Sacramento, California - State Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins announced today her selection of key select committee chairs for the 2015-16 Regular Session and appointed Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia to head the newly formed Assembly Select Committee on Renewable Energy Development and Restoration of the Salton Sea.

“As the new Chair of the Select Committee on Renewable Energy Development and Restoration of the Salton Sea, I look forward to working with my fellow Assemblymembers on addressing these complex issues in a proactive and collaborative manner.  I am also excited about the many opportunities that lie ahead for not only the State of California, but most importantly for my district that suffers from high unemployment.”

“We have a lot of work of ahead of us now, and with the Senate’s Clean Energy Economy package announcement and my Clean Energy Act, AB 197, this only can attract more of the needed investment into our great state, to our businesses and in turn lead to better jobs for all Californians,” stated Assemblymember Garcia.  I look forward to working with Senator Ben Hueso, my district counterpart for the Imperial Valley, who chairs the key Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications to find sustainable solutions to the Salton Sea through new renewable energy developments,” said Garcia.

The Select Committee on Renewable Energy Development and Restoration of the Salton Sea will focus on the issues and challenges surrounding development of renewable energy projects and the implementation of ecological restoration plans of the Salton Sea area.

Salton Sea Restoration: The Salton Sea, located entirely in the 56th Assembly district, is California’s largest inland lake.  It is very important to both residents of Imperial and Riverside counties and to the wildlife relying on the Salton Sea for habitat.  The Salton Sea currently support over 400 species of birds, many of them year-round, and is a critical stopping point along the 5,000-mile Pacific Flyway.  For this reason, some ecological experts have given it the nickname “California’s Everglades.”

Geothermal Energy Resource of the Salton Sea: The Imperial Valley has more geothermal generating capacity than anywhere else in the United States.  Unlike other large scale renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind, geothermal energy can be produced with minimal impact on landscape and habitat.  It also provides a steady, reliable source of base load energy to the state electricity grid that is not subject to weather or seasonal fluctuations.

Local Efforts: The Salton Sea Restoration & Renewable Energy Initiative, launched by the Imperial Irrigation District in partnership with Imperial County, is currently working to leverage funds generated by new renewable energy projects located at the sea to help finance activities for air quality management and habitat restoration.