GREEN SHEET :: JUNE 2011
MEMBERSHIP OUTREACH
This month we welcome our newest Member Company, General Electric. GE joins the membership ranks as our 100th milestone member company. GE is an advanced technology, services and finance company taking on the world's toughest challenges. Dedicated to innovation in energy, health, transportation and infrastructure, GE operates in 100 countries and employs roughly 300,000 people worldwide. We welcome Sapphire Energy as members. San Diego-based Sapphire Energy is pioneering an entirely new industry – Green Crude Production – with the potential to profoundly change America's energy and petrochemical landscape for the better. Sapphire's products and processes in this category differ significantly from other forms of biofuel because they are made solely from photosynthetic microorganisms (algae), using sunlight and CO2 as their feedstock. Also joining the membership ranks is Invenergy. Invenergy and its affiliated companies develop, own and operate large-scale renewable and other clean energy generation facilities in NorthAmerica and Europe. Invenergy and its affiliated companies have developed and placed in service more than twenty wind farms and five natural gas-fueled generating facilities. With a capacity of over 2,200 megawatts, which can provide enough power for approximately two million homes, Invenergy is one of the top six largest owners of wind generating facilities in the United States. We also welcome HG Fenton as our newest member. H.G. Fenton Company, founded in 1906, is honored to be one of San Diego's largest real estate organizations serving businesses and residents through the acquisition, development and management of commercial and residential properties. We welcome the continued leadership and membership renewals from our partners at Synthetic Genomics, General Atomics, City of Santee, Latham & Watkins, and the San Diego Regional Airport Authority.
ADVOCACY
CleanTECH San Diego Hosts its June 9 Electric Vehicle Showcase With Legendary Indy 500 Champion
On June 9 CleanTECH San Diego is hosting a very special event featuring San Diego's leadership with electric vehicle (EV) innovation, adoption and deployment. The CleanTECH San Diego EV Showcase will feature Indy 500 legend and electric vehicle convert Danny Sullivan as the keynote speaker. Panelists include the CEO of Flux Power Chris Anthony and GE's Michelle Lesh, guided by UC San Diego's Byron Washom as moderator. Each participant offers a unique perspective on the market and technology opportunities and challenges associated with San Diego's transition to electric vehicles. Held on the LEED Silver certified Port Pavilion on the Broadway Pier, the Showcase will include a variety of demonstrations of EV technologies. The CleanTECH San Diego Showcase is our most popular and widely attended event. Participants will find the networking hour to be particularly fruitful as we prepare the region for one of the largest EV deployments in the country. To register, visit www.ctsd.eventbrite.com and Click here to view Danny Sullivan's classic moment in Indy 500 history.
CleanTECH San Diego Introduces Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher to its Clean Tech Cluster
As part of its Leadership Series and hosted by Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves and Savitch, CleanTECH San Diego invited Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher to meet with its Members to learn first hand from the pioneers in the region's cleantech community. Members representing the cleantech sectors included Jim Avery, Senior Vice President – Power Supply of SDG&E, Clark Crawford, Vice President, Sales and Business Development USA of Soitec, and Dr. Ari Patrinos, President of Synthetic Genomics. These and 25 other participants discussed with Assemblyman Fletcher the role their companies are playing in the clean economy as well as addressing the challenges impacting their local businesses.
Senator Christine Kehoe Addresses CREBs Coalition
The Clean Renewable Energy Bonds Coalition met in May to discuss the status of CREBs projects and generally share information on creative strategies for financing municipal solar projects. CA Senator Christine Kehoe joined the group to discuss her pending legislation, SB 585, a measure to provide much needed financing to the California Solar Initiative (CSI). CSI incentive payments are an important component of the CREBs model. CCSE was on hand to discuss the status of the CSI program. In her remarks, the Senator noted San Diego's robust solar economy and committed to continue to support San Diego's solar leadership through SB 585. CleanTECH San Diego issued a letter of support on SB 585. With broad participation from both the public sector, including Chula Vista, Santee, San Diego Unified School District and UCSD, as well as the private sector including Kyocera Solar, AMSOLAR and Sullivan Solar, the coalition shared information on the status of specific projects and best practices. Latham & Watkins, Stone & Youngberg and Best, Best & Krieger were on hand to share information on the status of CREBs projects across the nation as well as possible strategies for extending the CREBs timeline or modifying approved allocations.
