Cleantech San Diego

Cleantech San Diego is a member-based trade organization that positions the greater San Diego region as a global leader in the cleantech economy and smart cities movement. As a nonprofit organization, we are uniquely suited to support the cleantech industry by fostering collaborations across the private-public-academic landscape, leading advocacy efforts to promote cleantech priorities, and encouraging investment in the San Diego region. Our members include more than 100 local businesses, universities, governments, and nonprofits committed to advancing sustainable solutions for the benefit of the economy and the environment.

MISSION

To accelerate clean technology innovation and the deployment of smart cities solutions for the benefit of the economy and the environment.

VISION

To position the greater San Diego region as the globally recognized leader in the innovation and adoption of clean technologies and sustainable business practices.

The Biorenewable Industry in San Diego:

Fueling the region’s cleantech economy. The greater San Diego region, including the Imperial Valley, is a proven a leader in the production and commercialization of renewable fuels and food from algae and other biological sources. San Diego’s thriving biorenewables industry helps the region, state, and nation achieve energy independence and greenhouse gas reductions while creating jobs. Algae biotechnology in particular continues to have a strong economic presence in the San Diego region and employment continues to show consistent growth.

The Energy Efficiency Industry in San Diego:

Bright ideas power our clean energy economy. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Environment ranks California the #2 most energy efficient state in the country. Cleantech San Diego works to advance and extend our region’s leadership in renewable energy and energy efficiency technology development and installation. Over the last three years, customers in the SDG&E territory have reduced their electricity use by more than 911 million kilowatt hours and their gas usage by more than 1.8 million therms. That’s enough electricity to power more than 150,000 homes for one year or taking more than 135,000 cars off the road for a year. In collaboration with the utility and the City of San Diego, Cleantech San Diego helps drive energy efficiency programs such as San Diego’s regional intelligent street lighting project. By the end of 2015, this cutting-edge initiative will have transformed 75,000 street lights across the greater San Diego region, generating $4 million in annual taxpayer savings and eliminating the equifalent of 12,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.

The Solar Industry in San Diego:

Flexing our power to shine. The greater San Diego region is a state leader in solar energy.  According to the California Solar Initiative, San Diego has the greatest solar photovoltaic (PV) adoption rates in the state and is designated a top solar city based on number of solar PV rooftop installations. San Diego has twice been ranked as the solar capital of the United States, for two separate rating periods in 2009 and again in 2012.

The Wind Industry in San Diego: Spinning up clean, renewable energy.

Wind energy plays an increasingly important role in San Diego’s electricity portfolio. According to the Electric Power Research Institute, the cost of producing wind energy has decreased nearly four fold since 1980. San Diego-based wind companies have the tools and talent necessary to capitalize on this growing market and provide resource-efficient, clean wind energy to power the region and beyond. Wind energy also creates jobs. The America Wind Energy Association estimates that through the early 1990s, 1,200 direct jobs in California’s wind industry, with as many as 4,000 indirect jobs, were created.