John Larrea

About John Larrea

For thirteen years I served as the Government Affairs Director for the California League of Food Producers (CLFP). The CLFP is an industry trade association representing industrial food processors in California. These include tomato processors, fruit and vegetable canners, freezers, dryers, and dehydrators and other specialty processors who operate facilities within California. My entire tenure with the League is marked by the beginning of California’s transition to a clean energy economy. During this time, the food and beverage industry faced transformative changes as California became a world leader in the fight against climate change. The impacts imposed by California’s ambitious goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions were, and still are, formidable. California’s food processors are caught between a rock and a hard place, trying to balance the short-term goals of profitability and competitive operational economics with the long-term goals of decarbonizing operations and minimizing compliance costs. This statewide effort, while disrupting operations food processors’ business across entire markets, has also brought some well-needed attention to one of California’s biggest industries. The ongoing instability plaguing the food processing sector in energy pricing, supply and transport, cost of new technologies, and storage are now seen as factors in affecting competitiveness and profitability. Decarbonization, as an ongoing challenge for the state’s food processing industry, is formidable. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has already categorized the industry as a hard-to-decarbonize sector. Under the recently approved 2022 Scoping Plan, CARB envisions the industrial food processing sector to transition primarily through electrification. It is questionable whether the industrial food processing industry can be fully electrified, but if the transition to electricity does occur, it will come at a significant cost. Currently, I continue to work with the food processing industry in the ongoing transition. In my new position, I\'m now able to bring the considerable expertise of EcoEngineers to help maintain the rich and diverse food processing industry in California.

Experience

1. Ca Regulatory Engagement Director

   EcoEngineers

   Aug 2022 — Present

   EcoEngineers helps organizations created sustainable solutions for a better tomorrow. Our talented team of engineers, scientists, auditors, consultants and analysts live and work at the intersection of low-carbon fuel policy, innovative technologies, and the carbon marketplace. Our people are trusted guides who help navigate the ever-changing energy landscape, providing the right tools, guidance, and knowledge to reduce your carbon footprint, and to assess the potential risk to your business from the uncertainties caused by a changing climate and low-carbon policies. Through our systematic approach, we deliver value and proven expertise through the entire clean energy continuum, including education, regulatory engagement, life-cycle analysis, asset development, compliance management, audit and verification.

Education

• Oregon State University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA

  1984

• Lincoln Law School of Sacramento

  Doctor of Law - JD