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Building on Silicon Valley’s history of innovation, Joint Venture is working with business, government, academia, labor and the community to encourage the growth of our clean and green industries as they reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In February 2009, Joint Venture released it’s strategy for this initiative –The Greenprint for Silicon Valley – which provides a framework for a plan of action to insure that Silicon Valley is the leader in the clean energy revolution that will meet our current economic, environmental and energy challenges. The Climate Prosperity Initiative is focused on four areas based on the California Global Warming Solutions Act and the opportunity to leverage local resources: renewable energy, building efficiency, clean, convenient transportation and green infrastructure.
This initiative is initially focused on five project areas:
The fact that our climate is changing is widely recognized as scientifically proven and emission targets and renewable portfolio standards have already been established as targets to combat climate change. The goal of the Climate Prosperity Initiative is to detail a road map of how Silicon Valley can achieve these targets and we believe that protecting the environment can be an economic driver for the region.
In Silicon Valley we have a unique advantage. We both produce and consume the technologies, products and services needed to achieve Climate Prosperity. Our strategy is to stimulate local demand for clean and green technology and supply those solutions to global markets. Silicon Valley is uniquely prepared for this challenge. The region has been at the forefront of information technology and biotechnology innovation and this experience uniquely positions Silicon Valley to be the leader in clean technology innovation. We have supportive public policies, the venture capital community, research programs and a talented workforce.
Achieving Climate Prosperity has significant benefits for Silicon Valley:
The Climate Prosperity Council is composed of the leading minds from all aspects of the clean technology sector in Silicon Valley is chaired by San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and Chris DiGiorgio of Accenture, who also serve as co-chairs of the Joint Venture board. Council members include:
Silicon Valley Energy Storage Symposium and Technology Showcase – On January 20, 2010 Joint Venture held the Silicon Valley Energy Storage Symposium and Technology Showcase at the AMD campus in Sunnyvale. The first event of its kind in Silicon Valley brought together key participants to engage in a discussion of the future of energy storage, and how we can our region the center of innovative energy storage technologies. There were nearly 100 attendees at the event, representing many areas of cleantech including energy storage, solar, smart grid, consulting, research, venture capital, government, design, and academia. This event will now become and annual event.
Cleantech Funding Roundtable – In April, the Climate Prosperity Council will hold a roundtable discussion with a variety of representatives from the finance industry along with the Council to brainstorm new ways to finance clean technologies from technology inception to mass commercialization in all sectors of the cleantech industry.
Second Annual Silicon Valley Mayor’s Summit – In June of 2009, the Climate Prosperity Council along with San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed convened the first ever meeting of Silicon Valley mayors to discuss our regions leadership position as an innovation habitat through clean technology. The second annual meeting is scheduled for June and will include the City Managers from each city and county in Silicon Valley as well.
Silicon Valley Cleantech Policy Summit – We are currently in the initial planning stages of an event to be held in the summer of 2010 to identify the top 10 policy suggestions for each clean tech vertical that will be chronicled and sent to the gubernatorial candidates as recommendations from the cleantech companies and local governments of Silicon Valley.
To learn more about the initiative, or to join the team, contact Kelly Krpata: krpata@jointventure.org or (408) 298-9338.