Energy & the Environment

Committee Chair

Leonard E. Robinson

Leonard E. Robinson is the proud father of three children, Ryan; Kyle and Lacy; all college graduates and a grandson Demonte (a future college graduate). He is driven by a deep relationship with God; love for humanity and a passion for the environment. He is a much sought-after speaker and lecturer combining an environmental evangelical fervor with a sense of humor.  Robinson recently joined the firm Strategic Counsel.  With offices located in Sacramento and Los Angeles, he heads up the sustainability practice for the firm.

Mr. Robinson recently completed a term as Acting Director for the Cal/EPA–Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) under Governor Jerry Brown. He also served as the Federal Liaison for DTSC.  Robinson was originally appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004 as Chief Deputy Director of DTSC. He was one of the highest ranking African Americans in State Government.  While at DTSC he was the chief architect of the California Take It Back! Partnership, an awareness and outreach campaign to encourage Californians to avoid putting household hazardous waste (fluorescent lights; batteries) in the trash. He also chaired the AB 1109 Lighting Efficiency and Toxics Reduction Task Force.  He served former Governors Pete Wilson and Gray Davis on the Colorado River Board of California.  During his political career, Robinson has served under four California Governors.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Robinson was the Environmental/Safety Manager at TAMCO Steel.  Located in Rancho Cucamonga, it is California’s only steel mill.  His responsibilities included compliance with federal; state and local regulations regarding worker safety and protection of the environment. While at TAMCO Steel, Mr. Robinson started a program that recycled used oil filters into steel reinforcing bar (rebar) for use in the construction industry.  Another recycling program started by him was named “Project Isaiah”, a program where confiscated firearms delivered by southern California law enforcement agencies were melted and also recycled into rebar.  An informal poll showed that he had the toughest environmental job in California.

Mr. Robinson currently hosts a weekly talk radio show called “Going Green With EnviroBro” that broadcast on Sacramento radio station KDEE 97.5FM and streams world-wide on the internet at www.kdeefm.org He is known as EnviroBro, “the hardest workin’ man in the environment”. His show is the only “green” radio show on an urban radio station in the nation. Every week he is joined by the movers; shakers; decision-makers and game-changers in the environmental world.  He is dedicated to providing his listeners with the opportunities and challenges of the “green economy” that will affect them; their families and their bottom-line.  His show is heard in 20 different countries.  KDEE 97.5FM is owned and operated by the California Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Currently he serves as: the President of Keep California Beautiful (KCB); a board member of Communities Health Charities of California (CHCC); a board member of Green Technology and Employment (GreenTech); an advisor on the Sacramento State University Leadership for the Government Executive Continuing Education Program; and an advisor of the Advanced Technology Energy & Environmental Center (ATEEC). He has keynoted and spoken at functions and conferences including the: Green Technology Summit; Empowerment Congress Summit; Green Festivals; U.S. Small Business Administration Awards Conference; Statewide Environmental Summit; California Waste Association (CWA); Air & Waste Management Association; California Certified Unified Program Agencies (Cal-CUPA); Steel Manufacturers Association; Law Seminars International; American Association of Blacks in Energy; Environmental Industry Summit; Product Stewardship Council; Institute of Scrap Metal Recycling Industries Conference; National Nanotechnology Initiative Workshop; Sustainable Brands Conference; African American Leadership Conference; Ron Brown Business Summit; and West Coast Green Conference.