California is becoming a leader in Clean Technology(cleantech) and Los Angeles is leading the way by being:
No. 1 with the most cleantech companies in California.
According to a report released by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in August 2010, Los Angeles County tops the state with 490 businesses and work places that specialize in five sectors of cleantech industry: low-carbon energy, energy efficiency, transportation, green buildings and carbon markets. The data includes both public and private sector employers and shows that the number is up by 60% from 2009..
A true solar city.
Solar LA is the largest and most ambitious solar plan undertaken by any single city in the world. Initially unveiled by Mayor Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in late 2008, to create a network of residential, commercial and municipally-owned solar structures to replace more volatile fossil fuels, such as coal during peak energy demand.
Funding its own policy goals.
The City of Los Angeles and the State of California have policies shaping the green economy in the region. Since 2008, the city has been investing more than $10 billion to drive the green economy and the cleantech industry. The mayor’s leadership, which has been called, “bold and visionary,” is backed by unified support of city policies and regulatory incentives.
Committed to collaboration.
CleanTech Los Angeles (CleanTech LA) brings together business, government, and academia to grow the cleantech sector in Los Angeles. Founded in 2009, CleanTech LA works to promote sustainability and economic growth by connecting LA’s cleantech professionals, telling LA’s cleantech story to the world, and supporting collaborative research, technology commercialization and job creation.
A magnet for cleantech investment.
Investors love Los Angeles According to Ernst & Young, Southern California is a prime place to invest, second only to the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2009, Southern California received annual investment of $329.5 million.
Forefront of research.
Los Angeles is crawling with engineering schools and boasts one of the top clusters of research universities in the world. Alone, the city will be receiving nearly $40 million in DOE funds to accelerate scientific breakthroughs needed for a 21st century economy.”
Green port.
PortTechLA is a clean technology incubator located adjacent to the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro. It is establishing a new technology-driven economic base for the San Pedro Bay port communities, and helping meet the environmental goals of the Ports’ Clean Air Action Plan. PortTechLA identifies, attracts and mentors companies with advanced technologies to enable sustainable port growth through environmental stewardship, as well as efficient and safe flow of international trade to and from ports.
Smart.
The Smart Grid Demonstration Project provides $60M of federal matching funds for the development and demonstration of smart grid energy management solutions in LA. This five year project was awarded on a competitive basis and is the largest single award of its type in the country. The grant provides financial support for organizations that are innovative in their approach to applying and integrating existing and emerging smart grid technologies.
Vision for urban cleantech design.
The Southern California Institute of Architecture and The Architect’s Newspaper extended an open invitation to re-imagine, re-invent and revolutionize LA’s urban fabric into shades of green. Entrants to the Clean Tech Corridor and Green District Competition were asked to move beyond industrial uses to create an integrated economic, residential, clean energy and cultural space through architectural and urban strategies..
Staying power.
As the leader in fashion, aerospace, entertainment, health services, tourism and (moving toward a leading role in) clean technology, the world looks to Los Angeles to define the trends and the cool factor in manufacturing. As the city’s cleantech influence grows, other cities and states are looking towards Los Angeles (and California at-large) for inspiration, best practices and validation of both technologies and policies. While some trends may come and go, cleantech is a movement that is propelling cities like Los Angeles into leadership roles in the 21st century.
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