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Health & Fitness

What You Should Know about San Diego's Global Leadership in Clean Technology

Learn more about San Diego's growing cluster of clean technology companies and what cleantech means for our region as we move into a new energy future.

San Diego is home to more than 800 clean technology or “cleantech” companies representing a diverse mix of sectors including solar power generation, advanced biofuels, alternative transportation, energy efficiency, energy storage, and smart grid.

As one of the top ranked cleantech hubs in the world, this cluster is anchored by six world-class universities including UC San Diego, San Diego State University and over 50 regional research institutes, like Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

The City of San Diego was recently named the Top Solar City in California, with more rooftop photovoltaic (PV) installations than all of Mexico. In addition, the region is home to one of the country’s most innovative and progressive utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric. On August 2, 2012, SDG&E received the prestigious award for the nation's Most Advanced Smart Grid by Power Magazine for successful installation of 1.8 million smart meters throughout its service territory. Couple that leadership with UC San Diego’s world-renowned microgrid, that self-generates 92 percent of its energy use from renewable sources, and you have a shining example of a sustainable city.   

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The catalyst for accelerating these market forces was formed when Mayor Jerry Sanders launched CleanTECH San Diego in 2007. This non-profit, membership-based trade organization based in La Jolla is designed to attract jobs, talent and capital to the region while advancing its brand as a global leader in the cleantech economy. CleanTECH San Diego nurtures the region’s robust cleantech cluster through education and outreach, advocacy, and capital formation programs. Key to its continued success is collaborating on innovative projects such as Smart City San Diego, EDGE and CREBS while convening thought leaders and showcasing its technology companies at local, national, and international events.

CleanTECH San Diego strategically bridges the public and private sectors that are in pursuit of a common agenda around cleantech and sustainability.  Featured member companies include local household names like Sullivan Solar Power, car2go, Bank of America, Honeywell, GE, Sempra, Sapphire Energy and Power Analytics, just to name a few. To view the full membership roster, visit here.

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Keep your eyes peeled for local news about game-changing innovations and economic opportunities that are available to you or your business. In the meantime, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and find out more at our website: cleantechsandiego.org

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