GREEN SHEET :: MAY 2010
MEMBERSHIP OUTREACH
Featured in this month’s membership activity we welcome Qualcomm into CleanTECH San Diego who will be assuming a post on its board of directors. Beginning in 1985, Qualcomm has grown from seven individuals meeting in a den to the largest world-leading provider of wireless technology and services. In the membership renewal side of the house, we welcome the continued leadership of Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP with its diverse law practice groups that offer client services in corporate, power purchase, intellectual property, tax, real estate, sustainability, climate, employment, government affairs and litigation. BDO Seidman also renews its active engagement in the region as the world’s fifth largest accounting and consulting network offering assurance, tax, and financial advisory to a wide range of publicly traded and privately held and start-up companies.
ADVOCACY
California Congresswoman Delivers Honors to San Diego’s CREBs Coalition
The CleanTECH San Diego-led coalition that brought $154 MM of CREBs allocations to the San Diego region is receiving multiple awards and honors this month. U.S. Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA) will join the New Leaders Council reception http://bit.ly/9FJrIT on May 14 to present the Community Collaboration Award to CleanTECH San Diego. The event is from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the W Hotel in downtown San Diego. Later this month, CREBs coalition partners Latham and Watkins and Stone and Youngberg will each receive the UC San Diego Chancellor’s Sustainability Award for their leadership in the CREBs success. CleanTECH San Diego is also a finalist in receiving the San Diego County Taxpayers Association Golden Watchdog Award at a dinner on May 30 at Town & Country.
Coalition Reviews Favorable New Tax Laws
The CREB’s Coalition met on April 16 to learn from financial advisors Stone & Youngberg and bond counsel Best Best & Krieger regarding the favorable changes to CREBs as a result of the President’s signature on HR 2847, the Jobs Bill. Anna Van Degna and Warren Diven walked through the legal, financial and practical implications of this major revision, noting that all municipal issuers may now sell CREBs as direct subsidy bonds. The meeting also provided an opportunity for our municipal partners to share insights and lessons learned on the various solar implementation strategies stimulated by CREBs. In addition, Bank of America’s Neal Skiver shared the implications of new guidance on true leases with the coalition. CREBs partners interested in real-time updates are welcome to sign on to the CREBs’ blog for all related updates and events: www.ctsdcrebs.blogspot.com
Governor’s Administration Officials Fuel Up on Algae
In partnership with San Diego Regional EDC and BIOCOM, CleanTECH San Diego hosted California Labor Secretary Victoria Bradshaw, Labor Undersecretary Doug Hoffner and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development Director, Joel Ayala to advocate for San Diego’s growing biofuels industry. During this two-day series of events, this Sacramento delegation toured algae and biofuels facilities and met with a diverse group of regional stakeholders including the San Diego Mayor’s office, the EDC, UCSD, SD-CAB and several biofuels companies. The stakeholders shared the opportunities and challenges associated with building a biofuels industry with a particular focus on workforce development and market barriers. Several follow-up actions were identified and are being pursued through the work of the advocacy committee.
CREBs and Other Solar Projects Gain Traction
The Santee School Board gave authorization to move forward with its first CREBs-financed solar project at the Hill Creek School. The goal is to complete the remaining steps of the procurement process to enable construction and installation as soon as this summer. Having received approval from the Board of Education to move forward with negotiations on several solar projects, San Diego Unified School District was able to secure a reservation for the last 3 megawatts of solar PV capacity in the CSI Step 6 PBI incentive. A cross-functional team is moving forward in pinning down the remaining key elements of the actual contract agreement.
CAPITAL FORMATION
SDG&E Smart Grid Deployment Garners Earth Day Attention
CleanTECH San Diego and the San Diego Regional EDC celebrated Earth Day with an investor breakfast focused on San Diego’s leadership position on developing its Smart Grid. Barry Matsumori from Qualcomm, Dr. Venkat Shastri from PCN Technology and Chris Baker from Sempra Utilities each offered their views on how the region can maintain its lead and work to close clear gaps in the infrastructure and delivery of energy services. CleanTECH San Diego is working with parties in the region to facilitate a regional agenda on the successful deployment of SDG&E’s 1.4 million smart meters, scheduled for 2011 completion.