UCSD Advances CREBs Project With Sullivan Solar
UC San Diego announced in May that it's moving forward with an installation of an additional 900 kW of photovoltaic(PV) capacity using low interest federal Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs). This project is slated for an early 2012 completion date. Member Company, Sullivan Solar Power won UCSD's Request For Proposal and is already installing its panels. Sullivan is using American-made-products and expects the creation of 20 additional jobs with this project alone. This project is part of the region's 2009 successful initiative to capture federal low interest bonding capacity via CREBs. CleanTECH San Diego led a public-private coalition thatbrought 19% of the nationwide total allocations to San Diego municipal entities. UC San Diego is tapping part of its allocation for this locally sourced project.
California Cleantech Leadership Council Presents Unified Voice on PIER Program
As a member of the California Cleantech Leadership Council, a statewide coalition of cleantech cluster organizations, CleanTECH San Diego met with CA Senate Energy Committee Chair, Alex Padilla in support of Senate Bill 35. This legislation would mandate more focus to the CEC's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. The PIER program provides research funds through the public goods charge for new and emerging energy technologies that would not otherwise be funded from private or academic funds. At stake is the CEC's authority to collect the public goods charge which sunsets on January 1, 2012. SB 35 would repeal the sunset provision as well as create the California Energy Research and Technology Council (CERT) that would oversee the program. CleanTECH San Diego is also advocating for the inclusion of a cleantech industry representative on the CERT.
CleanTECH San Diego Hosts its June 14 Wind Symposium at Seaside Forum
CleanTECH San Diego is hosting San Diego's Wind Symposium on June 14 at the Scripps Seaside Forum in collaboration with Iberdrola Renewables, Enel Green Power,Invenergy, and the San Diego Business Journal. The Symposium will include keynote speaker Michael Picker, Senior Advisor to Governor Jerry Brown for Renewable Energy Facilities. Other panelist speakers include members from General Electric, the California Energy Commission, San Diego Gas & Electric, California Center for Sustainable Energy, and the universities. To register today visit: www.wind.eventbrite.com.
CleanTECH San Diego Joins Chamber Delegation in Sacramento
On May 12, CleanTECH San Diego participated in the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Delegation to Sacramento. As part of the delegation, Jason Anderson of CleanTECH San Diego met with Members and staff of San Diego's legislative delegation including Assemblyman Marty Block, Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, Senators Juan Vargas and Christine Kehoe. In addition, the delegation met with representatives in the offices of Governor Brown and Lieutenant Governor Newsome to further educate them on the region's robust cleantech cluster and the issues affecting their growth.
CAPITAL FORMATION
Three More Companies 'SCRUBBED' at Mintz Levin
On May 23, CleanTECH San Diego's Capital Formation Committee convened its quarterly SCRUB program, hosted by member Mintz Levin. This popular program provides an opportunity for a set of prescreened early-stage clean tech companies to present their business proposal to a broad cross section of CleanTECH San Diego members. Upon hearing the plan, members offer appropriate guidance and connections and generally assist early stage companies in engaging in our growing regional ecosystem. Close to 30 companies have participated in the SCRUB to date. In May, presenting companies included North American Repower, T2e Energy, and Material Methods LLC—a Small Business Administration program participant.
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
Greening San Diego
After receiving DOE approval last month for reallocation of its EECBG grant funds, the City of Santee issued a new RFB to retrofit the balance of the city's street lights. Having also received the final Greenhouse Gas Baseline Report from ICLEI, and their Energy Roadmap from SANDAG, the City is now reviewing the data to determine and prioritize the next wave of the most cost effective climate mitigation projects. Next in line, City of Santee is investigating both technical support and incremental financial incentives from ETAP on a project to upgrade HVAC energy efficiency through wireless controls. Santee Schools reports that the new solar PV system on the Hill Creek School which went into service in September has enabled a 77% reduction in kWh purchased from SDG&E through March 2011,fully delivering the anticipated benefits.
