CleanTech OC

FlexEnergy featured in New York Times green blog

2012-01-10T15:28:00.000-08:00

Burning natural gas releases less heat-trapping carbon dioxide then burning coal does because it has only about half as much carbon per unit of energy. But it can exacerbate global warming if it escapes unburned into the atmosphere as methane; in a century, a methane molecule will trap as much heat as 21 carbon dioxide molecules would.

The easy solution is simply to burn the methane. But some sources emit methane at concentrations too low to burn. What then?

And even when the concentration is high enough for conventional burning, burning methane creates temperatures high enough to break up nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere and marry them to oxygen, creating nitrogen oxides, a precursor of smog.

FlexEnergy, a company in Irvine, Calif., has developed a new way to use gas at low methane concentrations, a process it has been trying out on landfill gas at Fort Benning in Georgia.

To read the rest of the article, please visit: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/biomass-and-electricity-part-one/?ref=energy-environment

1000 Megawatts and Counting: US Solar Installations Shine Bright

2012-01-10T14:02:00.000-08:00

According to a report by the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), Q3 2011 solar installations in the U.S. smashed previous records with 449 megawatts of new capacity in just three months. This increase represents attainment of a yearly milestone of 1,000 megawatts in solar installations, surpassing the 887 megawatts completed throughout all of 2010. This 140% growth year-over-year would be impressive trending numbers in any industry.

Grid Parity

As the wholesale price of solar panels continues to drop - a study published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews indicates a decline between late 2009 and mid 2011 of as much as 70% - the cost of traditional “grid” electricity generated by coal and gas plants has been steadily increasing. As described in a recent FastCompany article, “As those two trends continue, solar electricity will soon become as cheap and cheaper than regular retail electricity. That moment is called ‘grid parity’ (i.e., when solar reaches parity with grid electricity) and it’s exciting because once we reach grid parity, solar power won’t just be the eco-friendly option—it’ll also be the economical option.”

What does this trend mean to business owners?

For many business owners, decision to go solar is purely pragmatic and financial. Decreasing costs of solar panels, along with tax incentives and more readily available leasing options, are fueling growth and making the specter of going green more attractive to those focused purely on bottom line measures.

Erica Lynn Johnson, Director, Community Relations & Development with Sullivan Solar Power, describes the impact of lowering costs and more flexible arrangements as follows:

"As solar energy becomes more heavily adopted, … more and more financing options exist. As a result, solar energy is now at a tipping point where it is becoming available to the masses and you don't necessarily have to come up with the upfront cost to purchase the equipment. Leases or Power Purchase Agreements (PPA's) allow most people to go solar for a monthly payment less than their current electric bill with little to no upfront cost. “

To what extent are decisions driven by government subsidies or tax credits?

SEIA warns that solar’s growth is threatened by the potential expiration of the Treasury Department’s 1603 Program which provides a cash grant in lieu of a tax credit. While 1603 payments are not made until after the energy property is placed in service, and the phase-out for construction start dates is upon us, it is a powerful incentive, even with these restrictions.

Johnson offers another perspective, stating that the Federal Tax Credit still provides incentives to go solar. "It is a one-to-one credit against tax liabilities, not a write-off and covers 30% of the out-of-pocket cost. This is scheduled to last through 2016. And even in utility territories in which the rebates are extremely low, the continued deployment of solar has not been slowed.”

If this year’s 1000+ MW milestone is any indication, any shortcomings of the respective incentive programs don’t seem to be dimming the widespread implementation of solar power.

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Our Guest Writer is Diane Bucka, Freelance Business Writer and Founder of Responsible Business Registry. Diane is a sustainability advocate, and communications consultant with more than 15 years of writing, editing and marketing experience. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook; view her profile on LinkedIn.

Clean Energy Businesses Power Climate Change Progress at COP 17

2011-12-19T11:04:00.000-08:00

The recently concluded United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, (COP 17) brought world leaders in government, business and NGOs together to try to forge progress on climate change. Despite dismal news that global carbon dioxide emissions from industry rose about three percent to hit record highs in 2010, the ultimate agreement seemed unable to overcome significant political and diplomatic obstacles to strong international policy.

