Author Archives: Dr. Nilmini Silva-Send

About Dr. Nilmini Silva-Send

Dr. Nilmini Silva-Send is EPIC’s Assistant Director, Adjunct Professor, and the C. Hugh Friedman Fellow in Energy Law and Policy. She leads the regional and local climate change projects and has extensive policy and technical knowledge about energy and GHG mitigation methods and measures. She has participated in several international energy policy dialogues, including in Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Dr. Silva-Send has been a co-Principal Investigator in a recent multidisciplinary National Science Foundation funded climate education project in which she worked with climate scientists, social psychologists and communication specialists to develop more effective methods to communicate links between climate science, energy use and society. During her career Dr. Silva-Send has conducted legal and technical analysis of environmental laws in Europe and the U.S., and carried out environmental due diligence assessments in Europe. She has also taught upper level and graduate level international law courses in Germany and since 2004 at the University of San Diego School of Law, where from 2009 she developed and teaches a contemporary course in International Energy Law. Dr. Silva-Send has a B.S. in Chemistry and a PhD in International Law and Policy. She is a member of the International Bar Association.

How has Vehicle-Miles-Traveled flattened Air Pollution in the San Diego Region After Covid-19 Shutdowns?

Co-authored with Bill Brick (San Diego Air Pollution Control District) Over the past several weeks there has been a reduction in daily vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the San Diego region due to Shelter-in-Place orders issued by the Governor of … Continue reading

Posted in Air Pollution, APCD, COVID, GHGs, Greenhouse Gas, Nitrous Oxides, Ozone, Uncategorized, Vehicle Miles Traveled, VMT, Work from Home | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Shelter-in-Place, VMT and Flattening the GHG Curve in San Diego County

Many thanks to Yichao Gu, technical policy analyst, EPIC. Vehicle-Miles-Traveled (VMT) is an important metric. VMT determines gas tax revenues, drives the need for and maintenance of roads, and contributes to air pollution (1) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In … Continue reading

Posted in COVID, Energy, GHGs, Greenhouse Gas, Telecommute, Telework, Transportation, Uncategorized, Vehicle Miles Traveled, VMT, Work from Home | 2 Comments

Water and energy, rain and drought….

At this time (2018-2019), the region has experienced extremely high rainfall, with reservoirs filled to the brim. But just last year, we were concerned about the lack of rain, how much water we can save, and in that context, how … Continue reading

Posted in Energy, Greenhouse Gas, Water | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Are All RPS Compliance and RECs Created Equal?

(Many thanks to Meghan O’Brien for her research, analysis and writing for this post). EPIC has written a series of blogs on the role of renewable energy credits (“RECs”) in various policy mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (“GHG”), such … Continue reading

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The Role and Prices of RECs and Offsets in Climate and Energy Plans

Many thanks to Cameron Berhardt for his research assistance for this post. Although renewable energy credits (RECs) are primarily relevant for entities that must comply with the California Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), all types of RECs, whether bundled, unbundled or … Continue reading

Posted in Energy, Greenhouse Gas, Renewable Energy | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Role of Renewable Energy Credits and Carbon Offsets

(Many thanks to Cameron Bernhardt for his research for this post) This second post continues the discussion of the role of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) and Carbon Offset Credits in California policies started in the last post. In the next … Continue reading

Posted in Energy, Greenhouse Gas, Renewable Energy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Renewable Energy Credits and Carbon Offset Credits

(Many thanks to Cameron Bernhardt for research and writing for this post) While EPIC has written about renewable energy credits in California in the past, this constitutes the first of a series of blog posts related to renewable energy credits … Continue reading

Posted in Energy, Greenhouse Gas, Legislation, Renewable Energy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Season for Climate Action: Paris Agreement and City of San Diego Climate Action Plan

The Draft Decision -/CP.21 known as the “Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change” was adopted by consensus of 195 countries on December 12, 2015 at COP21 and includes the Paris Agreement an Annex to the … Continue reading

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COPs and CAPs: Goals for stabilization of carbon emissions

The COP21 talks and events started on Monday November 30, 2015. Though California is not a nation, and therefore not a member of the UNFCCC, there are 8 California lawmakers accompanying Governor Brown to the Conference. While the US government, … Continue reading

Posted in CEQA, Energy, Greenhouse Gas, Renewable Energy, Transportation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

INDCs and Why Cities are Important for Global Climate Action

As we approach UNFCCC’s 21st session of the Conference of Parties (COP 21) to take place November 30 – December 11 in Paris, expectations are high that more than 190 nations will be able to come to some kind of … Continue reading

Posted in Greenhouse Gas, Legislation, Renewable Energy, Transportation | Tagged , | 2 Comments