Report: 2009 California Green Innovation Index

The 2009 California Green Innovation Index is a brand new report produced by Next 10 and authored by Collaborative Economics. The Index provides a deep analysis of key economic and environmental indicators that will help us better understand the role green innovation plays in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening the economy.

Research included in this 2009 Green Innovation Index provides further evidence of the powerful economic stimulus clean energy policy can provide. California’s energy productivity, that is, the amount of Gross Domestic Product produced per unit of energy, is 68% more productive than the rest of the nation. New data presented shows that while total jobs increased by just one percent statewide, green jobs have increased by ten percent since 2005. Clean technology investment in California nearly doubled in 2008, reaching $3.3 billion. California is a national leader in solar, wind and battery patents.

Next10: http://www.next10.org/environment/greenInnovation09.html

Download report: http://www.next10.org/pdf/GII/Next10_GII_2009.pdf

Report forecasts 37 million jobs from renewable energy and energy efficiency in U.S. by 2030

The renewable energy and energy efficiency (RE&EE) industries represented more than 9 million jobs and $1,045 billion in U.S. revenue in 2007, according to a new report offering the most detailed analysis yet of the green economy. The renewable energy industry grew three times as fast as the U.S. economy, with the solar thermal, photovoltaic, biodiesel, and ethanol sectors leading the way, each with 25%+ annual revenue growth.

The new ASES Green Collar Jobs report from the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) based in Boulder, and Management Information Services, Inc (MISI), an internationally recognized economic research firm based in Washington D.C., provides a sector-by-sector analysis of where the opportunities are in the rapidly changing renewable energy and energy efficiency industries.

"There's a new sense of optimism in the green economy," said Brad Collins, ASES' Executive Director. "But while the U.S. could see million of new jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency, this will only happen with the necessary leadership, research, development, and public policy at the federal and state levels."

Key steps include a national renewable portfolio standard, long-term extension of the production tax credit, effective net metering policies, and improved access to electric transmission infrastructure.

According to the advanced scenario in the report, which represents the upper limit of what is technologically and economically feasible, RE&EE would generate about 37 million jobs and $4,294 billion in annual revenue by 2030. It's one of three forecast scenarios highlighted in this report. Under the base case (business as usual) scenario, which assumes no major change in policy or initiatives, the green job forecast is for more than 16 million jobs and $1,966 billion in revenue in the U.S. by 2030 – less than half the jobs and revenue than the advanced scenario. The third scenario assumes moderate policy improvements at the federal and state level and forecasts 19.5 million jobs and $2,248 billion in revenue by 2030.

Key conclusions from this report include:

• Renewable energy and energy efficiency currently provide more than 9 million jobs and $1,045 billion in revenue in the U.S. (2007). The previous year (2006) renewable energy and energy efficiency represented 8.5 million jobs and $972 billion in revenue.

• 95% of the jobs are in private industry.

• As many as 37 million jobs can be generated by the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries in the U.S. by 2030 – more than 17% of all anticipated U.S. employment.

• Hottest sectors include solar thermal, solar photovoltaics, biofuels, and fuel cells (in terms of revenue growth).

• Hot job areas include electricians, mechanical engineers, welders, metal workers, construction managers, accountants, analysts, environmental scientists, and chemists. The vast majority of jobs created by the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries are in the same types of roles seen in other industries (accountants, factory workers, IT professionals, etc).

• Renewable energy and energy efficiency can create millions of well-paying jobs, many of which are not subject to foreign outsourcing. These jobs are in two categories that every state is eager to attract – college-educated professional workers (many with advanced degrees), and highly skilled technical workers.

• The renewable energy industry grew more than three times as fast as the U.S. economy in 2007 (not including hydropower). Renewable energy is also growing more rapidly than the energy efficiency industry, but the energy efficiency industry is currently much larger than the renewable energy industry.