David Victor, a political scientist at the University of California, San Diego who has followed the UN process closely since its beginnings in the early 1990s, decried the results of COP 17, stating,

“In terms of substance, they have not really achieved much. They've agreed to have negotiations about what they might agree to in the future."

In his book, Global Warming Gridlock, he describes a pattern of un-kept promises that has plagued these diplomatic efforts.

One outcome that did emerge, however, is an alternative leadership paradigm in which collaboration and innovation prevailed. In his opening remarks at the conference, President Zuma pointed to business leaders, charging,

“The green economy can expand regardless of the COP outcome, but clear policy outcomes will accelerate growth. Business need not wait for outcomes in Durban. Forge ahead. There are many opportunities to pursue [to build a green economy]."

Down the road from the convention center, representatives from 600 corporations, NGOs and other organizations gathered for the World Climate Summit to highlight the role of the private sector and take action – with or without clear advances in formal climate policy.

Additional evidence of businesses integrating sustainable policies abound:

· A recent GreenBiz article points to companies such as Siemens, Coca-Cola and Nedbank, demonstrating ways in which they are not only embedding sustainability into their operations, but turning green into a competitive advantage.

· Overseas Private Investment Corporation recently announced that green lending jumped eightfold in 2010 to top $1 billion.

· The Sustainable Landscapes Partnership (SLP), begun as a partnership among Conservation International, USAID, the Walton Family Foundation and the Indonesian government, represents an innovative public-private partnership focused on preventing CO2 emissions through conservation and sustainable forest and land management, which will support the creation of markets for sustainably sourced products and supply chain efforts.

· The Clinton Global Initiative’s annual meeting in September reflected great progress, as panelists from such multi-national companies as Barclays, PepsiCO, and Unilever, among others, touted the positive impacts of sustainability on their triple-bottom-line. Barclay’s Bob Diamond stated,

“In the financial services industry, we know a lot of things have to change. On Africa, it’s very, very important what lending can do to create sustainability. Food shortages are coming and going in many nations. Aid can help relieve the problem, but it can also help create sustainable solutions….It’s a virtuous circle: the producers, the farmers are willing to invest; the banks are willing to take risks. The moral of the story here is sustainable solutions are the best for creating jobs, creating economic growth and creating better lives.”

Private sector investment in green technology, while plunging 44% in the second quarter of 2011 in the U.S. to $1.1 billion, hit the $1 trillion mark globally just as the Durban conference was underway, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The annual growth rate of clean energy investing has been 29 percent since 2004, with $243 billion invested in 2010.

“Clean tech financing levels remain strong in the context of investment levels over the past several quarters,” said Jay Spencer, Ernst &Young Americas’ Cleantech Director. “We’re seeing continued commitments to solar, electric vehicles and energy efficiency technologies from the venture community, as well large corporate and private investors.”

A recent LA Times article announced that even as overall venture funding declined by about 50%, clean-tech venture funding rose by 73% over the previous year, with green companies raising almost $1.2 billion in the third quarter. California firms received more than half of that infusion of cash.

While the ideal circumstances would have business and policy aligned in support of one another, these accomplishments underscore the potential of collaboration and innovation in meeting today’s environmental imperatives.

Our Guest Writer is Diane Bucka, Founder of Responsible Business Registry. Diane is a sustainability advocate, and communications consultant with more than 15 years of writing, editing and marketing experience. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook; view her profile on LinkedIn.

CleanTech OC Presents “Understanding California’s New Self-Generation Incentive Program”

2011-11-22T10:41:00.000-08:00

Leading the charge to reduce peak both electricity demand and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) recently adopted changes to the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) to facilitate deployment of certain distributed generation technologies at discounted rates. On November 15^th, CleanTech OC held its second Business Development Series workshop explaining the SGIP, clarifying implementation and application guidelines which will enable qualifying facilities to obtain financial incentives of up to 60% of overall project costs for their conversion to renewables.

