Panel 3

Opportunities in Sustainability

Panel Objective: provide attendees with an overview of energy efficiency, renewable energy, ecosystem services, and environmental markets, as well as a disscussion on the opportunities these represent for the local farm and ranch bottom lines, with:

• David Williard, Principal of Sage Renewables - On farm energy efficiency measures and connections with renewable energy.

• Chris Larson, New Island Capital - Current and future environmental markets for agricultural producers.

Expert: Jeff Creque, McEvoy Ranch

Moderator: Charlette Epifanio, USDA NRCS District Conservationist

David Williard, LEED AP (david@sagerenew.com). Principal and co-founder of Sage Renewable Energy Consulting, has nine years of experience in the energy and green building industries.  He has experience coordinating with city and county government agencies and other organizations through his work. In February 2005, David founded Sustainergy Systems Consulting & Design, which became Sage Renewables in August 2009. David is active in his community, is a volunteer firefighter, surfer, and traveler.

Chris Larson (clarson@newislandcap.com). Principal with New Island Capital Management, a San Francisco investment advisory firm. Chris oversees investments in sustainable agriculture, timberland, farmland and other real assets. He is establishing a small commercial orchard in Chileno Valley, and splits his time between Marin and Oakland.

Jeff Creque has earned BAs both, in Biology and Environmental Studies. He spent 26 years at Laughing Duck Farm on the Point Reyes National Seashore. His passion for agroecology earned him an MS in Range Science and a Ph.D in Rangeland Ecology from Utah State. Currently Jeff is a range ecology consultant and land manager at McEvoy Ranch.