REDWOOD CITY, Calif. /California Newswire/ — San Mateo County hosted the Assembly Committee on California’s Green Economy Chaired by Assemblymember Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) for an informational briefing in Redwood City today focused on job creation in California’s emerging Green Economy. (See Agenda below.) Following the briefing there was a tour of Nanosolar, Inc. of San Jose whose mission is to deliver cost efficient solar electricity. Their first product, the Nanosolar Utility Panel, can enable competitively-priced peak power and installed system economics at utility-scale.
The informational briefing featured San Mateo County Supervisor and Board President, Richard Gordon, former State Controller and Managing Partner of the Westly Group, Steve Westly, representatives of San Mateo County and the City of San Carlos who spoke about their green initiatives, and green technology businesses in Silicon Valley. This is the sixth in a series of informational briefings held around the state to highlight green jobs and industries. Previous meetings have featured business owners, entrepreneurs, researchers, and local government officials.
Said San Mateo County Supervisor and Board President, Richard Gordon, “California is the world’s leader in green business and green technology. We in government need to understand what policies can help foster this important industry. This briefing will allow both government and business leaders to learn from each other to help create green jobs.”
“California needs jobs. We can match job growth with clean green technology so people can get back to work. Today’s briefing highlighted what business, education and community leaders in Silicon Valley have been doing to spur investment and growth in our Green Economy. I wanted to spotlight the successes and take their example to other parts of our state,” said Assemblymember Pedro Nava, Chair of the Select Committee.
“Today, green jobs represent the most vibrant sector of our economy. According to the latest data, they have continued to grow even as other sectors have contracted,” said Steve Westly, former State Controller and Managing Partner of The Westly Group. “The clean energy sector has the potential to create more manufacturing jobs, and more opportunities at every income and education level, than any other industry in California.”
The Assembly Select Committee on California’s Green Economy was formed to assist state and local governments in shaping policies that will remove barriers and encourage investment and job creation to grow this emerging sector. This includes numerous interrelated fields such as renewable energy sources supplanting fossil fuel use, clean technologies, water conservation and efficiency, alternative transportation, vehicle electrification, renewable fuels, waste management, green buildings, and critical workforce development. During the next couple of months, the Select Committee will continue to examine ways to maximize job creation and also meet the state’s goals of reducing pollution to protect public health and the environment.
California’s Green Economy
Informational Briefing
Friday, October 22, 2010
9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, Hall of Justice
400 County Center, Redwood City, CA 94063
AGENDA
Introduction
(9:00 A.M. – 9:45 A.M)
· Assemblymember Pedro Nava, Chair, Assembly Select Committee on California’s Green Economy
· Richard Gordon, Board President, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
· Steve Westly, Managing Partner, The Westly Group
Panel 1: Local Government and Permitting
(9:45 A.M. – 10:30 A.M)
· Joe La Mariana, Manager of Solid Waste & Environmental Services, San Mateo County
Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager, City of San Carlos
John Sasson, Director of Business Development, Accela, Inc.
Panel 2: Future of Solar Technologies
(10:30 A.M. – 11:30 P.M)
Rory Cox, California Program Director, Pacific Environment
Brian Sager, VP of Corporate Development, Nanosolar, Inc.
John Stanton, Vice President of Government Affairs, Solar City
Panel 3: Energy Efficiency Businesses in the Bay Area
(11:30 A.M. – 12:00 P.M)
· Derek Kaufman, CEO, Glacier Bay
· Tom Quinn, VP of Sales, Lunera .