The panel discussion started with historical information presented by PUC’s Neal Reardon about the origins of SGIP, from its legislative roots of reducing peak demand resulting from the energy crisis in 2001 to the 2009 GHG emission reduction requirements in SB 412. Reardon explained that the structure of the SGIP is to offset upfront capital investment while ensuring performance; utilizing their annual $75 million incentive budget, they pay 50% upon application approval and 50% based on performance. Billy Gamboa from the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) presented a synopsis of some key information from the SGIP Handbook, particularly the documentation, equipment and efficiency requirements.

The next three panelists presented specific project conversion options; each depicted cost-effective methods for qualifying conversions to achieve SGIP objectives, earn the incentives, and continue to generate clean energy in extremely cost effective ways:

Tracy Reid with FuelCell Energy - ultra-clean stationary fuel cell power plants utilizing an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to produce electricity, and useable heat and water. Sidestepping the conventional combustion reaction, fuel cells produce DC electricity with twice the efficiency of conventional fossil fuels plants even as they reduce emissions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter as well as dramatically lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Mike Levin, from FlexEnergy - a revolutionary solution that combines a modified gas turbine with an adaptation of a proprietary thermal oxidizer to convert previously unusable, harmful waste gas into clean, green energy. The Flexidizer completely oxidizes air with dilute methane mixtures (1.5% methane), tolerating both moisture and siloxanes in the landfill gas. The Flex is the only complete clean energy solution that runs directly on low pressure, low flow, and low Btu fuel gas.
Matt Swindle from Nline Energy - in-conduit, hydroelectric renewable power generation. Their “Water to Energy Recovery System” (WATERS™) captures wasted energy at pressure reduction valve sites and converts it into renewable electricity. WATERS™ consists of a turbine-generator, energy storage devices, electronic controls, bypasses and fail-safes, environmental and security equipment, sensors, communications and data equipment, and an information collection, control and reporting system capable of operating either manually or autonomously.

Most commercial, industrial, local, state or federal facilities with a natural gas or methane source and a need for continuous heat and power, as well as certain wind and energy storage customers will qualify for the SGIP. This can include locations such as wastewater treatment plants, dairy farms, food and agricultural operations, and other locations that operate biomass digesters or have usable biogas.

For more information, visit the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) page on the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) website, along with the relevant page on the CCSE site.

Our Guest Writer is Diane Bucka, Founder of Responsible Business Registry. Diane is a sustainability advocate, and communications consultant with more than 15 years of writing, editing and marketing experience. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook; view her profile on LinkedIn.

Congratulations, Dr. Samuelsen!

2011-11-08T10:21:00.000-08:00

Professor Scott Samuelsen, Director of UC Irvine’s National Fuel Cell Research Center, was recognized at the White House on Thursday for his leadership in advancing hydrogen fuel cell technology and hydrogen infrastructure. The event was part of President Obama’s Champions of Change initiative, which promotes creative collaboration across a variety of industries to produce high-quality jobs in America.

“The best ideas in the world come from the American people,” said Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama. “Our country’s success is built on the fact that working together we can do big things.” Professor Samuelsen is indeed doing very big things.

Read Dr. Samuelsen’s article on “Leading the Next Generation Clean Energy Revolution here.

Congratulations on this great distinction, Professor Samuelsen, and for making all of us proud here in Orange County.

Conservation is King: Greenway Design’s Cool-n-Save® "Pre-Cool" Solution De-“Mist”ified

2011-10-31T12:09:00.000-07:00

Here in North America, energy use represents approximately 30% of operating costs for commercial buildings, and HVAC comprises 30-80% of that energy cost. It’s not rocket science to recognize that implementing simple, energy efficient measures can dramatically reduce consumption; accordingly, business owners and commercial property managers are actively seeking ways to leverage these efficiencies without the costs and complications associated with complex burden of major structural improvements.

