by Paul K. Herrerias, Managing Director- Northern California, Stanton Chase
The San Francisco Bay Area’s unprecedented research and development infrastructure is throwing its Herculean weight around in the alternative energy world. Powered by 5 world-class research universities (Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCSF, UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz) and 18 national research laboratories and institutes (Lawrence Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, SRI, and EPRI among them), the region’s R&D infrastructure and talented scientists and technologists have enabled the Bay Area to continue its leadership position in science, technology and innovation.
According to the Bay Area Science and Innovation Consortium (BASIC), the San Francisco region is poised to assume the global lead in the development of alternative energy technologies. Of note is the $500 million given to create the Energy Biosciences Institute at Berkeley as well as $225 million earmarked to Stanford for its Global Climate and Energy Project. According to the American Wind Energy Association, the United States recently surpassed Germany as world leader in wind generation, reaching the 21,000 megawatt installed capacity milestone, enough to generate 60+ billion kilowatt hours of electricity and serve over 5.5 million American homes in 2009.
The state of California leads the nation in setting progressive energy policies. At $2.9 billion, the California Solar Initiative sponsored by the California Public Utilities Commission is the largest solar incentive program in the nation. Launched by Governor Schwarzenegger as the Million Solar Roofs Initiative, this program which rewards consumers who install solar energy systems is forecast to produce 3,000 megawatts of electric power – the equivalent of 5 modern generating plants. Funding received from such statewide initiatives further boosts the Bay Area’s significant alternative energy R&D programs already under way at federal laboratories, universities, corporations (i.e. Chevron, Lockheed Martin and Pacific Gas and Electric) and start-ups eager to commercialize the research coming from universities and national laboratories.
In support of this local activity, the San Francisco office of Stanton Chase put on an Alternative Energy conference in November 2008 and invited representatives from universities (i.e. U.C. Berkeley), Bay Area corporations (i.e. Chevron), local government representatives and various start-up CEOs to share their ideas on solar, wave/wind energy, bio-diesel, carbon credits, batteries, and sustainable building.
One of the speakers, Jim Davis established Chevron Energy Solutions as one of the nation’s top energy services firms and the first comprehensive energy services company in the oil and gas industry. The mission of this wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron Corporation is to help clients expand the use of energy efficiency, conservation and “green” power technologies while ensuring reliable, high quality power. Bill Stewart of Solarcraft discussed his company’s successful installation of over 4,300 residential and commercial solar energy systems. He boasts that the energy generated from solar saves its customers more than $7 million annually. Another speaker, Michael Brown, represented Greenline Industries, a successful biodiesel production company committed to making biodiesel fuel production affordable and practical, thereby reducing CO2 emissions as well as other pollutants. Michael Burney of Green Diamond Syndication discussed solutions tailored to the development, registration and trading of carbon credits derived from large projects that reduce emissions. John Muir Whitney, founder of CAST Ventures, shared revelations about exciting new organic batteries that can discharge and recharge 1 Megawatt of energy in just a few seconds.
As America advances its technology and commercialization of new products and services in the CleanTECH and Alternative Energy space, Stanton Chase will be expanding its Industry Practice Group and specialization to keep pace with it and help make these dreams a reality locally, nationally, and globally.
For more information on our CleanTECH Industry Practice group, or a copy of our CleanTECH: Alternative Energy Options in 2009 Conference Brochure, contact Paul Herrerias, Managing Director, San Francisco office at p.herrerias@stantonchase.com or (415) 721-7001.
Contact
Paul K. Herrerias
Managing Director, San Francisco
Office: +1 415-398-1001
sanfrancisco@stantonchase.com
