Sacramento Gets Green with Enterprise Zone

Clean-energy firms getting capital welcome

By Clint Swett - Bee Staff Writer

Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Story appeared in BUSINESS section, Page D1

Here's the news portion of the article "By a unanimous vote, council members approved a resolution to market the existing enterprise zone to clean-energy firms in an effort to make the city a center for the fast-growing industry."

Here's another nugget from the article:

"Barbara Hayes, executive director of the organization, said about one-third of her group's 60 active prospects are green-related companies, and that the enterprise zone status is a powerful recruiting tool."

Any chance we could invite those twenty companies to the Sacramento Region Clean Energy Showcase on October 11?

Sony, Waste Management to start recycling program

Sony Electronics partners with the trash hauler to help customers recycle all Sony products for free at 75 Waste Management centers.

By Reuters

Published: August 17, 2007, 7:26 AM PDT

Trash hauler Waste Management and the Electronics division of Japan's Sony announced on Thursday the establishment of a consumer electronics recycling program.

Starting September 15, customers will be able to recycle all Sony products for free at 75 Waste Management recycling centers, the companies said in a statement. The number of centers is set to increase to at least 150 sites within a year, with at least one location in every state.

Story Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

from News.com - original article here.

OK, how does this apply to the Sacramento area? Folsom happens to be home to Waste Connections, the I believe third largest waste management company in the US. So, maybe Waste Connections could hook up with another company with a large presence in the area like maybe Intel or HP?

John Edwards Thinks There's Opportunity in Green Collar Jobs!

"Which is why America needs to make a switch from our addiction to oil and carbon-based fuels to wind, solar, safer biofuels, and cleaner renewable energy, which will have positive impacts far beyond economic impacts. No. 1: It will create at least 1 million "green-collar jobs" in this country."

This is from an interview with Salon that ran Monday here. Green collar jobs are already happening here in the Sacramento region. Some of the companies hiring in this area in this sector are SunTechnics, Solar Power Inc, EcoStream and I'm sure there are many others. Anyone know of any other companies that are hiring green collar workers?

Politics - Lockyer: Sell bonds for 'green' buildings - sacbee.com

Politics - Lockyer: Sell bonds for 'green' buildings - sacbee.com:

"State Treasurer Bill Lockyer on Tuesday proposed a $5 billion bond measure to combat global warming by getting California's largest building owner -- the state government -- to improve its energy efficiency."

I think Mr. Lockyer should come to the Sacramento Region Clean Energy Showcase! Mr. Lockyer, I've got a pass for you if you want to attend. Can you accept that?

How to Green Your Work (TreeHugger)

How to Green Your Work (TreeHugger)

This one was pointed to me by Kevin Maney at Portfolio. Some good, simple easy to implement ideas including using less paper, encouraging working from home, teleconferences etc.

Any Sacramento-area companies embracing these ideas that want to jump in and be profiled here?

"Green Jobs Bill" Passes US House

From a press release from US Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA)

Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. House of Representative approved the Green Jobs Act of 2007, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (D-CA) to help train American workers for jobs in the renewable energy and energy-efficiency industries – industries that are key to U.S. and world efforts to combat global warming. The bill was passed as part of H.R. 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act.

We're not endorsing the bill just using it to point out the momentum and opportunity for businesses and municipalities to build with 'green jobs.'

CalChamber Has Resource for "Climate Change Policies"

The California Chamber of Commerce has launched a new website providing information on climate change policies for its members, businesses, policymakers and the public.

This actually launched in June, but we hadn't yet so here it is.
The website can be found at www.climateconnect.org.
Their release is here.

Looks like a great resource for California businesses that are trying to learn how to balance being green with being successful.