Therein lies the genius of the Cool-n-Save® "pre-cool" solution, the brain-child of Greenway Design Group, Inc. (GDG), which has been proven to reduce the cost of operating conventional air conditioning systems by as much as 30%. Based in Huntington Beach, CA, GDG has been an innovator of commercial and residential solutions for HVAC systems that conserve energy and equipment since 2005, most notably in developing energy-saving evaporative pre-cool misting technology.

Simply stated, Cool-N-Save® applies the known benefits of evaporative pre-cooling to increase energy efficiency of central air conditioning systems. This effect comes into play when ambient temperature exceeds 85°F. At this temperature, AC units are not very energy efficient because the hot air cooks the outdoor condensing coils. The higher the ambient air temp, the harder AC systems must work to keep up to cool the inside of the building. The Cool-n- Save® pre-cool system sprays a treated water mist into the air around the HVAC unit. Flash evaporation causes the mist to evaporate almost instantly, creating a shield or “adiabatic boundary” which insulates the HVAC from excess heat.

Two university studies demonstrated that these evaporative "pre-cool" misting systems produce a significant increase in energy efficiency of air conditioning systems, concluding that, "Even in a climate that endures high humidity, the heat transfer from the refrigerant to the air is substantially increased. This effect implies that cooler air will be able to circulate throughout a structure and that this will decrease the time the condenser unit runs, thus reducing electricity cost to the user."

The science is straightforward yet conclusive; their innovative technologies earned GDG distinction as the winner of the 18^th annual TechAmerica/ Harvey Mudd College Green Tech innovation award. And unlike many energy retrofits or other large structural improvements, return on investment with the Cool-n-Save® "pre-cool" solution is measured in months, not years.

One distinctive aspect of GDG’s business model is its emphasis on conservation. According to Ray Wyman, Jr., Director, Marketing Communications for GDG, “Conservation is something we can all agree on; there’s a quick ROI without a large investment. It is the purest form of environmentalism: if we reduce consumption and conserve, not only do we lower costs, but we don’t have to build more energy generation." While supportive of energy innovation, particularly in the alternative energy space, Wyman suggests that “the government should focus on greater investment in conservation to provide more bang for the buck.”

Despite the momentum in LEED-certified building and increased awareness of the cost efficiencies in green buildings, the economic climate has prevented many commercial property investors from moving forward with large-scale initiatives. GDG’s Cool-n-Save® "pre-cool" solution is a turnkey way to make a significant impact on energy cost reduction without the start-up costs, permit and regulatory requirements, permitting delays and other constraints commonly associated new infrastructure, existing building renovations, and adaptive re-use projects.

Diane Bucka, Founder of Responsible Business Registry, is a freelance writer and sustainability advocate with more than 15 years of writing, editing and marketing experience.

www.responsiblebusregistry.com

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CleanTechOC's 2nd Annual Conference & Expo a Great Success!

2011-10-24T11:21:00.000-07:00

There is great momentum fueling the excitement within and around the cleantech sector, from California’s recent adoption of the nation’s first state-administered cap-and-trade regulations to the proliferation of innovative start-ups recognized as game changers in this space. The 2^nd Annual CleanTech OC Conference & Expo paralleled this growth and energy, filling the exhibit hall and offering a robust program packed with industry leaders sharing their perspectives and expertise.

The sold-out conference, themed “CleanTech at the Tipping Point,” featured rousing keynote presentations by EPA Administrator Dr. Stephen Johnson describing incredible global growth in the industry, and author and former Shell Oil President John Hofmeister with a stirring account of geo-political challenges and a wake-up call about much-needed paradigm shifts. The legendary John Picard wowed the room with his usual creative flair and gift for captivating with stories.

Informative, expert-led panel discussions ranged from cleantech investment to integration of sustainable practices in thriving local companies, to utility-scale renewable energy projects and green building. This detailed list of all presenters reveals the array of cleantech industry leaders who shared their expertise. Speakers represented the pinnacle of sustainability movers and shakers, and they too appreciated the high level of engagement throughout the event.

