GREEN SHEET :: APRIL 2010
MEMBERSHIP OUTREACH
We welcome this month’s newest members: Unified Port of San Diego joins CleanTECH San Diego membership. The Port of San Diego was created in 1962 by the state Legislature to manage the San Diego Bay and its waterfront land and is responsible for $1.5 billion in public improvements in its five member cities: Imperial Beach, National City, Chula Vista, San Diego and Coronado waterfront properties. The Port’s Green Port program is unifying the district’s environmental sustainability goals and strengthening its role as an environmental steward of the bay’s natural wonders. ISE Corporation is a new member and leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of heavy duty hybrid-electric drive systems based on core proprietary technology, which focuses on three subsystems: energy storage, controls software and power electronics. ISE specializes in series hybrid-electric and all-electric/zero emission technologies, and offers industry-leading energy storage systems and hybrid system components. Over the past 10 years, ISE has sold over 300 hybrid-electric drive systems demonstrating reliability and performance in over 12 million miles of fleet operation. Xnergy is a new member and an award-winning engineering, construction, and alternative energy provider having engineered, installed, and commissioned nearly 80 MW of alternative energy projects. Formed in 2001, Xnergy is an industry leader in alternative energy project development and implementation helping facilities manage its utility destiny via self-generating energy projects, and manage their consumption and costs effectively. We also welcome Silicon Border with its 4,500-acre “Science Park” located in Mexicali on the California-Mexico Border tailored to the specific needs of photovoltaic solar manufacturing and solar power production. The infrastructure is also an ideal setting for specialized process industry such as semiconductors, LED, LCD and Nano Technology. This specialized infrastructure and cost structure of Mexico combined with the regional talent base in San Diego for research, management, marketing and sales makes Silicon Border and San Diego the ideal North American location for high technology manufacturing, research and management for the North American Market. Sweden Chamber of Commerce joins the membership ranks this month. SACC San Diego, founded in 1989, is one of the first local Swedish chambers in America. It is one of the 20 local chambers in the umbrella organization SACC USA with a network of 2300 members in both countries.
ADVOCACY
CA Labor Secretary Meets Local Algae BioFuels Cluster
In partnership with the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation and BIOCOM, CleanTECH San Diego is pleased to host California Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Victoria Bradshaw in April to discuss our regional algae industry. This two-day event will include local biofuels company tours followed by a meeting with the region’s algae sector stakeholders. Organized through CleanTECH’s Advocacy Committee, this opportunity is designed to help educate Secretary Bradshaw on the growing role of algae in California’s economic recovery and to learn how the San Diego region can support job development through its innovation economy.
BIOCOM and CleanTECH Jointly Host Senator Darrell Steinberg
California’s Senate pro-Tem, Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) came to San Diego last week to personally meet the stakeholders in our local biofuels sector. This informal roundtable discussion offered an interactive platform to share the economic opportunities this sector represents and to educate the Senator on what the barriers are for advancing these biofuels businesses. The Senator was receptive to the challenges expressed and keen to identify and correct the specific roadblocks. This introductory meeting began a meaningful dialogue with the second most influential CA legislator and will be pursued in our efforts to educate and advocate on behalf of our CleanTECH community.
AB 32 Implementation
In recognition of the San Diego region’s growing role as a cleantech economic engine, the office of the CA Governor and the staff of the California Air Resources Board -the implementing agency for The Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) - requested CleanTECH San Diego to serve as an informal independent resource for information on regional clean tech job creation and sustainability initiatives. Additionally, several member companies are providing anecdotal information on forecasted job growth and other pertinent data points for purposes of demonstrating AB 32’s impact on our economy.
CleanTECH San Diego Hosts President of CA Public Utilities Commission
On March 24, CleanTECH San Diego’s Leadership Series featured California Public Utilities Commission President, Michael Peevey to explore the vast potential of solar power. Peevey shared his vision and insights on the unique opportunities and on-going challenges in the San Diego solar market as well as in the Southwest. Also sharing the stage and lively discussion were three CleanTECH member panelists from Kyocera Solar, PCN Technology and UCSD. The wide ranging panel discussion covered energy storage, smart grid, energy efficiency and AB 32 implementation. Peevey acknowledged San Diego’s leadership on several key clean tech initiatives and challenged the participants to advocate these assets to key state legislators. The event was generously hosted by CleanTECH Member companies: Luce Forward, PCN Technology and Bank of America, with Luce Forward’s Tony Toranto kicking off this Leadership Series.
