eNews Update | December 2015 | www.clean-economy.org   |
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 California Governor Jerry Brown and Senate President pro Tem Kevin De León are leading the state's delegation to the Global Climate Summit that is taking place over the next two weeks in Paris. They will be sharing California's success stories of growing the world's eighth largest economy through the adoption of effective clean energy and climate policies.
Since the passage of California's landmark clean energy and climate law (AB 32) in 2006, California has grown its clean technology sectors by attracting $21 billion in venture capital and creating 437,000 new jobs. Now, state officials in Paris also will celebrate the signing of SB 350, which will ramp up California's renewable energy production and energy efficiency measures by 2030.
~Susan Frank
Director, California Business Alliance
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Business Insider - November 30
Fresno Bee - November 11
KPBS - November 4
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California Means Business (CMB)
California employers added 41,200 net jobs in October, a significant increase from more sluggish growth reported a month earlier, according to federal data. The state unemployment rate in October fell to 5.8%, down from 5.9% in September and the lowest since October 2007.
AETNA, OTHER VALLEY FIRMS TO HIRE 556 THANKS TO $3.77M IN STATE TAX CREDITS
Central Valley companies plan to create 556 new jobs in the next several years, thanks to $3.77 million in state tax credits awarded last week. It's the biggest showing yet for local companies participating in the California Competes program administered by the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). The Business Journal 11/16/2015
GOLDEN RANKING
A surprise for all those critics who keep insisting California regulations are bad for business: a new study ranks California as in the top three U.S. States for "the best conditions" for American entrepreneurs. The personal finance website "GOBankingRates' said its study "investigated the startup opportunities and existing small businesses in each state, along with how startup-friendly each state's business climate and economy is to determine the best and worst states for entrepreneurs for 2015." Top three states: "Washington, Wyoming and California are the best states for entrepreneurs."Politico.com 11/03/2015
LOOK HERE! BAY AREA DOMINATES LIST OF BEST CALIFORNIA CITIES FOR JOB SEEKERS
Fifteen of the 20 best cities in California for job seekers are in the Bay Area. San Francisco took the No. 20 spot, with the 21st best job market and 40th best socioeconomic environment. San Francisco has more job openings than any other city in California, according to the report. San Francisco Chronicle 10/30/2015
Click here to read more CMB news.
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Featured Report
by Naveena Sadasivam
InsideClimate News
November 18, 2015
A new report finds that switching heavily to wind, solar and other sources for generating electricity could create an additional 1 million jobs by 2030 and 2 million by 2050.
Rebuilding the U.S. energy industry to substantially reduce reliance on carbon-based fuels may result in a net gain of 2 million jobs by 2050 while increasing disposable household income, according to a new study sponsored by a nonprofit that advocates clean energy.
The report, by the Virginia-based consulting firm ICF International, found that a large-scale shift to renewable sources for generating electricity could increase U.S. employment by 1 million jobs by 2030 and 2 million by 2050, even after accounting for job losses related to fossil fuels. The transition also would provide between $300 and $650 in additional disposable income per household annually in 2050.
The ICF report findings undermine one of the main fossil fuel industry objections to cracking down on carbon pollution: that it would cost too many jobs and cripple the U.S. economy. Burning carbon-heavy coal, oil and natural gas has dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, leading to potentially catastrophic global warming.
Read the full article here. Read the full report here.
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Featured Blog Post
by Ruben Aronin. Deputy Director
California Business Alliance for a Clean Economy
November 20, 2015
 Vice President Joe Biden recently celebrated Alliance member, LA Cleantech Incubator (LACI), and the opening of its new LaKretz Innovation Campus by participating in a panel of investors and entrepreneurs to discuss jobs and clean technology. California is leading the way in creating business and economic opportunities from our robust and growing clean energy economy.
"This is where the magic happens...invention, innovation, incubation," said LACI's CEO Fred Walti. "This (La Kretz) is a unique place to build a company...a cleantech entrepreneur can take an idea, do research, go down the hall and prototype, then go across the hall to the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, and test and get an idea certified...then get a chance to get the idea to marketplace. There's no other place like this... this is the model for the future."
Featured panelists in the vice presidential forum included several entrepreneurs from LACI's portfolio of companies such as Alliance member Pick My Solar, which recently won Techweek LA's Launch Competition. Other high-level participants included LADWP General Manager Marcie Edwards, Deputy Mayor of Economic Development Kelli Bernard, LACI Board Members Jim McDermott, Richard Morganstern and David Nahai, and TCW Managing Director Tom Soto.
Read the full blogpost here.
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Featured Event
Electric Program Investment
Charge (EPIC) Symposium
December 3 - Folsom, CA
The California Energy Commission (CEC), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), and Southern California Edison Company (SCE) (collectively referred to as the Administrators) will host the first Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Symposium on December 3, 2015 at Lake Natoma Inn in Folsom.
EPIC, an energy innovation funding program, seeks to drive efficient, coordinated investment in new and emerging energy solutions. The symposium will showcase a variety of EPIC projects, including energy efficiency, generation and integration, systems architecture, and data analytics. The event will contribute to ongoing coordination and understanding among administrators, parties, and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC); raise awareness and visibility of EPIC investments; and promote EPIC program transparency. The EPIC Administrators will consider ideas generated by the discussion to inform development of future funding opportunities.
To learn more, click here or email pamela.doughman@energy.ca.gov.
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Small Business Funding
GO-Biz Committee Approves $43.7 Million in Tax Credits for 89 Companies Adding Over 7,000 Jobs in California
Building upon California's nation leading job creation, the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced in November that the California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) committee approved $43.7 million in tax credits for 89 companies expanding and creating jobs in California. The awards will help these companies create a projected 7,164 jobs and generate over $600 million in investment across California.
 Alliance member Finelite, based in Union City, was selected as one of the recipients. Finelite focuses on the design and manufacture of high-performance, environmentally sustainable lighting systems for office, healthcare, and educational facilities. The company's 20-year commitment to energy-efficient LED and fluorescent lighting systems has brought innovation and unmatched customer service.
Since 2014, GO-Biz has Awarded $223 Million to 330 Companies Projected to Create Over 42,000 Jobs and $9.6 Billion in Investments.
The complete list of approved companies and award amounts can be found here.
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Solar Power Resources
 The company, Consumer Affairs has launched a new website resource to help demystify the solar marketplace. The site provides an easy to navigate primer on just about every question you might have about the solar marketplace, costs, potential savings as well as expert and consumer reviews of a number of solar power providers.
To learn more, visit here.
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Best,
Susan Frank
Director, California Business Alliance
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