Dr. Shane Stephens-Romero, Manager of Research Development and External Relations at UC Irvine’s Advanced Power and Energy Program, expressed his approval from an exhibitor’s perspective, saying, “Orange County is one of the most important regions in the world for clean energy technologies due to its business environment, policy structure, and leading energy, water, and air quality research at UC Irvine. CleanTech OC’s Annual Conference is a unique forum where these sectors come together to showcase the innovation and business activity that is shaping the region.”

Taylor Honrath, CleanTechOC’s Director, appreciated the momentum, stating, “As our second Conference, we were very pleased with the high-quality program and the high attendance that was attracted as a result. Clean technology is certainly at a critical tipping point, and CleanTech OC is doing its part to continue growing the regional industry here in the county, and increase its visibility.”

Stay tuned for a video of the 2^nd Annual Conference & Expo, which is currently in post-production and will be uploaded to our website shortly.

Procurement Opportunities in Orange County

2011-02-10T18:48:00.000-08:00

CleanTech OC is proud to present the first program in its new CleanTech Business Development Series: "Procurement Opportunities in Orange County: How to Become a Vendor to the Biggest Buyers in the Region." This panel discussion will feature procurement officials from some of the largest organizations in Orange County, including Southern California Edison, Disneyland Resort, the United States Navy, the County of Orange, and others.

The program will address the following:

• How your company can become a preferred vendor.

• How the procurement process works at large organizations.

• What role sustainability and other “green” issues play in purchasing decisions.

• How the economic recovery will affect purchasing decisions this year and

beyond.

The panel’s 90-minute prepared presentation will be followed by a 30-minute question and answer session, with further opportunities for interaction with the panel at the networking reception to follow.

CleanTech OC members attend free of charge, and non-members can take advantage of Early Bird registration at $95 per person, which expires on February 28. Afterwards, registration will be $120 per person. To register for this event, please click here. For more information, contact Taylor Honrath, Director of Development & Programs for CleanTech OC, at taylor@cleantechoc.org.

Carol Browner Steps Down

2011-01-26T13:33:00.000-08:00

Carol Browner, assistant to the president for energy and climate change, has resigned her position, which analysts are speculating signals a shift in White House environmental policy. The Hill reports that FBR Capital Markets stated they believe "her resignation on the eve of the State of the Union is another signal that the Obama Administration may be softening its approach to environmental regulations, especially those aimed at raising prices and/or reducing fossil fuel consumption." An unnamed "Virginia-based investment house," according to The Hill, commented "We expect the President to use tonight's State of the Union speech to continue exploring common ground with Republicans including regulatory reform, clean energy, manufacturing competitiveness, and research and development. This should be viewed as positive for fossil fuel and particularly coal companies, which faced a slew of regulatory issues including mountaintop mining, coal ash, the Clean Air Transport Rule, and a utility MACT [maximum achievable control technology] rule." The New York Times reports that energy lobbyist Scott Segal commented "Carol Browner was a passionate contributor to a strong White House commitment to environmental policy," he said. "Her departure may be part of a legitimate effort to pay careful attention to addressing some of the real regulatory obstacles in the way of job creation in the United States." The Times also noted that Browner's "departure from the White House is something of a surprise. While it was widely assumed that she was going to reduce her energy and environment portfolio, Browner was expected to stay on in another role, perhaps as a deputy chief of staff. But the fact that she had not been vetted by the Senate for her current position continued to rankle Republicans, who had threatened to call her in to testify in this new Congress, particularly about her work on the climate bill."

The Wall Street Journal reported that a "Democrat close to the White House said there is 'no question' that Ms. Browner's post would be eliminated. Asked why, he noted that cabinet secretaries do not like having high-level policy officials at the White House working in their fields. He also said the job will be eliminated 'because there will be no climate or carbon bill in the next two years.'" The Journal also notes that the resignation "comes at a time when the White House is reaching out to business leaders on several fronts. Democrats familiar with the White House thinking cited other reasons for the step. But eliminating the energy czar post would likely be welcomed by many business leaders, who view Ms. Browner as a leading advocate for environmental regulations they oppose."

