Some 61 percent of California voters this week showed they still believe in the economic promise of clean energy. Californians rejected Proposition 23 that would have rolled back policies to limit greenhouse gas emissions and develop clean energy.
Their vote of confidence reminds us that even though comprehensive federal climate legislation may be off the table today in Washington D.C., the business and economic development opportunities of a low carbon future remain.
Several hundred leaders from business and finance, government, utilities, research and education, clean energy advocates and nonprofits are gathering to talk about emerging ideas in the energy sector next week at Convention Place in Seattle for the Washington State Future Energy Conference and our second annual State Energy Summit.
Gov. Chris Gregoire and British Columbia Minister of State for Climate Action John Yap are among the scheduled presenters over three days.
The transition to a low carbon economy is a worldwide opportunity. Global markets are moving from dependence on carbon-based fuels to a mix of renewable sources—solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear, biomass and tidal energy. Transportation and energy transmission infrastructure is evolving and becoming more intelligent. Homes and buildings are being designed and built to be more efficient and sustainable. Mass market electric vehicles are coming to the U.S.
We saw it on the Governor’s recent trade mission to China, where wind and solar energy are taking hold. According to a 2009 Pew research study, China invested $34.6 billion in clean energy—twice as much as the U.S. They’ve dedicated over $200 billion in government stimulus to renewable energy and related investments.
The Governor is in Germany today to help celebrate the opening of the BMW-SGL plant, where carbon fiber produced in Moses Lake will go into BMW’s revolutionary Megacity electric car. Throughout the world, new technology and development are pouring into clean energy and sustainable growth.
Our state is better positioned
