Purpose:

To convene and facilitate a free and open exchange of views among elected state and local legislators, Governor's cabinet members, and top level regulatory officials, industry leaders, environmental, labor and community representatives and independent experts/academia in order to explore critical issues and potential areas of consensus and action.

Issue Areas:

CFEE concentrates on long term, large-scale infrastructure issues confronting the State of California. The primary issue areas are electricity, natural gas, water, air quality, telecommunications, and transportation, as well as innovative financing techniques, demand management and project delivery options for public infrastructure projects.

Duration:

One and one-half day conferences at a facility in a location conducive to fostering undivided attention to subject matter without outside interruptions.

Format:

Roundtable discussion (hollow square table layout) is moderated by the CFEE President or Chair or other facilitators recognized for their expertise and/or public stature. The format is structured to engender a group discussion on an agenda designed by a conference steering committee. Brief prepared presentations and responses are employed to frame the issue and provoke a discussion involving all participants. Speeches during conference discussions are discouraged. Probing questions and comments from the facilitator and/or independent experts are aimed at stimulating productive, interactive and direct discussion in a non-adversarial and consensus-building environment.

Steering
Committee:

The steering committee is composed of CFEE Board members with interests in the subject area, plus five to eight highly knowledgeable individuals from the regulatory agencies, major industry sponsors, independent consultants and/or academic experts. The steering committee is designed to be representative of the stakeholder groups at the full conference and is charged with the design of the conference agenda and assistance in identification of stakeholder groups and other participants who will provide a balanced array of interests around the table.

Agenda:

Three to five discussion topics, which focus on the major public policy issues to be confronted by government, private and public interests on the given conference subject. Topics do not include pending legislation or regulatory rulings, but focus on broader issues that will need public policy decisions and actions in the near future.

Participants
List:

The group assembled around the table is designated to consist principal industry executives, elected and regulatory officials, and recognized environmental, labor, consumer, and community leaders with academic experts or consultants experienced in the subject matter. A small number of observers may be permitted.

Funding:

The conferences are the primary means of fundraising by the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy to meet ongoing operating costs. Therefore, CFEE, a 501(c)(3) public nonprofit, solicits a contribution from the private sector, labor and environmental participants on an ability-to-pay basis. Contributions are tax-deductible. Public sector participants, as well as community and consumer leaders, are either hosted or pay their own way.