Sources:
01/25/11, The New York Times, "Browner to Relinquish Role as Energy and Climate Czar"
01/25/11, The Hill, "Analyst: Browner exit shows 'softening' of Obama green agenda"

OC Hits Pay Dirt with Cleantech

2011-01-21T13:42:00.000-08:00

Besides beautiful beaches, Disneyland and the original "Real Housewives" TV show, Orange County might have a new claim to fame.

The fastest-growing segment of the county's economy is now the clean-tech market, according to government and industry officials. Hundreds of green companies are settling in the area, long known for its real estate development and medical device industry.

The number of clean-tech jobs in the county, currently around 20,000, is growing about 5% each year, according to the Orange County Business Council. There are now nearly 300 clean-tech companies in the county, according to trade group CleanTech OC.

"The notion that it's an old, stodgy county is long gone," said Mike Levin, CleanTech OC's co-founder. "It's large, diverse and politically not what you think. Orange County is extraordinarily well-positioned to be a center of the clean-tech industry."

OC Register at CleanTech OC 2010

2010-09-27T21:04:00.001-07:00

CleanTech OC Conference Highlighted in OC METRO Minute

2010-09-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

On the morning of Friday, September 17, CleanTech OC executive director Mike Levin appeared on the OC METRO Minute with Steve Churm, President of Churm Media. A video is below:

CleanTech OC on Real Orange

2010-06-17T16:01:00.000-07:00

CleanTech OC Co-Chair Greg Trimarche and Executive Director Mike Levin appeared on the Wednesday, June 16 edition of "Real Orange" on KOCE, Orange County's PBS affiliate. See video below (interview starts at approximately 15:00):

Watch the full episode. See more Real Orange.

VC in the OC and OCTANe Innovation Showcase

2010-05-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - (Business Wire) OCTANe will host a one-of-a-kind business event showcasing the best of Orange County innovation from university, to venture-backed startups, to world-class companies on May 18 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. Doors open at 7:00 a.m.

VC in the OC is Orange County’s most anticipated venture capital event. Now in its sixth year, VC in the OC attracts people nationwide involved in funding, managing and advising venture and post-venture stage companies that are based in Orange County. Neel Kashkari, Managing Director at PIMCO, will deliver the keynote address. Mr. Kashkari recently joined PIMCO having served until May 2009 as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, where he led the Office of Financial Stability and managed the $700 Billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Mr. Kashkari will share his insights on the economy, his experience running TARP, and his new role at PIMCO.

The morning events will kick-off with a unique “VC Speed Dating” activity where entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to meet with 22 venture capitalists in quick-hitting three minute sessions. Later, an expert panel of venture capitalists will provide an in-depth review of the state of the local venture market. And finally, 14 start-up companies will give investment presentations in front of VCs, investors, and the general audience.

The second half of the day will begin with OCTANe’s second annual “Innovation Report,” which will discuss the state of innovation and entrepreneurship in Orange County. The afternoon will feature two tracks of panel discussions around areas of technology and cleantech, including: stem cells, digital advertising, high speed data communications, clean water and clean power, video games, and clean transportation. Throughout the entire day, an “Innovation Showcase” exhibit hall will be open featuring over 80 companies and technologies from the local R&D industries.

“This is Orange County’s marquee event to get the inside view on cutting edge technologies, hot start-ups, venture investments, and industry trends,” said Matthew Jenusaitis, president and CEO of OCTANe. “With participation from some of the region’s most established companies, active investors, and leading-edge start-ups, the conference will spotlight OC innovation at its best.”

For more information or to register for the event, please visit www.vcintheoc2010.com or contact OCTANe at (949) 330-6569.

About OCTANe:

OCTANe is fueling "innovation development" in Orange County and Southern California. By connecting people, capital and technology, OCTANe accelerates entrepreneurs and company development for Orange County's biomedical and technology communities. The organization brings together the region’s leading biomedical and information technology companies, promising startups, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and universities to help create, grow, support, staff and fund innovative companies. For more information, visit www.octaneoc.org.

