Thomas McNairn with Conservation Strategy Group

Thomas is currently working at Conservation Strategy Group (CSG), a lobbying and strategy firm focused on long-term political and funding strategies to help clients reach their environmental goals. It also works to research innovative climate and environmental policies to help the state get to carbon neutrality by 2045. 

Thomas is working with CSG to complete two projects. The first project is to analyze the feasibility and scalability of geothermal energy in the State. With the retirement of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant by 2025, the power generated there needs to be replaced with new renewable energy projects to stay consistent with the State's goals. A recent decision from the California Public Utilities Commission explained how the 18,000 GWh of nuclear power will be replaced, including adding 1,000 MW of geothermal energy no later than 2025. Currently, geothermal energy does not make up a large percentage of the energy generated in the State, however, that is slated to change. Many power plants are being planned near the Salton Sea with the goal to mine lithium from geothermal brines. The byproduct of this process is clean geothermal energy production which will be crucial for the State's goals of net neutrality. 

Another project Thomas is working on is to locate potential funding opportunities for CSG's clients. The State's budget will be finalized in August and with that comes many grants and programs that will benefit the clients of CSG. Thomas will track all of the budget bills and isolate line items that will serve as potential funding sources. Once all the information has been gathered, he will compile it all into a database to act as a one-stop shop for clients to access and learn about funding opportunities. It will be a great way for Thomas to learn about the budget process and how money flows from the legislature to conservation programs.