GREEN SHEET :: SEPTEMBER 2011
MEMBERSHIP OUTREACH
This month we welcome our newest Member at OSI Soft and First American Title. OSI Soft delivers the PI System, the industry standard in enterprise infrastructure, for management of real-time data and events. With installations in 107 countries the OSIsoft PI System is used in manufacturing, energy, utilities, life sciences, data centers, facilities, and the process industries. First American Title provides the great value to consumers and business clients by providing a combination of top quality title insurance products, personalized customer service, and low title insurance rates. We also welcome the membership renewals from our partners at UBS Financial Services, Southern Contracting, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, and Best Best & Krieger.
ADVOCACY
CleanTECH San Diego Members Take to Sacramento Promoting Industry Support
On August 17, CleanTECH San Diego members joined our partners at the Californians for Clean Energy and Jobs (CCEJ) in Sacramento. This educational series, “Cleantech Convening in Sacramento” addressed a variety of topics with state policymakers. Our members at Sapphire Energy, Soitec and UC San Diego were among those representing their sector's issues requiring Sacramento's attention. Topics addressed the public goods charge, the state's regulatory process and programs designed to assist early stage cleantech companies. CCEJ is a coalition of business, health, environmental, and community groups and originally organized last year in its successful efforts to defeat Proposition 23 (ballot measure to overturn AB 32, The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) last November. CleanTECH San Diego's President and CEO, Jim Waring also serves on the Executive Committee of the CCEJ. We expect more opportunities to partner withCCEJ on similar events, allowing CleanTECH San Diego members to educate on the various market dynamics and policy implications with legislators.
CleanTECH San Diego Advocates for Reauthorization of Public Goods Charge
CleanTECH San Diego joined a number of organizations throughout California in extending support for the reauthorization of the Public Goods Charge (PGC). The PGC is a local surcharge imposed on all utility retail sales to fund energy efficiency, renewable energy, and research, development, and demonstration programs that enhance system reliability and provide in-state benefits. The PGC is set to expire in January 1, 2012 and reauthorization would extend it to 2020. San Diego residents, businesses and universities benefit from the funds made available through this program. The legislation is being debated in Committee and a vote is expected before theLabor Day weekend. If the PGC is not reauthorized it would have a negative effect on many of the research activities throughout the state.
SBA Looks to CleanTECH San Diego Members to Mentor Start-ups
As a selected partner in the U.S. Small Business Administration's mentoring program, CleanTECH San Diego participated in an August event in San Jose designed to engage participating mentors and mentees on the issues facing start-up cleantech companies. Representatives from the SBA and the Kaufmann Foundation provided attendees with information on national efforts to support these early stagecompanies. CleanTECH San Diego members and participants are mentoring 20 cleantech companies. The U.S Small Business Administration launched this initiative to get business owners to mentor startups and entrepreneurs and help them become the next generation of companies. As part of the White House's Startup America initiative, the Entrepreneurial Mentor Corps (EMC) is aiming to support more than 1,000 startup and early-stage firms across the country. SBA is partnering with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in identifying organizations and mentoring best practices for the EMC program.
CleanTECH San Diego Hosts Department of Energy and Smart Grid Members at UC San Diego
CleanTECH San Diego hosted an exclusive members-only reception for the U.S. Department of Energy and 70 national microgrid stakeholders at UC San Diego on August 30. This reception marked a two-day workshop with DOE officials and microgrid experts gathered to discuss the future of smart grid technology and prioritize key R&D programs. This workshop was a first of its kind and UC San Diego was selected to host this event because of its renowned microgrid. Members of the CleanTECH San Diego Smart Grid subcommittee participated in this private event, and we thank our event sponsors at OSI Soft, Procopio and Bank of America.
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
Greening San Diego
The City of Santee is proceeding with its City Hall Complex energy efficiency upgrade project. This comprehensive lighting upgrade will affect over 800 fixtures and over 1,500 lamps producing a 90% energy reduction. In addition, 15-year old occupancy sensors will be replaced and additional sensors will be installed in critical locations. This project will be out for bid at the completion of the required SDG&E pre-inspection. This will enable the project to be fully funded with the EECBG ARRA funds and SDG&E rebates. Santee City Councilapproved its Phase II street lighting retrofits that will convert the remaining 782 city streetlights to lower wattage induction luminaires in residential neighborhoods and in the Town Center area. This project will also be 100% financed from a combination of EECBG block grant funds and utilizing SDG&E's on-bill financing program. The combined savings of both Phase I and II street lighting retrofits in City of Santee will save taxpayer's ~ $110,000 annually.
Padre Dam Municipal Water District initiated its feasibility study for solar PV renewable production on at least five sites, including several reservoirs with pump stations or other electrical loads, as well as the employee parking lot.
Street Lighting Work Group - SLWG
Following a comprehensive competitive bidding process, The City of San Diego awarded its design/build contract for the retrofit of 35,000 streetlights to CleanTECH San Diego member, Southern Contracting. Installation surveys are underway for the mandatory SDG&E pre-inspection. Installation will commence in September to retrofit the first 1200 cobra head conversions with plans to retrofit 2,600 streetlights per month. The project's targeted completion is the fall of 2012. This project will reduce energy consumption by 16 million kWh annually while saving over $2 million per year in combined energy and maintenance cost reductions.