New OC Survey Shows Great Support for Clean Tech, Green Jobs

2010-05-11T13:14:00.000-07:00

Contact: Dan Chmielewski
Madison Alexander PR
dchm@madisonalexanderpr.com
(949) 231-2965

Today’s “State of the County” survey by Brandman University’s Center for Sustainable Living demonstrates significant support within Orange County for clean technology initiatives, particularly when linked to job creation and economic growth.

Finding #1: OC Residents Believe that Reducing Fossil Fuel Use is Critical to Growing our Economy

According to the survey, nearly nine of every ten (87%) Orange County residents believe that it is important for the United States to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels (58 percent Very important and 29 percent Somewhat important).

The most important reasons cited for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, however, have to do with national security and the economy, not climate change or environmental degradation. A majority (56 percent) believe that it is very important to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels because it makes us dependent on foreign oil sources, and 57 percent say it is very important because our dependence on coal, oil, gasoline and natural gas contributes to terrorism by putting money in the hands of people who hate us. Fifty-seven percent view the negative impact on our economy (by forcing us to borrow money from nations such as China) as a very important reason for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Less than half (46 percent), however, endorse “Hurts the environment by increasing pollution and contributing to climate change” as a very important reason for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

All alternatives to reduce dependence upon fossil fuels enjoy widespread support (71 percent to 85 percent “Favor”). Nuclear energy is the least popular (58 percent), but it is still favored by a majority of Orange County adults. Forty-three percent say that government is not doing enough to protect the environment, while 37 percent say that government is doing just enough. Only one-fifth of the sample (20 percent) says that California is doing more than enough to protect the environment.

Residents’ desire to improve the environment is tempered by their concern for jobs and the economy. Forty-three percent agreed with the statement that “stricter environmental laws cost jobs,” which is up from 28 percent in 2000, and 50 percent agree with the statement that “stricter environmental laws are worth the cost,” which is down from 62 percent in 2000. Developing a local economy that is both green and prosperous is one of our greatest policy challenges.

Finding #2: OC Residents Believe that “Green” Jobs are Going Mainstream

According to the survey, as the Orange County high-tech industry is leveling off and green jobs are entering the mainstream, residents believe strongly that the green jobs market, including jobs in areas such as solar power, energy conservation, renewable materials and electric vehicles, will grow to employ thousands of workers in Orange County (20 percent “Very likely,” 48 percent “Somewhat likely,” and 33 percent “Not very likely”). Respondents across all income categories are optimistic about the potential for growth in the green jobs sector, however those viewing this eventuality as most probable (80 percent “Very” or “Somewhat likely”) earn less than $40,000 per year.

Over three-fourths of respondents believe that it is “Very important” (47 percent) or “Somewhat important” (32 percent) for local government to actively promote green jobs and a green economy in Orange County. Significantly more 18 to 34-year-olds (62 percent) view active local government promotion of the green sector as “very important” than among those 35 to 54 (49 percent) and among older respondents (42 percent).

Finding #3: OC Residents Believe that Hybrid and Electric Vehicles are Now a Viable Alternative

According to the survey, approximately half of Orange County residents appear ready to embrace the wide array of electric vehicles that will begin to hit the American market over the next 18 months. A majority of residents (51 percent) would seriously consider purchasing a fully electric car that can travel at least 100 miles without having to be recharged (46 percent would not).

About CleanTech OC

CleanTech OC is a new trade association that seeks to establish Orange County as a center of clean technology innovation, investment, research and development, and job creation for tomorrow's green economy. CleanTech OC focuses on companies involved in renewable energy generation, resource conservation, green buildings and construction, green chemistry, and alternative fuel vehicles. For more information, please visit http://www.cleantechoc.org/.

