GREEN SHEET :: AUGUST 2010
MEMBERSHIP OUTREACH
We welcome the following new members of CleanTECH San Diego: Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company providing banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, consumer and commercial finance through more than 10,000 locations while doing business with one in three American households. Also joining the roster is Sullivan Solar Power. Sullivan has installed more solar power systems in San Diego than any other locally owned and headquartered company. Sullivan is a local provider of turnkey solar power design and installation services with over 4,000,000 watts of solar power systems installed in Southern California ranging from small scale residential systems to large scale commercial systems. In addition, TriNet joins the membership ranks and delivers HR outsourcing services that allow small cleantech companies to do what they do best. As their trusted HR advisor, TriNet helps companies contain HR costs, minimize employer-related risk, and relieve the administrative burden. We also welcome the continued leadership and support of three CleanTECH Member companies renewing their membership this month: Ernst & Young, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Barney & Barney.
ADVOCACY
CleanTECH San Diego Testifies on Clean Energy Manufacturing
CleanTECH San Diego was invited to participate in the California Energy Commission’s July 22, 2010 workshop: “Creating the Next Industrial Revolution.” This effort will shape the Commission’s 2010 Integrated Energy Policy Report by exploring how California is using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds and other tools to build a clean energy manufacturing base. A cross section of industry, finance, policy, and government leaders focused on new and existing programs and discussed future opportunities. Other participants joining CleanTECH San Diego included: City of San Francisco’s Office of Economic & Development; Office of California State Treasurer, Bill Lockyer; Green Vehicles; iBank; and Nanosolar. CleanTECH San Diego expects to continue its engagement with this initiative.
Algae Biofuels
CleanTECH San Diego’s congressional champion gains traction in a biofuels provision contained in the GREEN JOBS Act. Introduced by Rep Bilbray (R-CA), this legislation is intended to support industry efforts to secure project financing by strengthening and expanding federal tax incentives for next generation biofuels. The legislation would open existing cellulosic biofuels tax credits to algae-based fuels and extend the credits for four additional years (from 2013 to 2017). The proposed legislation would also provide cellulosic and algae-based biorefineries an option to choose a refundable 30 percent investment tax credit in lieu of production incentives. Businesses would not be allowed to claim both the production and investment incentives but would be granted the flexibility to choose the incentive best suited to their business condition.
CleanTECH San Diego Advocates Energy Retrofitting
The newly formed Retrofit Advisory Committee convenes monthly with the purpose of providing feedback for federal, state and local energy retrofit programs. This working group seeks to ensure consistent program implementation and achieve market transformation throughout the region. CleanTECH San Diego serves on this committee with member companies SDG&E, Qualcomm, Cities of San Diego and Chula Vista and CCSE. This month, The Heschong Mahone Group presented its San Diego Multifamily program that they administer under its $3MM grant from ARRA. The program components include: Building a multi-family infrastructure, creating a navigational tool and creating post-retrofit resources. The success of these energy efficiency programs hinges on the collaboration and council of the committee; by combining resources, the committee aims to streamline the implementation process.
CleanTECH San Diego Pavilion at International TechConnect
CleanTECH San Diego showcased 8 member companies in its CleanTECH San Diego Pavilion at the 2010 TechConnect Conference and Expo exposing thousands of international and local attendees to its award-winning cluster while providing quality networking with San Diego’s leading clean tech companies. Xnergy, PCN Technology, Clear Edge Power, ISE Corporation, and MHT Lighting were among our cluster’s features. CleanTECH San Diego was highlighted in the “Clean Tech Case Study” panel sharing its $160MM CREBs success story. In addition, CleanTECH San Diego spearheaded a leadership dinner with Cleantech OC and Clean Tech LA to explore opportunities to collaborate on clean tech issues affecting the Southern California region.