Advocacy Committee Welcomes New Expert Resources
CleanTECH San Diego’s Advocacy Committee is pleased to announce that CleanTECH member company Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch has agreed to provide pro bono resources to the Committee. Beginning April 15 and under the guidance of Procopio Partner, John Lormon renowned expert and frequent speaker on AB 32 and related issues, the Advocacy Committee will begin to receive timely notice and useful summaries on issues of strategic significance to the membership including but not limited to AB 32 implementation, carbon market structures, renewable energy and smart grid legislation. We are delighted to make these critical resources available to Advocacy Committee members and thank the Procopio team for its commitment and pro bono contributions.
CAPITAL FORMATION
CREBs Get a Boost with President Obama Signature of Jobs Bill
The recently signed Jobs Bill, H.R. 2847, contained several features that will improve the economic climate for tax credit bonds. In particular, this law will allow San Diego municipal issuers to sell CREBs as direct subsidy bonds instead of tax credit bonds. This is expected to improve the market for CREBs. Given that San Diego recently won over $150 MM in CREBs allocations for 20 MW of solar installations, this is a well timed opportunity. CleanTECH San Diego in conjunction with Stone & Youngberg and other pro bono service providers will host an April CREBs coalition meeting to provide guidance on the practical impacts on this new law. In other CREBs news, Bank of America, a CREBs purchaser, indicates it’s first and newly awarded CREBs deals are starting to be priced.
Meanwhile, the San Diego Unified School District completed the first phase of its solar RFP proposal review and expedited the necessary communications and approvals to secure a reservation for the last ~2.5 MW in CSI Step 6 Incentives at $0.15/kWh. By securing the Step 6 incentives this will save the school district an additional ~$3 million over the term of the PPA versus the $0.09/kWh reduced incentive in Step 7 which will be in effect as of April 1.
CleanTECH SCRUB Graduate Lists on Toronto Stock Exchange
After looking at the equity dilution of another VC round, CleanTECH member company ISE Limited (ISE) elected to pursue a public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). TSX was identified as a marketplace with strong research coverage and retail investor interest for the clean technology sector. ISE Corporation listed on the Toronto Exchange on February 22, 2010. ISE was judged to be too early stage to list on the NASDAQ based on the company’s size and stage of development. The process of dealing with the Canadian security commissions proved more rapid than dealing with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and allowed ISE to get on the road in January 2010 after beginning the process of writing the prospectus in mid-November 2009.
TSX exposes ISE to the same investors in Canada, the US and Europe that a US listing does but without the regulation process of the SEC. Additionally, the TSX has a focus on the clean technology sector and working with small to mid-cap stories, like ISE. ISE is focused on developing analyst coverage. The listing of ISE was the first IPO of the year and represents the 150th U.S.-based company to list on the TSX. It is the 15th U.S.-based clean technology company and the first U.S.-based, venture capital backed clean technology listing on the exchange. ISE was also the first SCRUB graduate and TSX is a CleanTECH member and serves on the Capital Formation Committee.
May SCRUB Event Solicits CleanTECH Candidates
CleanTECH San Diego’s active Capital Formation Committee is scheduled to host its next SCRUB event on May 12 from 8:30 -11:30am. This program will be hosted in the law offices of Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch’s new downtown location. The SCRUB selection committee is still accepting candidates for this May event. If you know of a regionally based cleantech company that is generating revenue or has a revenue model send that business summary for consideration to Committee Chair Mike Elconin: elconin@cox.net or lisab@cleantechsandiego.org
The San Diego Cleantech Initiative
The San Diego Cleantech Initiative is a new collaborative program with UCSD-von Liebig Center, the City of San Diego, CleanTech San Diego, UC San Diego’s Sustainability Solutions Institute and San Diego State University. This initiative seeks to accelerate the commercialization of promising clean technologies for the long-term benefit of the San Diego region. In April, CleanTECH San Diego will host a Cleantech Technical Challenges Session. This session will provide an opportunity for professors and researchers to directly address the innovation needs with regional clean technology companies. As faculty and students develop advanced technologies for renewable energies, hybrid electrical vehicles, energy efficiency and green building materials they are eligible to apply for pre-seed funding through the von Liebig Center. Full proposals are due by April 16, 2010. For additional information, please visit http://www.vonliebig.ucsd.edu/services/services_seed/clean2010.shtml.