Through collaboration with our San Diego Region SLWG, the City of Santa Ana received council approval to award its Phase I street lighting retrofit contract. Funded by SoCal Edison's on-bill financing program, they will replace 250-watt HPS incumbent luminaires with new LED technology. At our request, City of Santa Ana included a public agency piggyback clause that can be leveraged by any interested San Diego public agencies waiting for an LED replacement for 250-watt HPS.
CREBS Update
The California Solar Initiative (CSI) incentives remain indefinitely suspended in Step 8. However, over the last two months 22 projects from the non-residential waiting list encompassing 2.09 MW received their CSI incentives from existing CSI reservations that were newly cancelled. As of August 29, the non-residential waiting list backlog has 62 projects totaling 6.2MW representing $4.2 million in total incentives.
On August 25, SB 585 (Kehoe) passed through the State Assembly with two amendments to Section 2851 and is back in the Senate awaiting final approval. CleanTECH San Diego and CCSE encourage any non-residential entities that are proceeding with solar PV installations to submit their reservations to secure a spot on the wait list.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
CleanTECH San Diego Speaks at EcoCity World Summit and Receives Member Nominees in Global Clean Tech Awards
CleanTECH San Diego's Holly Smithson was invited to speak at the 9th International EcoCity Conference in Montreal, Canada on August 22-26. Smithson joined the 1,000 participants representing more than 70 countries to share how the San Diego cluster is fast tracking the adoption of clean technologies through regional initiatives that may present business opportunities and best practices. In addition, 185 nominations from around the world in 10 categories ranging from renewable energy and energy efficiency, to waste, water and green building were announced by the Global Cleantech Cluster Association. Congratulations to Members PCN Technology, Synthetic Genomics, Sapphire Energy, Viridity Energy and On-Ramp Wireless for advancing in the Global Cleantech Cluster Association's 2011 Later Stage Award. The 10 international finalists will be announced in Dublin on November 14 and willreceive international investment exposure and business support throughout 2012. Over the next three months, these 185 nominations will be judged on their technology, innovation and business strategy, and ability to execute. In addition to the 10 categories, the three Most Impactful Technology awards will be given to companies that are improving the quality of life for people around the world, particularly in developing countries.
International Cleantech Clusters Convene for Finnfest Matchmaking
On August 11, CleanTECH San Diego partnered with the Finland Cluster to promote its Annual Finnfest and the California Cleantech Collaboration. This international forum brought together the Global Cleantech Cluster Association (GCCA), Finnish Cleantech Cluster, swisscleantech, and CleanTECH San Diego to explore synergies and market opportunities with local smart grid, bio-energy and water technology companies. GE's Michelle Lesh provided the keynote, followed by panel discussions with SDG&E and others. Executives from Nokia, Siemens, Metso Corp, Kemira and other Finnish corporations werepaired with San Diego cleantech companies for one-on-one meetings in pursuit of business opportunities. CleanTECH San Diego is a founding member of the GCCA and continues to support and introduce the San Diego region to their international network.
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Solar Gard Acquired by Saint-Gobain
CleanTECH San Diego Member Solar Gard Specialty Films was acquired on August 10 by Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp. Solar Gard is one of the most popular window film lines for professional installers throughout the world. Manufactured by Bekaert Specialty Films in San Diego for over 25 years, Solar Gard products are sold in more than 70 countries. This is an exciting opportunity for Solar Gard as Saint-Gobain is a major recognized player in the architectural and automotive markets and like Solar Gard, is committed to building a more sustainable future through the development of energy-efficient products and solutions for professionals and communities around the world.
Member ClearEdge Power Receives $73.5 Million in Series E Round
One of the nation's three leading fuel cell technology companies, ClearEdge Power, announced in August having raised $73.5 million in Series E financing. This funding will help expand sales and marketing, develop international markets and address overall production costs. ClearEdge Powergrew its revenue more than 480 percent in the second quarter of 2011 and inJune 2011, it was awarded $2.8 million by the Department of Energy Pacific Northwest Laboratory to support deployments across a variety of commercial markets. We congratulate the continued success of ClearEdge Power and its ability to gain impressive investor confidence and broader market penetration.
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EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
SEPTEMBER EVENTS
Turbines, Towers & Vessels 2011
SEPT 07-09 2011
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CleanTECH San Diego SCRUB
SEPT 08 2011
8:00AM - 12:00PM
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CleanTech OC Conference & Expo
SEPT 12 2011
8:00AM - 5:00PM
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The Young & the Restless: Winning the Race for America's Best Talent
SEPT 14 2011
11:30AM - 1:30PM
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CleanTECH San Diego Education & Outreach Meeting
SEPT 14 2011
4:00PM - 5:00PM
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CleanTECH San Diego Meet & Greet with Bonnie Dumanis
SEPT 15 2011
9:30AM - 11:00AM
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San Diego Cleantech Legislative Conference
SEPT 16 2011
8:30AM - 1:30PM
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CleanTECH San Diego Leadership Series with Howard Dean
SEPT 19 2011
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CleanTECH San Diego Board Meeting
SEPT 2011
7:30AM - 9:00AM
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California Clean Energy Roundtable
SEPT 28-30 2011
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Why San Diego?
San Diego is world renowned for
its culture of collaboration and
collegiality and is a natural setting
for a clean tech “collaboratory.”
Through meaningful partnerships
with private and public sector
champions, CleanTECH San Diego
promotes sustainable best
practices in the San Diego region
and promotes the region’s high
concentration of clean tech activities.
By collaborating with the multitude
of stakeholders, we leverage these
assets and position ourselves
effectively as a world leader in
the low carbon economy.
See our list of San Diego
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