Street Lighting Work Group - SLWG
The City of San Diego identified its winning proposal for their 38,700 street light retrofit project. One of the Request For Proposal competitors filed a protest that must be resolved before a notice to proceed can be issued. The city is looking forward to resolution of this delay so that they can get the installation underway andstart realizing the ~40% kWh and taxpayer savings that is estimated for this project. The City of Chula Vista received their final approval from the California Energy Commission and is proceeding with the installation of its 4,600 Phase I street light retrofits. The City of Encinitas is our latest SLWG participant to take advantage of the "piggybacking option". Encinitas arranged to purchase roadway LED luminaires off the City of Vista's supply contract and arranged for installation off the City of Santee's service contact thereby enabling the city to meet the DOE's timing mandate for this EECBG funded project.
The Port of San Diego is conducting a pilot project to evaluate roadway and walkway LED lighting retrofits with bi-level lighting controls. Those interested can view the roadway pilot on Harbor Island and the walkway fixtures can be seen at the Ferry Landing shopping center in Coronado. CleanTECH San Diego encourages all regional public agencies to take advantage of free technical support and significantincremental financial incentives from ETAP for bi-level parking light retrofits before the EECBG funding is depleted.
CREBS Status
The California Solar Initiative (CSI) incentives remain indefinitely suspended in Step 8. As of May 31st, Non-Residential Waiting List backlog has 84 projects totaling 8.26 MW representing $6.2 million in total incentives. CCSE reports that theyhave received a number of cancellations and are in the process of determining how much, and when those cancelled reservations may be reassigned to Wait Listed projects. CleanTECH San Diego and CCSE encourage any non-residential entities that are proceeding with solar PV installations tosubmit their applications to secure a spot on the Wait List.
INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH
Global Competition to Highlight Local CleanTECH Companies
As a founding member of the Global Cleantech Cluster Association (GCCA), CleanTECH San Diego is participating in the GCCA 2011 Later Stage Award competition. Cleantech cluster associations from around the world will nominate local cleantech companies to compete for recognition in ten cleantech categories. In addition to the honor of being judged "world class", the finalists will have their business case presented to a distinguished panel comprised of the "who's who" in the global cleantech venture capital sphere. The deadline for individual company nominations is June 8 and final evaluations will be submitted to GCCA on June 23rd.
To learn more about the competition, visit www.gccassoc.org and send your nomination to hollys@cleantechsandiego.org.
Belgorod and San Diego Swap Smarts
On June 12, CleanTECH San Diego, the City of San Diego and SDG&E are sending a delegation to Belgorod Russia that the US State Department and the Department of Energy sponsored. These two federal departments are working towards a potential memorandum of understanding relationship with San Diego and Belgorod with the potential for joint funded Smart Grid activities and information sharing. Mayor Sanders requested CleanTECH San Diego Chair, Jim Waring to participate in the U.S. delegation visit to Russia later this month.
MEDIA AND OUTREACH
Go Green Radio Features CleanTECH San Diego
CEO, Lisa Bicker and VP, Jason Anderson appeared as guests on Go Green Radio in May to discuss and promote the San Diego region's award-winning cleantech economy. The Go Green program airs on Voice America and focuses on green initiatives and reaches a national audience of over 2 million listeners. To access this broadcast, click here.
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EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
JUNE EVENTS
CEC Venture Capital Forum
JUNE 07 2011
1:00 - 5:00PM
Learn More
CleanTECH San Diego Education and Outreach Committee Meeting
JUNE 08 2011
4:00 - 5:00PM
Learn More
CleanTECH San Diego Electric Vehicle Showcase
JUNE 09 2011
4:00 - 7:00PM
Learn More
CleanTECH San Diego Wind Symposium
JUNE 14 2011
8:00AM - 12:00PM
Learn More
CleanTECH San Diego Executive Committee Meeting
JUNE 21 2011
7:30 - 9:00AM
Learn More
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