Stockton, CA – Recognizing that we need to look at different approaches and partnerships to respond to California’s historic drought, including advancing crucial technological, scientific, and energy solutions, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) will host a California Drought Solutions Forum in Stockton, CA. Open to the public, the forum will feature experts and voices that include farmers, water technology innovators, policy makers, federal and state government, academia, and others.
Rep. Jerry McNerney’s California Drought Solutions Forum will take place on August 25th at the San Joaquin County’s Robert J. Cabral Agricultural Center in Stockton, CA. The two-hour forum will begin at 10 a.m. PST.
“California’s crippling drought demands that we look at innovative solutions that promote regional self-sufficiency and make all of our communities more resilient in the face of massive water shortages,” said Rep. Jerry McNerney. “The purpose of this forum is to bring together experts and stakeholders to discuss forward-thinking policies and actions when it comes to making our water supply and infrastructure more energy efficient, improving conservation, and looking at how new technologies can be applied across sectors, including agriculture, to help create new water, increase sustainability, and make more efficient use of our existing water resources.”
The forum will feature two diverse panels of stakeholders that include farmers, water technology innovators, policy makers, federal, and state governments, academia, and other experts.
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: PANEL: Water, Energy, and Technology: Partnerships and Solutions Panel
Invited panelists include: GE; California Energy Commission, Water Energy Technology Program; U.S. Department of Energy, Water Energy Technology Team; ACWA; and IBM.
11:00 a.m. – Noon: PANEL: Agriculture, Technology, and Water Sustainability Panel
Invited panelists include: San Joaquin County Agricultural Commissioner; CSU Fresno; California Council of Science and Technology; Stockton East Water District; UC Davis; and California Department of Food and Agriculture.
The forum is open to the public and constituents are encouraged to attend.
Congressman McNerney has shown leadership in pursuing and expanding bold, innovative solutions that create more water to help California address its severe drought crisis.
In July, Rep. McNerney held a roundtable with technology innovators and representatives from the renewable energy, agriculture, business, and water recycling sectors to discuss technology and science-based solutions to the drought. The Congressman also introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a smart water management pilot program meant to spur innovative projects.
Rep. McNerney has also introduced legislation calling on Congress to authorize 27 regional water recycling projects that can create water for irrigation, agriculture, conservation, and to increase the potable water supply.
As additional legislation meant to address California’s drought problem was introduced and voted on in Congress, Rep. McNerney led his California and Oregon House Democrat colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.
The letter stressed that any legislation addressing California’s drought requires serious compromise and should include policies that do not negatively impact the economies, farmers, communities, and environments of California, Oregon, and other Western states.