Four San Diego Early Stage Companies Get May SCRUB
The Capital Formation Committee will host its sixth SCRUB program on May 12 featuring a diverse group of regional companies including a solar water heating company, a water software solution, a hydrotopic farming business and an electric vehicle charging station start-up. The event is hosted by member company Procopio Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP at its new law offices at 525 B St. For committee members and invited guests only.
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
GREENING SAN DIEGO
The City of Santee was featured in the San Diego Daily Transcript for its efforts and accomplishments in launching a comprehensive "Sustainable Santee" program. Santee employee, Kathy Valverde's was quoted: "You can't go wrong doing right by the environment and saving taxpayer money." In other sustainable leadership news, the California WateReuse Association awarded its Recycled Water Agency of the Year to Padre Dam Municipal Water District along with the Helix Water district for their joint efforts to recycle water in Lakeside's El Monte Valley. This $1.1M project is currently undergoing environmental review.
Following the lead in solar PV implementation by Padre Dam, Grossmont Union High School District and Santee Schools both have their first solar PV projects moving forward in the procurement approval process and City of Santee is taking the first steps to evaluate the financial viability of several CREBs and other identified solar renewable sites.
SDG&E updated the Greening Santee Team on the 2010 Benchmarking Program which is now a prerequisite for access to energy efficiency project rebates, incentives and on-bill financing. This new requirement applies to almost all commercial and governmental building retrofit projects.
STREET LIGHTING WORKING GROUP
The Street Lighting Working Group sponsored by the City of San Diego and SDG&E's Peer-to-Peer local government energy efficiency program, under program management leadership by CleanTECH San Diego is moving forward with a formal RFQ for vendor qualification to support the region's cities and public agencies in their procurement process for cobra-style roadway street lights. The City of Santee will soon issue its RFP to retrofit street lights using EECBG funding this month. The City of San Diego will be next in line working with the Regional SLWG Team to allow other cities/public agencies to "piggyback" their process. So far, the cities of Carlsbad, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Poway, San Marcos, Vista, UCSD and the Port are actively involved. A short survey on "2010 Planned Street Lighting Retrofits" has been sent to all regional cities and public agencies and is to be returned to CleanTECH San Diego’s Marty Turock by May 7, 2010.
SMART GRID & ENERGY EFFICIENCY
CLEAN ENTERPRISE PROGRAM
As the Clean Enterprise Program approaches its first birthday, CleanTECH San Diego renews and expands its partnership with SDG&E and the Office of Mayor Sanders. 2010 marks the year of smart meter deployment for San Diego businesses - owners and operators who for the first time will be provided with “real time” energy usage data. Research reveals that access to energy information may directly reduce energy consumption by 5-15%. Empowering customers with knowledge leads to cost savings and informed behavior. Together with its pubic-private partners, CleanTECH San Diego is creating a conservation ethic in the community, providing businesses with resources to reduce energy consumption and integrate energy efficient strategies into their business practices.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
MAY EVENTS
Member Event: CleanTECH San Diego Advocacy Committee Meeting
May 3, 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
may 5, 2010
Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM PST
Location: BIOCOM: 4510 Executive Drive, McGraw Conference Room
A Conversation with Van Jones Hosted by The San Diego Foundation
May 11, 2010
Time: 12:00 – 3:45pm (No registration required)
Location: The Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation
Member Event: CleanTECH San Diego SCRUB Event
May 12, 2010
Location: Procopio Law Offices: 525 B St, Suite 2200, San Diego, CA
Register: shainab@cleantechsandiego.org
Algae World Summit co-sponsored by CleanTECH San Diego
may 17-19, 2010
Location: San Diego, CA
Registration
CleanTECH San Diego Executive Committee Meeting
may 18, 2010
Time: 7:30 – 9:00 AM PST
Location: BIOCOM: 4510 Executive Drive, McGraw Conference Room
For Executive Committee Members
CONNECT Public Policy Forum presents: CLEANTECH & RENEWABLE ENERGY
may 20, 2010
Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM (registration begins at 8:30am)
Location: AMN Healthcare
12400 High Bluff Drive # 100
San Diego, CA 92130
Register: bkraynack@connect.org
CleanTECH San Diego, CONNECT, Calinnovates Policy Event
May 25, 2010
Time: 8:00 - 11:00 AM
Location: AMN Healthcare
12400 High Bluff Drive # 100
San Diego, CA 92130
Register: jwomble@connect.org
Vist CleanTECH Web site for
more information on all Events
http://www.cleantechsandiego.org/
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