About the Brandman University 2010 State of the County Survey

The Brandman University 2010 State of the County Survey was a telephone survey of 675 adults conducted April 15, 2010 through April 27, 2010. Full results of the Brandman University 2010 State of the County survey can be found at http://www.brandman.edu/stateofthecounty_2010/.

# # #

All company names are trademarks of their respective owners. CleanTech OC is a trademark of CleanTech OC, a not-for-profit trade association.

CleanTech OC Introductory Video

2010-04-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

Click here to join CleanTech OC today.

Fisker Automotive Completes $528.7M Loan

2010-04-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

Irvine-based Fisker Automotive has received final approval from the U.S. Department of Energy for a $528.7 million federal loan. The loan will be used to develop two lines of plug-in electric hybrid vehicles, starting with the Karma.

Read the full story at The Orange County Register.

CleanTech OC Member FlexEnergy in OCLNN

2010-04-23T17:02:00.001-07:00

CleanTech OC member FlexEnergy was profiled on April 15, 2010 by the Orange County Local News Network. FlexEnergy is an Irvine-based company that has developed the FlexPowerstation, a mini power plant that converts methane into electricity with near zero emissions. Methane gases from landfills have traditionally been burned or vented to the atmosphere, posing a major environmental hazard: it has a much higher greenhouse gas potency than carbon dioxide. Now, methane can be converted into energy through Flex’s technology.

According to their CEO, Joe Perry, "Orange County has the potential to be a leading player in the clean-tech revolution. New Orange County organizations like CleanTechOC can assist in obtaining funding and fostering partnerships between government, universities, and the private sector. There is a lot of talent in Orange County, but more than that, the county has been a leader for many years in the clean and green movements. For more than 30 years the county and SCAQMD have been focused on making this a better, cleaner, more sustainable place to live. Now is the time for Orange County to thrust itself into a more visible role. FlexEnergy is benefiting from local expertise in industry, a partnership with the University of California Irvine, and local government leadership that believes in the promise of Clean Tech."

Read the full article by clicking here.

2010 Showing Great Promise for Cleantech

2010-04-21T15:09:00.000-07:00

Worldwide, investors put $1.9 billion into clean tech startups in the first three months of 2010. That is an 83% increase from the same quarter last year and a 29% increase from the fourth quarter of 2009. Additionally, the number of deals hit a record high. These were the results of the latest report from the Cleantech Group and Deloitte.

Sheeraz Haji, president of Cleantech Group, says: “The bounce back in venture investment from lows in early 2009 has continued, with the first three months of 2010 representing the strongest start to a year we have ever recorded.”

The results come from a survey of investments made in 180 companies from North America, Europe, Israel, India, and China.

The New York Times reported on the new data stating that Electric car-related startups and solar technology startups received the most investment.

$704 million went to electric car-related startups, half of which went to one company — Better Place. Better Place is a Silicon Valley company that has signed contracts to build electric car charging stations and other infrastructure in Australia, California, Canada, Denmark, Hawaii and Israel.

Another $170 million is going to two electric car production companies in California — Fisker Automotive ($140 million) and Coda Automotive ($30 million).

$322 million was invested in solar startups. SpectraWatt, an Intel spinoff that makes solar cells, received $41.4 million and Enphase Energy, a company that makes microinverters for solar panel systems, received $40 million.

Energy efficiency startups, especially efficient lighting companies, received the third most in investments — $217 million in total.

The US accounted for 81% of 2010 first quarter investments (an increase of 133% from the first quarter of last year), followed by Europe (14%), China (4%) and India (1%).

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CleanTech OC Kickoff Event

2010-04-13T13:55:00.000-07:00

CleanTech OC hosted its kickoff event at Brandman University in Irvine. Speakers included California State Controller John Chiang, Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang, Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, Brandman University Chancellor Gary Brahm, and Bryan Cave LLP Partner Greg Trimarche.

Over 100 attendees enjoyed food, drink, conversation, and exhibits from the Discovery Science Center and ClearEdge Power. Representatives from over 30 Orange County clean tech companies were in attendance.

See a full slideshow by clicking on the link below.

CleanTech OC Kickoff