2025: 3rd Annual Napa CLIMATE SUMMIT and Job Fair

The third annual Napa Climate Summit, “Investing in our Future,” returns to Napa Valley College March 12th, 4-7 pm, with a program focused on high school students and young adults. Leaders from the local, county, and state governments, including State Senator Christopher Cabaldon, will discuss pathways to climate action and advocacy, followed by a job fair and free pizza for attendees. The event is being hosted by Napa Climate NOW!

The program will kick off at the campus’ Little Theater with a keynote address by Tyla Brown, Senior Partnership Development Manager at MCE, the event sponsor.

“As California’s first community choice energy provider, MCE is built on spurring innovation and putting power back into the hands of people,” said Brown. “We are fast-tracking California’s clean energy transition while supporting local youth with opportunities to build a brighter future for all.”

The job fair will feature more than a dozen exhibitors offering paid internships, summer jobs, training programs, and educational pathways that lead to diverse careers for young people interested in working to restore the climate, improve air quality, and help the environment.

Tim Dewey-Mattia of Napa Recycling, one of the Job Fair exhibitors, said, “Napa Recycling’s compost and recycling operations are vital for reducing climate pollutants. Our summer jobs and internships are a great way for students to see all of the career pathways involved in this field, including opportunities that do not require a college degree.”

Napa Valley Unified School District will be represented by Mario Landeros, Director of College & Career Readiness, who will be one of the panelists. “The Climate Summit and Job Fair is a great opportunity for students to see how they can make a difference while earning a living,” he noted. “Students will be impressed with how many paid internships and training programs are available.”

The Third Annual Napa Climate Summit and Job Fair will take place on March 12 from 4-7 pm at the Little Theater of the Napa Valley College Campus, Building 1200. Free parking will be available, along with ample bicycle parking.

For more information, contact Chris Benz at christinabbenz@gmail.com.

• Hear from young leaders forging a path for a resilient climate and from community leaders paving the way.
• Explore the rich and diverse trade, career and educational opportunities available for those who want to make a difference.
• Meet with key contacts ready to help participants take their next career or educational steps.
• Learn about available paid internships and training programs.

2024: NCN’s second annual climate summit

April 27, 2024 from 12-3pm American Legion Hall. 1240 Pearl Street, Napa.

An exciting array of equipment will be on display along with demonstrations, such as convenient, energy-saving meal preparation using induction hobs. See the latest model of heat pump water heaters. Find out how the right kind of weatherization can cut the cost of home energy. Take a look at and hear about riding an electric bicycle as a cost-saving alternative to automobile travel. Get pointers about following “green building” practices and how they can help create the ideal living space. Meet with community partners ready to offer suggestions and assistance. Learn about the availability and dollar amount of rebates and where to get help to fill out paperwork to secure existing funds.

The showcase is sponsored by Marin Clean Energy (MCE). Public parking is readily available near the hall. There is no charge for the event.

2023: Inaugral Napa Climate Summit

The inaugural Napa Climate Summit, “Moving Forward Faster,” was held on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center. This solutions-oriented, free community event focused on regional infrastructure projects and government programs that can reduce climate pollutants and generate renewable energy.

“We need a Climate Summit in Napa County because we must move faster and do more to meet the climate crisis,” said St. Helena City Councilmember Anna Chouteau, who serves on the Napa County Climate Action Committee and was one of the event organizers. “More and more people understand the urgency. Leaders in all levels of government, private industries, nonprofits, and schools are setting bigger and bolder goals moving us away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy. We can use this momentum by bringing people together to work on higher impact climate smart infrastructure projects.”

Congressman Mike Thompson and his staff participated via video and in person. As the Congressman has frequently been quoted saying, “Climate change is one of the gravest threats we face today. We could get everything else right, but if we fail on climate, it’s all for nothing.” Two-thirds of the climate investments embedded in the Inflation Reduction Act –$250 billion worth – are built directly around Congressman Thompson’s GREEN Act.

“Our community is a leader on climate action, and the Napa Climate Summit is a big step in the right direction bringing people together who are taking climate action throughout Napa County,” he said.

Community members heard from a diverse set of speakers. Davina Hurt, Vice Chair of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Bay Area’s representative on the California Air Resources Board, gave the keynote speech highlighting state and regional policies and resources to help local jurisdictions act. There were also panel presentations moderated by St. Helena and American Canyon City Mangers Anil Comelo and Jason Holley featuring projects such as the American Canyon wastewater treatment plant upgrades that will increase our water supply in Napa County, a public-private partnership between the City of Napa and Napa Recycling and Waste Services that will install technology to harvest methane from organic waste for vehicle fuel and electricity, Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA) projects aimed at reducing emissions and congestion, methane capture opportunities up valley from Upper Valley Disposal Services, and expanded solar power at Napa Sanitation District.

State Senator Bill Dodd and representatives for Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Congressman Thompson, and Marin Clean Energy were on a panel moderated by Julia DeNatale of the Napa Valley Community Foundation on funding from federal, state, regional, and local sources.

The event was hosted by Napa Climate NOW! and sponsored by PG&E. Napa Climate NOW! is a 501(c)(3) community-based organization formed by concerned citizens to advocate for smart climate solutions based on the latest climate science.

Training resources can be found at: https://napa.350bayarea.org/training-resources

For further information and for handouts from the event, contact Lynne Baker at lynne@350bayareaaction.org.