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 will host a California Drought Solutions Forum in Stockton. 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.
The forum is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon at San Joaquin’s Robert J. Cabral Agricultural Center, 2101 E. Earhart Ave., Stockton.
During the two-hour forum Rep. McNerney will moderate two diverse panels of stakeholders that include farmers, water technology innovators, policy makers, federal, and state governments, academia, and other experts.
Following are the scheduled presentations:
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. panel: Water, Energy, and Technology: Partnerships and Solutions
Invited panelists include: California Energy Commission, Water Energy Technology Program; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA); WaterSmart Software; and IBM.
11 a.m. to noon panel: Agriculture, Technology, and Water Sustainability
Invited panelists include: San Joaquin County Agricultural Commissioner; CSU Fresno; California Council on Science and Technology; Stockton East Water District; UC Davis; and Jain Irrigation.
The forum is open to the public and constituents are encouraged to attend. Rep. McNerney will also be available for interviews with media in attendance.
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.
Rep. Jerry McNerney serves the constituents of California’s 9th Congressional District that includes portions of San Joaquin, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. For more information on Rep. McNerney’s work, follow him on Facebook and on Twitter @RepMcNerney.
