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e-FFICIENCY NEWS: First off, I’d like to congratulate you on your successful mayoral election. One of the issues you campaigned on was a commitment to the environment and specifically cleaning up the Long Beach port. Can you describe some of the measures under consideration, their intended effects and if any of this might lead to higher efficiency standards at one of our nation’s largest ports? FOSTER: Thanks – you know, I’ve come into office at an interesting time for our City on a number of issues, and the issues surrounding the Port are at the top of the list. The Port of Long Beach is a tremendous economic asset for the entire nation – coupled with the Port of Los Angeles, our immediate neighbor, we have the 4th or 5th largest port in the world. But our ports are also the largest source of air pollution in Southern California. Diesel trucks moving cargo from ships to transfer yards are the largest air pollution problem. While I’m optimistic that we can make significant progress using creative lease or rental techniques as well as regulatory muscle, its going to be the toughest problem for us to solve. If you could somehow take the trucks out of the pollution equation, the ships would then be the largest producer of pollution in the region. The Port of Long Beach is already moving toward implementing some new, cleaner technologies. They just signed the first of what we hope will be several “green” leases with Japan-based K Line Shipping Company and ITS, the terminal operator. These agreements mean efforts like “cold ironing” of ships while in port, cleaner on-dock vehicles and enhanced on-dock and near-dock rail systems, which will create increased efficiency and cut down on air pollution. Cold ironing is vital because these ships burn the dirtiest, least efficient fuel out there. This is going to be a tough fight – but will be my highest environmental priority as mayor. e-FFICIENCY NEWS: Another hot topic from the election is the proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal for the port of Long Beach. This facility would supply 10 percent of California’s energy needs, drive down the price of natural gas, and increase city revenues. Is there a way to make this type of facility functional and safe? What other options do we have aside from increasing supply? FOSTER: There is a proposal to locate an LNG facility in the Port of Long Beach and the City Council will have items before them to consider probably before the end of the year. While the State does need additional and diverse sources of natural gas, frankly, I don’t believe Long Beach is an appropriate place for such a facility. There are at least three off-shore proposals for new LNG terminals – and these proposals would serve the same purpose of increasing the natural gas supply while posing much less risk to a dense urban area. e-FFICIENCY NEWS: Prior to being elected mayor, you spent 21 years at Southern California Edison (SCE), starting as liaison to the California Legislature on energy issues and eventually becoming president of the company. How will the work you did for the utility industry shape your plans and goals as Mayor? FOSTER: My experience in the private sector provides me with a number of assets in entering the role of Mayor for Long Beach. First, I worked for a regulated industry, with all the requirements of transparency and security that regulation entails. I am accustomed to having decision processes and the decisions themselves subject to critical review and audit. That is good training for work in the governmental sector. Second, I understand finance and budgeting and the need to live within your fiscal resources. Finally, after being at the forefront of several critical issues for SCE, including the energy crisis, I have ingrained in my character to meet problems head on and tackle them quickly. These characteristics will serve me well as Mayor – candidly, they have come into play already in just the first six weeks on the job. e-FFICIENCY NEWS: You assumed the presidency of SCE in 2002, shortly after the crippling blackouts that rocked many parts of California. What was the biggest challenge working with the utility industry following this event and how did you manage to effectively position Edison as a national leader in renewable and alternative energy? FOSTER: The largest challenge after I became President of SCE was the execution of the regulatory agreement we struck with the State of California. The agreement had many moving parts and its proper and timely execution was essential to returning the company to credit-worthy status. It was essential to regain the trust and confidence of the financial community so that SCE could once again serve its customers fully. I'm proud of the fact that we were able to bring the company back and once again provide the service and investment needed for quality customer service. Edison put an extensive renewables program in place in 1982 under Bill Gould – by the mid-1990’s, we had an internal goal of 20%. SCE has nearly 20% renewables on its system now. Interestingly, the State of California now mandates that level for all utilities – but we were working towards it before the law passed. Continuing our program of renewables and efficiency was challenging at times – especially during the crisis when we had no funds to invest in it. There was a period of time when SCE could not even lease vehicles, much less sign power supply contracts. I often tell people of a time the deli where we would eat lunch across the street from our offices in Sacramento refused our credit card because they were reading all the stories in the paper. But the company never lost its commitment to renewable energy and as soon as credit and regulatory issues allowed, it once again moved to increase it's renewable portfolio and now has the largest renewable portfolio in the country. e-FFICIENCY NEWS: Early in your career you drafted energy-efficiency standards for the state of California. What types of policies and practices did you advocate then and where do you see the status of energy efficiency today, both for California and the country? FOSTER: One of the things of which I'm most proud is the early contribution I made to energy efficiency. In 1972, I worked in the California State Senate as Chief of Staff on the Energy Committee. Senator Al Alquist was the chairman and he was always looking for new ways to improve California. He allowed me to research and propose the idea of creating energy efficiency standards for new construction. The law was passed in 1972 to require both residential and nonresidential buildings to meet energy efficiency standards within 18 months. I then had the unique experience of not only developing but then having to implement these standards when I moved over to work for the new California Energy Commission as chief of its conservation unit. Back in those days, we worked hard to have efficiency considered as a resource. Today, the resources loading order for the State of California has placed energy efficiency first among all other sources. We could only dream of such an outcome in the early and mid-seventies. I believe that California is first in the nation in efficiency programs, both in spending and effectiveness, and I think that we will continue to set the pace for years to come. e-FFICIENCY NEWS: Finally, I am told the city of Long Beach recently created a green building program. What are the goals and potential outcomes of this initiative? FOSTER: The City has actually had a green building program for public facilities for a few years, but we just moved to include all development: commercial and residential. Over the years, green buildings have lower operating costs so the trick is getting developers – and eventually homeowners – to commit the extra resources on the front end. I really believe the City has a role to play as far as incentives to get us started moving down this path. We have a new mixed use development in the planning process now that will be the first commercial green building in the City. I’m very excited about where we can go with this -- and I want to be sure and take a look at best practices around the country to see what cities like Chicago have been able to do. Long Beach is ranked 30th in the nation’s largest 50 cities in terms of sustainability. We can do better -- and I want to use my experience to move us forward faster. Originally published in the October 2006 edition of e-FFICIENCY NEWS. |
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Bob Foster was elected mayor of Long Beach, California’s fifth largest city in June of this year. After a career spent working directly and indirectly with the energy industry, including a four year stint as president of Southern California Edison, Mr. Foster decided to pursue his lifelong desire to serve in public office. The mayor took time out of his busy schedule to discuss his plans for cleaning up the Long Beach port, his many accomplishments advocating for energy efficiency in the utility sector, energy blackouts in California, and an ambitious green building program for the city of Long Beach.