California Center for Sustainable Energy

The celebrations are over, but I still would like to wish you a happy and prosperous New Year for 2010! Even though economic circumstances continue to be tight and uncertain, I know this will be a good year for CCSE, California and the nation in our journey toward a cleaner energy future.

How do I know this? The first reason is because the clean energy arena is set to enter a phenomenal growth period. National, state and local governments and regulatory agencies have set up funding, incentives and programs that are going to ramp up the adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy. With some $67 billion in federal stimulus money, loan guarantees and grant programs in the pipeline nationwide, there is great promise for innovative energy project development, new industry initiatives and green marketplace growth.

Another reason for optimism is the growing involvement of utilities across the country in solar power projects as owner-operators. Why are they doing this? Because they are looking at long-term energy solutions and at the economics. Not only has the price of PV panels continued to drop steadily over past few years, but now the utilities are eligible for financial incentives. These circumstances will spur utilities to play an even larger role in 2010.

These two factors – government intervention and utility involvement – should generate a revolution in the green energy economy similar to the space race of the 1960s during which government and industry cooperation advanced many technologies. It’s going to take that kind of effort to transform our nation into a clean energy producer, lessen global warming and protect the environment. I can’t think of many efforts that are more worthwhile.

Continue reading January's newsletter.