out making false exaggerations, sexist comments, etc instead of making an admission, you resort to attack.
Hmmmm…., does sound a bit like someone you castigate !(or are you just feeling Presidential) I got the the feeling you just lost the right to be outraged by those faults in others, since it would just be a case of the pot calling the kettle challenged by hue.
It’s a shame because the Argus California Carbon & Low-Carbon Fuel Standards Summit, with so many excellent speakers, possessing such a wide variety of knowledge, information and opinions should have been an excellent venue to learn and broaden your knowledge base and the thinking of policy makers.