Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council

In July, three visitors from Spain came to Pensacola to look at Energy/Environmental Issues.  Their specific objectives for the program included the following:

• To discuss energy policy issues of concern to Europe and the U.S., including development of alternative sources, efforts to promote efficiency, energy conservation, and industry best practices;

• To expose participants to the various players in U.S. energy policy formulation at all levels and to a range of views in the public, academic, and private sectors;

• To showcase state and local energy initiatives that currently incorporate or plan to incorporate the use of alternative energy sources, including support to develop new technologies for clean energy; and

• To demonstrate effective actions taken against climate change by the private sector and various U.S. federal, state, and local government authorities.

To begin their appointments, the group met with Dr. Wade Jeffrey at the University of West Florida to discuss climate change and to receive a regional overview of the environment of northwest Florida. Next, they traveled to Plant Crist to meet with Steve Wright and Rusty Meharg to examine area pollution control efforts and to tour the electrical plant.  Afterwards, Jeff DeWeese, partner at O’Sullivan Creel, met with the group to discuss his experiences as an employee of General Electric and to share opinions on local environmental issues and energy production.

The following day, the delegation met with Brent Wipf, Environmental Program Manager for the Water and Land Management Division of Escambia County for a morning of job shadowing.  They then visited the Emergency Operations Center in Pensacola and learned about county efforts to protect the environment.  

Program Intern Matt Rizzo, who is fluent in Spanish, accompanied the group tp all of their appointments.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this program and helped to make it a success.