Coalition Files CREBs Comments with CPUC
Late July, CleanTECH San Diego with the pro bono assistance of Latham & Watkins, formally filed a comment letter urging the California Public Utilities Commission not to eliminate the price differential between non-taxable and taxable entities. We expressed concern regarding the recent decision to freeze and alter California Solar Initiative’s (CSI) performance based incentives (PBI) for public institutions. These proposed changes to the CSI program would impact our CREBs Initiative, as CREBs projects were based on a set of pro forma financial assumptions that included CSI incentives at established rates. A reduction now would place projects in danger of not being able to obtain financing. The CPUC issued this ruling, directing the CSI Program Administrators to cease granting CSI reservations to all PBIand all Government/Non-Profit owned applications received after July 9, 2010 until further notice. Due to high participation rates in the CSIprogram, the CPUC is concerned the program budget capped by the legislature could be depleted before the CSI program achieves its overall MW goals. Incentive level changes may be made to the CSI program to ensure its goals are attained and the CPUC is seeking comments on proposed modifications. The ruling can be found at: http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/efile/RULINGS/120427.pdf
Meanwhile, the San Diego Unified School District continues its final evaluation and negotiations on two proposals that have the potential to significantly increase the district's solar PV footprint while delivering both immediate and long term savings on the district's utility costs. We expect to finalize both plans and contracts by the first school board meeting in September.
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
GREENING SAN DIEGO
The City of Santee is shifting into full project implementation mode with City Council approval to award the street lighting retrofit contract to upgrade 894 of the city's street lights to more efficient induction cobra luminaires by leveraging financing from their DOE EECBG grant and SDG&E On-Bill Financing. Santee is also evaluating responses to its RFB for a professional services contract that will provide the engineering grade audit and design work required to move forward with the planned EECBG City Hall retrofit projects. On the renewable generation front, Santee Schools is moving forward with construction of the 280 kW Hill Creek School PV shade structure project and Grossmont Union High School District is close to awarding its contract to proceed with their first 176 kW solar PV ground mounted system at the Monte Vista campus.
ICLEI, the San Diego Foundation, and USD conducted the official kick-off meeting of their partnership to support our Greening San Diego partner pilot cities Santee and Lemon Grove, as well as Coronado, Del Mar, El Cajon, Escondido, and Oceanside in completing their GHG emissions baseline evaluations which will serve as the basis for the development of future Climate Action Plans and AB 32 compliance. Once completed, ICLEI expects our region to be the only large U.S. metropolitan area for which all of the cities have their GHG baselines clearly defined.
STREET LIGHTING WORKING GROUP
Following press coverage of our Street Lighting Working Group effort by the Union Tribune and LEDs Magazine, inquiries requesting our SLWG tools and templates have funneled in including the cities of San Juan Capistrano, San Pablo and Pasadena. The street lighting energy efficiency retrofit initiative is on course to expand its positive environmental and financial impact beyond San Diego County. The City of San Diego is paving the way on its next regional cobra street light retrofit procurement which other local municipalities will be invited to "piggyback" with bid documents expected to be issued later this summer. In parallel with this next wave of roadway street light retrofits, our SLWG is developing a Regional Specification Guideline for Post-Top Decorative-type street lights.
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Lee Barken Selected for Kinship Fellows
Kinship Conservation Fellows announced the selection of their ninth cohort of Fellows. Of the 18 Fellows, 8 come from the United States, while the remaining 10 will travel from Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Liberia, Sweden, Thailand and the United Kingdom to attend the month-long program in Bellingham, Washington. In July, CleanTECH San Diego Board Member, Lee Barken joined conservation leaders and elite faculty for a fellowship to explore market approaches to environmental issues. www.kinshipfellows.org
Borrego Solar to Power San Diego Community College District
Borrego Solar secured $20MM in financing from U.S. Bank and East West Bank to for a solar energy project for the San Diego Community College District —the first to be financed through Borrego Solar’s power purchase agreement . The 2.8-MW system will consist of nine solar arrays to be installed at six locations across the SDCCD campuses. The majority of the project cost will be funded through financial commitments from East West Bank and U.S. Bank. Congratulations to Borrego for perpetuating the region’s leadership in solar installations. http://www.forbes.com/feeds/businesswire/2010/07/20/businesswire142648137.html
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UPCOMING EVENTS
AUGUST EVENTS
Member Event: CleanTECH San Diego Advocacy Committee Meeting
AUG 2, 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
AUG 4, 2010
Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM PST
Location: 4510 Executive Drive, McGraw Conference Room
Member Event: Special Executive Committee Meeting
AUG 6, 2010
Time: 7:30 - 9:00 AM PST
Location: 4510 Executive Drive, McGraw Conference Room
Reta Lewis, GLobal Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. State Department
AUG 6, 2010
Time: 8:00 - 9:30 AM PST
Location: The University Club
Register: http://retalewisbreakfast.eventbrite.com
CleanTECH San Diego Board Meeting
AUG 17, 2010
Time: 7:30 - 9:00 AM PST
Location: BIOCOM - 4510 Executive Drive, Plaza One. McGraw Conference Room for Board Members
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