CleanTech OC Daily - 10/10/12

California Grants Tesla $10 Million To Build The Model X Electric SUV

Today, California regulators approved a $10 million grant to Tesla Motors to help manufacture its next electric car, the Model X sport utility vehicle. Tesla will match the California Energy Commission grant with $50 million of their own funding which will be used to expand manufacturing capacity.

Connecting The Dots Between The Smart Grid And Sustainability

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recently addressed the environmental benefits of grid modernization and the role of smart grid technologies in the transition to a sustainable energy future. In the publication, “The Promise of the Smart Grid: Goals, Policies, and Measurement Must Support Sustainability Benefits” the NRDC believes that smart grid technologies can provide a host of  potential benefits and only carefully well-designed programs and thoughtful implementation will ensure those benefits are realized.

Report: Mid-Atlantic Offshore Wind Industry Could Create70,000 Jobs, Generate Billions in Revenue

The Atlantic Wind Connection  conducted a study that found that the development of offshore wind farms could create 70,000 jobs from the states of Virginia to New Jersey. While it was not stated if the jobs would be permanent, the development could mean an increase in local, state, and federal revenue by $4.6 billion. The Cleantechnia article goes on to explain the types of potential jobs that could be created, which range from wind turbine assembly line operators to installers.