City Gets Boost in Carbon Neutral Goal

The Green Idea City of Hermosa Beach project has reached a major milestone in its goal to help the town become the first carbon-neutral city in the South Bay.

The City Council voted 5-0 on Tuesday to agree to a memorandum of understanding between Hermosa Beach and AECOM, an international provider of environmental and energy-related technical and management support services.

The global conglomerate will work for free to provide consulting and grant writing services that secure funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, as well as other programs that can cut the city's greenhouse gas emissions.

Why would a $6 billion a year company such as AECOM want to work for nothing to help Hermosa Beach? It already works for paying clients in London, Dubai,  Austin and other places around the world.

But as Ruben Rojas of AECOM learned more about Hermosa Beach, he said during a City Council meeting, he "just became so intrigued because the level of sophistication of the questions that were being asked (by the city) to me. A light bulb went off," Rojas said.

He said  he was confident the city would be pleased with AECOM services, but also "very confident that we'll be able to strategically partner and bring money to you."

I have to admit a little thrill ran up and down my spine when I heard Rojas speak. I knew instantly how personally dedicated to this project he is.

"(Hermosa Beach) really understands it. You really truly get it," Rojas said. "That coupled with the fact that you are Hermosa Beach and that you are in this environment is a dream come true.  It's a window of opportunity.  You are so poised for success that I'm surprised that we're the only ones here, quite honestly."

I was fortunate enough to have been part of the community group that met with Rojas twice over the last few months. I found him dynamic and impressive on green energy and greenhouse gas emission issues, as well as the opportunities available to the city if it was committed to becoming a carbon-neutral leader.

When we exchanged a celebratory handshake after Tuesday's council meeting vote, Rojas said, "Let's get to work!"

I was ready to start right there and then. I couldn't help but think back to just six months ago when the Hermosa Beach carbon-neutral train first left the station.

On a Sunday morning in January at the I met with longtime environmental activist Dency Nelson, Mayor Michael DiVirgilio and local businessman Robert Fortunato regarding the idea of Hermosa Beach becoming the first carbon-neutral city in the South Bay.

The passion we shared for the goal was immediately apparent and prompted that first meeting to run on for hours. I loved every minute of it.

Soon the project began a grass-roots volunteer effort in the community to reach out to the Hermosa Beach school board, the Green Task Force, the Chamber of Commerce and individual City Council members.  The results were positive and quick.

The City Council made carbon-neutrality one of its official goals in January.  The school board and Green Task Force agreed to endorse and support the concept, and to contribute members.

But now, with the addition of AECOM as a city partner, we've just added a Starfleet-worthy warp-speed engine to our carbon-neutrality train. This is the equivalent of Lakers' coach Phil Jackson and his world championship staff volunteering to help the Mira Costa High basketball team.

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one," to quote one of my favorite poets. With so many hardworking, talented and experienced people now working on this initiative, I can see Hermosa Beach serving as the carbon-neutral model for every other city in the South Bay and beyond. Imagine that...

Joe Galliani is a member of the Hermosa Beach Carbon Neutral City Committee and writes a weekly column about local environmental issues for Hermosa Beach | Patch.