3rd Annual Cal Desal Conference, October 6-7, 2014 — Featuring Education Session V: Water/Energy Connection

This session will address seawater desalination energy use as well as inter-agency interest in a potential loading order for water resource development.

is a Senior Resource Specialist at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. He helps manage seawater desalination and salinity management planning issues in Metropolitan’s Water Resource Management Group. Warren has over 20 years of experience in the water industry leading the development of long-term water demand forecasts and conservation projections as well as contributing to numerous reports covering a wide range of water resource planning issues. Warren represents Metropolitan on the board of the Southern California Salinity Coalition and developed the first climate change policy principles for Metropolitan in 2002. Prior to joining Metropolitan he worked at the Army Corps of Engineers Institute for Water Resources. Warren received a M.S in Environmental Science from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. in Anthropology from Kenyon College.

is California American Water’s Director of Operations for its Coastal Division serving 100,000 + customers on the Monterey Peninsula as well as several other communities in the area. He is responsible for both water and wastewater systems, two dams, and an operating desalination plant. His resume includes 26 years of utility experience leading the operation and maintenance of some of the largest and most complex water treatment systems in the United States. This past experience includes directing American Water’s “fix” in 2004 of the 25 million gallon per day (MGD) Tampa Bay Water Desalination Facility, as well as plant manager of a 350 million gallon per day (MGD) and a 126 MGD surface water treatment plant in Houston, TX. Sabolsice holds top level water operator certifications in both Texas (Class A) and Nevada (T4). He also holds a California State Department of Health Grade T3 certificate. He attended San Jacinto College in Houston, TX and is a veteran of U.S. Army having served both oversees and at home in the U.S.

was appointed California Energy Commission Executive Director in June of 2011. The Commission is the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency. The Commission also is responsible for licensing large thermal power plants and setting appliance and building efficiency standards. In addition, the Commission administers several programs that provide funds for energy efficiency, research and the development of renewable energy, including $314 million in federal ARRA funds. Historically, the Commission annually awards over $100 million in grants and loans for the development of alternative and renewable fuels and vehicles, $86 million for research and demonstration projects, and $100 million to develop renewable energy. The Commission has an operating budget of about $97 million and 600 positions.  Rob began his career under the first Brown Administration recruiting new businesses and solving problems related to doing business in California as an Economic Development Specialist in the Department of Economic and Business Development. Rob then spent 10 years with a major San Francisco based law firm as a non attorney legislative advocate working in public finance, environmental law, labor law, and also for a statewide economic development organization.

Prior to joining the Energy Commission, Rob held several positions at the California Air Resources Board (ARB) that included serving as a Legislative Advocate and Chief of Intergovernmental Affairs. In 1998, Rob was appointed Legislative Director for the ARB by Governor Wilson, and continued to serve Governors Davis, Schwarzenegger, and Brown. He participated at a high level in virtually all major issues affecting air pollution and global warming over the past two decades. Rob’s tenure at the ARB included the inception of the Low and Zero Emission Vehicle standards, adoption of reformulated gasoline and diesel fuel requirements, and development and implementation of the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32).  In addition to Rob’s management experience in the private sector and at ARB, he served as Deputy Chief of the Bureau of Automotive Repair in 1997 overseeing the Bureau’s enforcement program and conducting the first ever comprehensive program performance evaluation. The Deputy Chief was responsible for policy management of the Bureau’s consumer protection program with a staff exceeding 500 that included 11 field offices, six undercover vehicle documentation shops, and four mediation centers statewide.  Rob holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of California at Davis.

Questions?