Full report: http://www.ases.org/images/stories/ASES/pdfs/CO_Jobs_Final_Report_December2008.pdf

SunEdison Acquires Business Institute Solar Strategy (BISS) GmbH

SunEdison, North America's largest solar energy services provider, announced the acquisition of Business Institute Solar Strategy GmbH (BISS), with offices in Hamburg, Germany and Brescia, Italy. The transaction provides SunEdison with 38 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects under development in Italy and Spain and direct access to 300 MW of project opportunities in Europe. SunEdison has more than 68 MW of solar under management globally, with 9 MW of PV systems in Spain. Terms of the deal and projects were not disclosed.
In addition, SunEdison named BISS managing director Gerwin Dreesmann, as General Manager, Europe.
"The BISS acquisition, which provides SunEdison direct access to 300 MW of project opportunities, accelerates our European expansion. Gerwin and the BISS team have an excellent reputation in Germany and unparalleled insight into the European market. They share our rigorous focus on quality assurance in system execution and delivery of solar services. I look forward to working closely with Gerwin as he oversees our operations in Europe," noted Carlos Domenech, COO and CFO, SunEdison.

Leading Silicon Valley Patent Law Firm to Encourage Green Technology and Clean Energy Innovation by Offering Patent Protection Services for Free

Raj Abhyanker LLP (www.rajpatent.com), a leading Silicon Valley patent law firm, has decided to extend the firm's legal services, expertise, and skills in patent application preparation, corporate law, and venture capital fundraising to entrepreneurs with proven technologies related to green technology and clean energy in the year 2009 for free.

Following Barack Obama's inauguration yesterday morning and drawing upon Barack Obama's message of service above self, Raj Abhyanker, founding partner of Raj Abhyanker LLP, is taking his own small step in helping bring forth new and exciting technologies to the market by creating an added incentive for Americans to innovate in these important technology spaces. Patent and corporate legal costs usually run between $15,000 and $25,000, all of which can be reallocated to product development and engineering underneath this exciting program."Energy usage and the environment are two issues that Obama speaks of that have a personal resonance with me. Having been both a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and patent attorney, I shall offer entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists, and self-funded small businesses a helping hand to extend my experience and expertise in intellectual property protection, corporate formation, and venture capital fundraising" said Raj Abhyanker.

Only individuals and self-funded American companies who have a genuine and real desire to build a scalable business will be considered under this program. Companies will have to apply and be interviewed to be accepted in this program. Selection to receive free patent legal services will be based on the strength of the technology, dedication of the team, and by a genuine desire to build a scalable business.

Stanford launches $100 million initiative to tackle energy issues

Recognizing that energy is at the heart of many of the world's tribulations—economic, environmental and political—Stanford is establishing a $100 million research institute to focus intently on energy issues, President John Hennessy told a capacity crowd Monday afternoon in Memorial Auditorium.

The $100 million in new funds will enable the hiring of additional faculty and support new graduate students, in addition to the more than $30 million in yearly funding now spent on energy research. Stanford researchers are tackling some of the world's most challenging problems, such as finding an alternative to coal that is environmentally friendly yet cheap enough to sell to China. Hennessy described that particular quest as the Holy Grail of energy research.

The new Precourt Institute for Energy will draw on deep scientific expertise from across the campus and around the world. From the minuscule—materials scientists prying loose more electricity from sunshine through more efficient photovoltaic cells—to the national effort to develop sustainable energy and the global search for ways to reduce atmospheric levels of carbon, the new institute will be at the forefront.

The institute is being brought to life through the generosity of donors, some of whom were seated in the audience Monday. The giving was led by founding donors Jay Precourt and the husband-and-wife team of Thomas Steyer and Kat Taylor. Precourt is an energy executive; Steyer is a Stanford trustee and managing partner of Farallon Capital Management, and Taylor is active in a variety of public benefit and philanthropic ventures. They are all Stanford alumni.

Other donors include Douglas Kimmelman, senior partner, Energy Capital Partners; Michael Ruffatto, president, North American Power Group Ltd.; and the Schmidt Family Foundation.

"Universities such as Stanford need to focus their full talent on the greatest challenges facing the world today," Hennessy said before the ceremony. "Energy is certainly one of those issues, posing a threat to our economy, to national security and, through the use of fossil fuels, to our environment. Addressing the challenge of energy will require research on a wide range of issues, from energy efficiency to development and deployment of renewable sources, to reducing the effect of fossil fuels."