LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24, 2006 – A blue-ribbon panel of elected officials and environmentalists will discuss “The Environmental Challenges Facing Riverside County” at the Riverside City Hall council chambers, 3900 Main St., Sept. 14, at 6:30 p.m.

        Event seating is free and open to the public, but limited only to guests who RSVP by calling (909) 335-7632. 
           
        Panelists at the “Greening of Riverside County” forum include: Terry Tamminen, former environmental policy special advisor for Governor Schwarzenegger; Ron Loveridge, Riverside mayor; Robin Lowe, Hemet mayor; Art Gage, Riverside council member; Steve Nolan, Corona council member; Terry Wold, Sierra Club; Jane Block, Endangered Habitats League; Penny Newman, Center for Environmental Justice; Peter Dangermond, Riverside Land Conservancy and Monica Bond, Center for Biological Diversity.
      
        “This event presents a unique opportunity for key environmental advocates and elected representatives to exchange their views in a highly accessible public forum,” said Bret Lane, vice president of environmental, safety and facilities for The Gas Company, sponsor of the event. “Environmental issues affect us all, and engaging in an enlightened dialogue about the key challenges we’re facing is the first step in ensuring a good quality of life for our region in the future.”
       
        Phil Willon, editor of the Los Angeles Times Inland Empire Edition, will moderate the panel, which will be taped and broadcast locally on Charter Communications cable and in Los Angeles on city cable station LA36.
The Greening of Riverside County forum is patterned after a highly successful event, “The Greening of California,” held annually in Los Angeles.

        The Greening of Riverside County is produced by a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization whose mission statement is to encourage public discourse about civic issues and to provide public access to community decision-makers.  The organization has been producing similar events in the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, and in Orange County, as well as throughout the state for many years. 

        The Greening of Riverside County is made possible by support from The Gas Company.

        The Gas Company is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, providing safe and reliable energy to 19.8 million consumers through 5.6 million meters.  The company’s service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles in most of central and Southern California.  The Gas Company strives to provide exceptional customer service to enhance the quality of life in the community.  The Gas Company is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE).  Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company.

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