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
GREENING SAN DIEGO
The City of Santee continues its momentum and progress in implementing its “Sustainability Project". New content is continually being added to their "Sustainable Santee 92071" web tab including it’s Annual Report of Accomplishments http://www.ci.santee.ca.us/Index providing a comprehensive template for the benefit of other cities and/or public agencies seeking a proven model. This pilot city also secured approval of a City Council resolution to participate in the California First PACE Program. The City along with other early adopters will be the beneficiary of the program’s reduced membership and initial administration fees that will be subsidized from a recently awarded State Energy Program (SEP) grant. Grossmont Union High School District is currently completing final review of proposals submitted for their first 150 kW Solar PV RFP.
STREET LIGHTING WORKING GROUP
The Street Lighting Working Group (SLWG) sponsored by the City of San Diego and SDG&E's Peer-to-Peer local government energy efficiency program, and under program management leadership by CleanTECH San Diego has completed the specification phase of the roadway street lighting retrofit project. The SLWG is currently transitioning into the vendor qualification (RFQ) phase of this regional initiative to provide energy efficient retrofits for the region's 100,000+ street lights. In addition to the 10 cities that have been participating in the working group meetings, we are inviting all other cities that are within SDG&E's service region to collaborate in and benefit from the upcoming RFQ and RFP processes.
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
International Opportunities – WTC-SD and CleanTECH Meet Turkmenistan EDC Delegation
The International Relations Office (IRO) by WORLD TRADE CENTER San Diego, a new office created to coordinate the international protocol needs of the San Diego region, hosted a roundtable discussion between visiting delegates from the Department of Economic Development of Turkmenistan and CleanTECH San Diego and San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. The delegates visited 5 US Cities to learn about San Diego’s public-private partnerships with a focus on sustainable energy development programs. This project for Turkmenistan falls under the auspices of the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program. The program goals are to inform the delegates on the benefits of public-private relationships and how the government promotes entrepreneurship, competition and cleantech sector development through increased private participation.
KYOCERA’s San Diego Site to Stimulate Local Jobs
On March 3, Mayor Sanders joined executives from CleanTECH Member Kyocera for an announcement of a major investment into San Diego and our growing cleantech industry. Kyocera selected San Diego as the site for its first U.S. solar panel manufacturing operation. This summer will begin the production of solar panels at their Kearny Mesa facility. Each year, this facility will manufacture enough solar panels to power about 10,000 homes. San Diego will be Kyocera’s first U.S. site to begin solar modules manufacturing and is the fifth site worldwide chosen by Kyocera. The manufacturing is expected to commence in the first half of 2010.
Communities for Advanced Distributed Energy Resources Conference 2010
On April 28 and 29, CADER will host an interactive conference “Community Energy Systems: The Global Rise of Local Energy.” This conference, sponsored by CleanTECH San Diego, Sempra Energy and the United States Department of Energy will provide important insights from industry experts on technological developments for a “smarter” grid. I will provide a context for critical conversations about how communities can seize the new opportunities in community energy systems, including carbon credits. For more information on registration: click here.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
APRIL EVENTS
Member Event: CleanTECH San Diego Advocacy Committee Meeting
APRIL 5, 2010
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 PM PST
Location: CleanTECH San Diego - 4510 Executive Drive, Plaza One. McGraw Conference Room
Member Event: CleanTECH San Diego Education and Outreach Committee Meeting
APRIL 7, 2010
Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM PST
Location: CleanTECH San Diego - 4510 Executive Drive, Plaza One. McGraw Conference Room
USD’s Energy Policy Initiative Center 2nd Annual Climate & Energy Law Symposium
APRIL 9, 2010
Register Here
North American Competitiveness, Innovation & Clean Energy Conference 2010
APRIL 14, 2010
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
Register Here
Research Expo 2010: Igniting Innovation America’s Energy Future
APRIL 15, 2010
UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering
Register Here
CleanTECH San Diego Board Meeting
APRIL 20, 2010
Time: 7:30 – 9:00 AM PST
Location: CleanTECH San Diego - 4510 Executive Drive, Plaza One. McGraw Conference Room
For Board Members
SD Regional EDC and CleanTECH San Diego Present: Earth Day Brilliance Found in Smart Grid Opportunities
APRIL 22, 2010
Time: 8:00 – 9:30 AM PST
Location: The University Club
Contact: en at sandiegobusiness.org
San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology Symposium
APRIL 23, 2010
Salk Institute for Biological Sciences
Register Here
CADER Conference
APRIL 28029, 2010
Seaside Forum at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Register Here
Vist CleanTECH Web site for
more information on all Events
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