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Clean Technology

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Technology that's cleaner, greener, and inherently more efficient is the wave of the future, and San Francisco is poised to catch that wave. Acting on an initiative presented in 2004, Mayor Gavin Newsom established the Clean Tech Advisory Council (CTAC) in 2005 to set the clean tech agenda. Its goal is to establish the city as a leader in innovative environmental solutions by:

• Supporting industries that promote a cleaner, healthier environment and reduce dependence on fossil fuels;


• Expanding investment in, and markets for, clean technologies;


• Creating high-skill, high-wage job opportunities in these industries for working San Franciscans.

Legislation & Initiatives

The Clean Tech Payroll Tax Exclusion provides business with payroll tax exclusions.

The city has established a policy pursuing the use of, and need for, public power at Treasure Island and Hunters Point.

The Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Ordinance establishes a list of least toxic products for city purchasing.

The Executive Directive for Green Buildings encourages city staff to attend training sessions on developing and supporting resource-efficient buildings.

The Executive Directive for Alternative Fuel Vehicles encourages city departments to pursue the purchase and use of high-efficiency cars to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Executive Directive for Energy Conservation requires city departments to use energy-efficient measures within their respective agencies.

The Executive Directive for adding solar panels on municipal rooftops commits the city to develop and advance the installation of solar power generators on city-owned buildings.

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Reports

Harnessing San Francisco's CleanTech Future
Creating the California CleanTech Cluster: 2006 update
Creating the California CleanTech Cluster: NRDC

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Members

The members of the city's Clean Tech Advisory Council are:

Dan Adler, Director of Technology and Policy Development, CalCEF
John K. Balbach, Partner, Cleantech Group & Cleantech Venture Network
Josh Becker, Director of Corporate Development, Agile Software
Eric Bowen, Vice President, Energy and Director, Biofuels, Sigma Capital Group
Christopher Carr, Partner, Morrison & Foerster
Gil Friend, President and CEO, Natural Logic Inc.
Scott A. Gardner, Member of the Management Team, US Renewables Group
Robert Grady, Managing Partner, Carlyle Venture Partners I and II
Robert Hambrecht, Managing Director, WR Hambrecht + Company
Van Jones, Founder and National Executive Director, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights (EBC)
Dr. Daniel M. Kammen, Professor, University of California, Berkeley
Nicole Lederer, Co-Founder, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2)
Paul Liotsakis, Associate Director, SF Community Power Cooperative
Robert MacDonald, President, Senior Investment Professional, Paladin
Joel Makower, Co-Founder and Principal, Clean Edge, Inc.
Bryan Martel, Managing Partner, Environmental Capital Group
Jennifer McFarlane, CEO, The Women's Technology Cluster
Rodrigo Prudencio, Principal, Nth Power
William K. Reilly, Founding Partner, Aqua International Partners, and CTAC Chair
Josh Richman, Renewable Energy Consultant
Mike Sangiacomo, President and CEO, Norcal
Bill Shireman, President and CEO, Future 500
Daniel Shugar, President, PowerLight
Jill Sideman, Director and Vice President, CH2M HILL
Nancy Skinner, U.S. Director, Climate Group
Gary D. Vollen, Co-Head of the Technology Banking Group, Pacific Growth Equities

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Priorities

Business Attraction and Investment
The goal of economic development is to generate an industry cluster effect in which companies are attracted to the region and stimulate the competition necessary to solve global environmental problems such as global warming. CTAC identifies the most promising sub-industries to succeed in San Francisco and seeks strategies to address these industries' needs.

Market growth
The city will use innovative demand-side strategies to broaden the market for clean technologies such as:

• Solar power: San Francisco has committed to develop at least 30 MW of photovoltaics by 2017 to meet its electricity load needs, as part of the city's Electricity Resource Plan. (Weblink)



• Biodiesel: The mayor has issued an executive directive for municipal fleets to convert to biodiesel. Meanwhile, the Biodiesel Access Task Force is working with gas stations and distributors to make biodiesel available in San Francisco.



• Tidal and Wave Power: The city is working toward the installation of tidal and wave energy projects using the most effective technologies. The city has initiated feasibility studies for both tidal and wave generation.



• Green Building: The city and the developers of Hunters Point and Treasure Island have signed an agreement to make the new developments a model of sustainability, building Treasure Island to LEED Gold standards, one of the highest tiers in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building rating system. One of the city's aims is to provide 100 percent renewable power to the developments at Treasure Island and Hunters Point.

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News & Events

News Release: SF forms Clean Tech Council (.doc)
News Release: SF Mayor promotes sustainable banking and green financing (.doc)
News Release: CA Clean Tech Open challenge (PDF)
Summary: CA Clean Tech Open challenge overview (PDF)

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Contact Us

For more information about the Clean Tech Advisory Council:

Kelly Pretzer, Clean Tech Manager
Kelly.Pretzer@sfgov.org
(415) 554-6045

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