Water, Energy, & Environment Task Force

Please join the East Bay Leadership Council for a presentation from the Western States Petroleum Association on The Transportation Energy Supply Chain Infrastructure and Investment (TESCII) study. The study provides a comprehensive assessment of California's transportation energy supply chain, highlighting critical challenges to the State of California’s ambitious goals of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 while managing a decline in demand for petroleum-based fuels. Concerns include increased reliance on imported fuels as local refineries shut down in response to various regulatory restrictions as well as ongoing demand for aviation fuel. The study stresses the need for infrastructure investments and adaptive strategies to manage declining local production, ensure supply stability, and support transitions to renewable fuels. It also calls for clear regulatory frameworks and sustained focus on logistics resilience to align fuel supply with California’s carbon-neutrality ambitions.

OUR SPEAKER



Dr. Mark Nechodom, Senior Director for Science and Technology at the Western States Petroleum Association, joined WSPA in 2020 to spearhead the industry's energy transition and regulatory advocacy efforts in California and the western states. Mark's unique blend of expertise, drawn from his extensive regulatory experience as a government executive and his deep-seated passion for environmental science, positions him uniquely to address some of society's most pressing energy challenges.

Throughout his diverse career, which spans roles as a federal scientist, university professor, and senior executive in federal and state government, Mark has consistently applied a creative, collaborative and data-driven approach to complex issues. His broad regulatory knowledge covers areas such as oil and gas, pesticides, food safety, and water and air quality. Notably, as the Director of California's Department of Conservation, appointed by Governor Jerry Brown, Mark played a pivotal role in overseeing oil and gas production regulation. This position, coupled with his extensive experience as a public official, has equipped him with a pragmatic perspective in guiding the oil and gas industry towards a more sustainable future.

Before his tenure at WSPA, Mark was the Deputy Director of Montana’s State Department of Agriculture, where he supervised a range of regulatory and scientific programs. His previous engagements with the US Department of Agriculture under both the Bush and Obama administrations exposed him to global issues in energy, climate, and environmental markets, including cap-and-trade and other innovative market solutions to environmental challenges.

Mark earned a PhD in political science and environmental policy from the University of California at Santa Cruz (Go Banana Slugs!). His amateur passion for geology and earth sciences often leads him on adventures to collect unique geological specimens from far-flung places in his backpack. An avid skier, kayak racer, backpacker, and motorcyclist, Mark's love for the outdoors mirrors his professional dedication to preserving it for future generations.

In every role, Mark leverages his passion for science, data, and facts to forge a pragmatic path toward a sustainable and environmentally responsible future. His work at WSPA is not just a career, but a continuation of his lifelong commitment to making a positive impact on the world.