Bay Area Climate Collaborative Blog

Bay Area Climate Collaborative to Launch Major New Regional Clean Energy Action Plan

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:25:41 GMT

Mayors of San Jose and Oakland, and other Bay Area Leaders to Celebrate Three Years of BACC Successes and Launch the Bridge to the Clean Economy Strategy

SAN JOSE, C.A., May 16, 2012 – The Bay Area Climate Collaborative (BACC) will make a major regional clean energy announcement on Friday, May 25, with San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and Oakland Mayor Jean Quan at SunEdison Headquarters in Belmont, CA. The event will launch Bridge to the Clean Economy: Low Carbon, High Impact Market Initiatives for the Bay Area, a new action plan outlining high-impact initiatives in electric vehicles (EVs), renewable power, and energy efficiency that can support economic development and job growth while reducing regional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

What: BACC 3^rd Anniversary and Bridge to the Clean Economy Launch Announcement

Where: SunEdison Headquarters 600 Clipper Drive, Belmont, CA 94002

When: Friday, May 25, 2012, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

RSVP: http://bacc3rdanniversary_bridgetothecleaneconomy.cocodot.com/

This executive-level event, hosted by Steve O'Rourke, Chief Strategy Officer of MEMC, parent company of SunEdison, also will include Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino, Janet Lamkin, President of Bank of America California and Steve Malnight, Vice President Customer Energy Solutions for PG&E. In addition, there will be executive attendees from SolarCity, Kleiner Perkins, Wells Fargo, Hewlett Packard, Applied Materials, Genentech, Lawrence Berkeley National Labs and many others.

“At SunEdison, we believe that through collaboration – sharing ideas, technologies and talents – we can drive economic growth and job creation while protecting our energy security,” said Steve O’Rourke, Chief Strategy Officer for MEMC, the parent company of SunEdison. “With the participation of regional leaders, the BACC has crafted an impressive action plan that leverages the private sector to accelerate the adoption of alternative energy solutions. We are pleased to be hosting the BACC 3rd Anniversary and to be highlighting actionable high-impact clean energy projects.”

For more information about the Bay Area Climate Collaborative 3rd Anniversary & Bridge to the Clean Economy Launch, please contact Claire Barton at cbarton@baclimate.org or (408) 634-4554.

About the Bay Area Climate Collaborative

The Bay Area Climate Collaborative (BACC) is a public-private initiative accelerating the clean energy economy. A project of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, major partners include Bank of America, Pacific Gas & Electric, Environmental Defense Fund and local governments representing over 70 percent of the Bay Area population. Under the direction of Executive Director Rafael Reyes, BACC initiatives include the Bay Area Next Generation Streetlight Initiative to upgrade 200,000 streetlights to LED and deliver $10 million in annual cost savings. For more information on the BACC, please visit: www.baclimate.org.

About SunEdison:

SunEdison is a global leader in delivering solar power. The company develops, finances, installs and operates distributed power plants using proven photovoltaic technologies, delivering fully managed, predictably priced solar energy services for its commercial, government and utility customers. In 2011 SunEdison interconnected approximately 300 Megawatts of solar throughout the world. For more information about SunEdison please visit www.sunedison.com

NRG Energy Prepares to Deliver $100M to California for Plug-In Car Infrastructure

rreyes@baclimate.org (Rafael Reyes) — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:35:25 GMT

NRG Energy will invest $100 million in battery electric vehicle (BEV) charging infrastructure for California. The investment will go towards 200 eVgo Freedom Station sites at select commercial and retail locations, 10,000 make-ready electrical installations, and advanced BEV charging technology and BEV car sharing programs. According to NRG Energy, these investments resolve “all outstanding claims and disputes” pertaining to litigation between Dynegy, bought by NRG Energy in 2006, and the state.

Toyota Unveils Electric SUV with Tesla drive train

rreyes@baclimate.org (Rafael Reyes) — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:59:47 GMT

Toyota unveiled its new electric Rav4 crossover SUV at an event in Los Angeles Monday, but said it will be available only in four California cities for the time being. Toyota plans to sell only 2,600 of them over the next three years. The vehicles will be built by Toyota, but the batteries and electric drive systems will be supplied by the California-based electric car maker Tesla Motors. The Rav4 EV will help Toyota meet electric vehicle requirements in California.

