Bay Area Climate Collaborative Blog

Santa Clara County Installs Solar Systems on Bus Maintenance Yards

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:22:02 GMT

Santa Clara County has installed solar systems totaling 2.1 megawatts at its three bus maintenance divisions. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority partnered with SunPower Corp., Joint Venture Silicon Valley and Wells Fargo to finance and install the solar canopy parking systems, which will supply electricity and provide shade for vehicles at two facilities in San Jose and one in Mountain View. Officials estimate the county will save $2.7 million in electricity costs over the next 20 years. Read more here.

Sacramento’s Clean Tech Sector has Doubled Revenue, Added Jobs

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:13:35 GMT

Sacramento's clean tech companies more than doubled their revenue over the past three years and created sorely needed new jobs for a region struggling economically, according to a new report from the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance. The Alliance said clean tech manufacturers and design companies generated more than $1.5 billion in revenue last year, up from $650 million in 2008, and that the industry now employs 2,200 people, an increase of 400 over the past three years. Read more here.

Facing Budget Shortfalls, 10 California Cities Cut Costs with LED Lighting Projects

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:42:20 GMT

This Forbes article spotlights 10 California cities including Burlingame, Brisbane and Foster City that have achieved $9 million in budget savings by switching traffic and other lights to energy-saving LED technology. The article describes the $35 million Energy Efficient Conservation Block Grants Program – supplied through the California Energy Commission from dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – as a lifeline for cash-strapped California cities and counties. The California Energy Commission estimates the program also has resulted in 2,375 jobs created, 61.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity savings. Read more here.

Intel Tops EPA’s New List of Firms Using Renewable Energy

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:33:04 GMT

Intel, headquartered in Santa Clara, kept its place at the top in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s quarterly rankings of renewable energy use and generation. Intel and Kohl's have long held the list’s top spots and Walmart, Whole Foods Market and Johnson & Johnson round out the top five. Walmart represented the biggest jump, from 15th to 3rd on the list, largely due to solar installations at stores in California and Colorado. Read more here.

New BART Trains Designed to Boost Energy Efficiency, Entice New Riders

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:47:12 GMT

Bay Area Rapid Transit officials have revealed a glimpse of the new “Fleet of the Future,” which is set to roll out in 2014 and replace cars that have been running since 1972. The improvements include three doors on each car to make getting in and out easier, improvements in energy efficiency and better audio and visual passenger information. Read more here.

California Venture Capitalist: Clean Car Rules Create Jobs

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:18:07 GMT

Palo Alto-based venture capitalist Marty Lagod writes in the Los Angeles Daily News that California's advanced vehicle standards help to support jobs and grow California's economy. He urges the adoption of new clean car rules, saying California’s leadership is critical to helping shape global policies. Lagod writes, “We incubate great ideas here, bring them to market, and then -- most crucially -- lock in our leadership position so we keep the jobs those ideas create in California." Read more here.

Tesla Motors to Unveil New Electric Vehicle

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:50:09 GMT

Tesla Motors is planning to unveil the first prototype of a new vehicle, described as having "the functionality of a minivan with a design as cool as an SUV" on February 9th at Tesla's design studio in Hawthorne. Tesla’s all-electric sedan, the Model S, is set to hit the street this summer. Read more here.

Solano County Wind Project is Up and Running, Operators Say

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:04:01 GMT

San Diego-based enXco has announced that its 102.5-megawatt Shiloh 3 Wind Project in Solano County is fully operational and supplying electricity to the regional transmission grid. The project is slated to supply carbon-free electricity to Pacific Gas and Electric Company under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement. Consisting of 50 turbines, Shiloh 3 generates electricity to supply some 50,000 customers with renewable energy. Read more here.

Sonoma County Inks Deal for Electricity from Wind and Biomass

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:57:12 GMT

Sonoma County has signed an agreement with 3 Phases Renewables of Manhattan Beach to provide wind and biomass energy for seven county buildings. The agreement will supply about 2,800 megawatt-hours of wind and biomass-generated electricity annually, or about the same amount of power used by 170 homes in a year. Read more here.

Clean Energy Financing Decision Tool and Guide

bacc@svlg.org (BACC Editor) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:54:35 GMT

States and communities are increasingly investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy to achieve their air quality, economic, and energy goals. In doing so, they have found that the up-front costs of improving energy efficiency and increasing renewable energy generation can be a barrier for many homeowners, building owners, and businesses. One way to address these barriers is by adopting clean energy financing programs that can make efficiency and renewable energy more affordable for these sectors. EPA's State and Local Climate and Clean Energy Program is supporting these efforts with the launch of a new online Financing Program Decision Tool and a Financing Program Decision Guide.