Venture Capitalist and author of Addicted to Energy, Elton Sherwin recommends three policy changes to reduce emissions, create jobs and lower atmospheric concentrations of CO2. The video of the presentation is on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eyeGrSbFHM

1. What Do We Do About Climate Change?
A Simple Three-step Plan
EUEC Conference
Phoenix
January 30, 2012
Elton B. Sherwin
Venture Capitalist
Author of
The Silicon Valley Way and
Addicted to Energy
These slides express the opinions of the author and
Muir & Riggs Glaciers, Alaska have not been endorsed by any organization or government agency

2. Despite Efficiency Gains And
Stronger Regulation, The World’s
Emissions Of Greenhouse Gases
Continue To Go Up

3. Will Anything Reverse This Trend?
If we don’t do
something,
We will melt the
North Pole
Leave a different
planet for our
grandchildren

4. Venture Capitalist and Author of
Addicted to Energy
One of Most Common Questions
I Am Asked
What Should We Do About Climate
Crisis?
What Should America Do About
Energy Security?

5. • Written as letter of
advice to a young
governor
• Make over 70 policy
recommendations
• No one wants a
70-point plan

6. Here are the Big Three
Get these right
Protect planet
Protect our children
and their children
Grow our economy

7. #1
Simple, Universal, Gradually
Increasing Carbon Tax

8. Gradually Increasing Carbon Tax
• Give most proceeds back to taxpayers
• Start with a modest pollution fee
• Gradually increase

9. Big Economic Benefits
Shifts burden of taxation
from labor to pollution
Good for American workers

10. #2
Substitute Natural Gas
for Coal and Oil

11. Convert Coal Fired Power Plants to
Natural Gas
Cut CO2 emission in half
Dramatically reduce other polutants

12. Use Natural Gas in
Many More Vehicles
Natural Gas vs. Gasoline (US EPA):
• Reduces carbon monoxide emissions over 90%
• Reduces carbon dioxide emissions 25%
• Reduces nitrogen oxide emissions 35%-60%
• Emits fewer carcinogenic pollutants

13. Natural Gas is Cheaper than
Gasoline or Diesel
Professor Mark J. Perry

14. Use Natural Gas In All Fleet Vehicles
That “Overnight In Place.”
• Taxis
• Buses
• Local delivery trucks
• Service vehicles and vans

15. Domestic Natural Gas
Creates more jobs than importing oil from
Venezuela and Saudi Arabia

16. #3
Benchmark and Disclose Energy
Consumption of All Buildings

17. Buildings Are Responsible for
35% of US CO2 Emissions
• Buildings are incredibly
wasteful
• Most coal is burned to
generate electricity that is
wasted in buildings

18. NY City and San Francisco
Rating and Publishing
ENERGY STAR Scores
88 High = 100,
Low = 1
97
So simple, so inexpensive, so easy
Law of the land

19. Benchmarking Buildings
Creates Jobs
• Local jobs
• Hard to “offshore”
a building retrofit
97

20. Well That Is It
A Three Point Plan in Three Minutes

21. This Is What We Need To Do
• Cut foreign oil
imports
• Cut trade deficit
• Protect the planet
• Protect our children
and grandchildren
• Grow our economy
• Create good paying
jobs

22. Simple Plan
1. Tax Carbon
– Give most money back to taxpayers
2. Switch to Clean Burning Domestic
Natural Gas
– Vehicles
– Power plants
3. Grade Buildings
– Disclose how they are performing
Image: flagwallpapers.com

23. Should We Do More?
• Of course
• Read my book...
• I have a 70-point plan
These are the Big Three

24. Sherwin Plan
Big Three
1. Tax Carbon
– Give most money back
to taxpayers
2. Switch to Natural Gas
– Vehicles
– Power plants
3. Grade Buildings
– Publish the scores
Image: mj-services.com

25. Contact information
Elton B. Sherwin
Sr. Managing Director
Ridgewood Capital
540 Cowper St., Suite 201
Palo Alto, CA 94301
ESherwin@RidgewoodCapital.com
www.EltonSherwin.com
www.slideshare.net/EltonSherwin