Coulomb Technologies Raises $47.5 Million in a Fourth Round of Funding

rreyes@baclimate.org (Rafael Reyes) — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:55:06 GMT

BACC partner Coulomb Technologies, a leading player in the race to install public charging stations for electric vehicles, announced Monday that it has secured $47.5 million in a fourth round of funding—by far the company’s largest round to date. The new financing will help Coulomb expand operations in the United States and focus on emerging international markets in Europe and Asia.

Morgan Stanley Backs Funds to Help California Homeowners Install Solar

rreyes@baclimate.org (Rafael Reyes) — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:05:01 GMT

Morgan Stanley and San Francisco’s Main Street Power Co. have announced funds to enable Clean Power Finance Inc.’s customers to install $300 million in residential solar energy projects. The equity investments will help finance rooftop photovoltaic systems on homes in California and Arizona. Read more here.

Sustainable Silicon Valley's WEST Summit 5/24

rreyes@baclimate.org (Rafael Reyes) — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:10:21 GMT

Please join 300 leaders from all sectors at Sustainable Silicon Valley's WEST Summit at Santa Clara University on May 24.

Theme: Climate Volatility, Global Supply Chain and Regional Resilience

Is your company prepared for catastrophic impacts of a changing climate? Can strategies for adaptation reduce GHG impacts and increase profitability? What are the impacts on global commerce? How is the drive for sustainability catalyzing innovation? What is the role of leadership for regional resilience and global sustainability?

Find out what leaders in business, science, insurance and government are doing to understand the climate outlook, and to address risks to global supply chains and solutions for adaptation and regional resilience. The 2012 WEST Summit will look across sectors to examine the problems, solutions, inspiration, innovation and action necessary to catalyze change to address climate volatility while maintaining business vitality. Explore entrepreneurial ways to grow jobs and regional prosperity while repairing planetary systems.

Speakers include: California Insurance Commissioner Hon. Dave Jones, General Counsel of Japan, Hon. Hiroshi Inomata, speakers from HP, UPS, Cisco, Mitsubishi, IBM, Zurich Financial Services, NASA, SAP, SCU, The Climate Registry, Green Waste, the FiberShed and more. Morning keynote: Randy Hayes, founder Foundation Earth, Luncheon keynote: Pavithra Mehta, filmmaker and author, Infinite Vision. Exhibits include Mitsubish i-car, art, and closing reception with fine wine and cuisine.

To register: http://westsummit2012.eventbrite.com/

For more information on agenda, speakers, etc:
http://www.sustainablesv.org/content/west-summit

Your presence will make this event more meaningful. Together we can build a better future for our children and their children.

Sunrun and U.S. Bancorp Team up to Create Fund for Residential Solar

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:53:58 GMT

San Francisco’s Sunrun is joining U.S. Bancorp to create a new renewable energy tax equity fund to support the purchase and installation of more than $150 million in residential solar systems across the United States. This is Sunrun’s sixth renewable energy tax equity commitment from U.S. Bancorp. Read more here.

Coda Joining with China Firm to Produce Affordable Electric Car

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:51:58 GMT

California-based electric-car maker Coda has announced a deal to co-produce a new electric model with China's Great Wall Motors, which the companies say will be the most affordable all-electric car available in the U.S. Coda’s battery packs and car bodies are imported from China and assembled in California. The firms hope to place an all-electric car on the market within two years that compares in price to conventional vehicles. Read more here.

Wells Fargo Announces Sweeping Sustainable Business Initiative

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:28:58 GMT

Wells Fargo has announced a massive new program to promote sustainable business across the nation. Wells Fargo is committing to $30 billion in loans and investments in support of a "green" economy, $100 million in community grants for grassroots environmental initiatives and a 40 percent increase in the company's energy efficiency by 2020. Since 2006, Wells Fargo has invested $2.7 billion in equity financing for over 300 renewable energy projects in 27 states. Read more here.

California Reaches 10,000 “GreenPoint” Energy Efficient Homes

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:11:51 GMT

Some10,000 California homes now bear the “GreenPoint Rated” label from Oakland-based Build It Green, a rating that rewards energy efficiency and conservation in new and remodeled homes. To date, California's 10,000 GreenPoint Rated homes have saved over 112 million gallons of water — enough to fill MacArthur Park Lake five times over — and avoided nearly 9,000 tons of greenhouse gases, the equivalent of taking over 1,500 cars off the road for a year... Read more here.