2014 Newsletters

Powerful turnout for Energy Storage Symposium
More than 160 regional energy industry leaders, government officials and other stakeholders filled the Microsoft auditorium in Mountain View last week for Joint Venture’s fifth annual Silicon Valley/SEEDZ Energy Storage Symposium.

The gathering heard keynote remarks by Tesla Motors CTO JB Straubel, and a number of government, private sector and industry experts updated the audience on the emerging market for customer-side energy storage, advances in technology development and local deployments. Of particular interest was one panel of experts who lamented the “awkward” process of connecting energy storage – a unique asset class that both takes power off the grid and puts it back on – to the electricity grid, noting that rule changes are needed to correct the “square peg – round hole” problem. Watch JB Straubel’s presentation. Read more about the symposium.

SEEDZ and Optony to expand local deployment of commercial solar
Joint Venture’s SEEDZ Initiative, in association with Optony, has launched a new program to increase installation of solar equipment at commercial facilities in Silicon Valley. Commercial energy use is high in our area, and thousands of acres of commercial roof and parking lot space are capable of supporting hundreds of megawatts of solar, associated energy savings and future price stability.

The scale of commercial solar represents a major lever for community greenhouse gas emissions reduction as required in local Climate Action Plans. And because this is business-relevant, many major corporations are rapidly expanding on-site solar, including Wal-Mart and Costco, each with more than 50 megawatts installed. The U.S. Department of Energy supports the new project, titled Commercial Acceleration of Solar Energy – Silicon Valley, or CASE-SV. It provides free, objective support to qualifying commercial and institutional energy customers for solar site assessments, education on technical and financing options, streamlined procurement and contractual processes, and opportunities for local and national recognition. The time is right, as solar installation costs are at an all-time low, and the Federal 30 percent Investment Tax Credit expires at the end of 2016. More information, and how to sign up.

Our June Spotlight

Kim Springer

County of San Mateo

Governor Jerry Brown drew national headlines recently for talking about what people like Kim Springer have dedicated much of their careers to for years – that California is the “epicenter” of addressing the impacts of climate change.

“Humanity is on a collision course with nature,” Brown told scientists at a conference in Sacramento on how the drought is impacting state agriculture.

“It’s shocking how much has changed in the past few years,” says Springer, the resource conservation programs manager for San Mateo County and the new co-chair of Joint Venture’s Public Sector Task Force.

Read Kim’s profile.

Joint Venture seeking new executive vice president

Joint Venture is conducting an extensive search for an executive vice president to become Joint Venture’s second in command. The EVP will develop new programs and initiatives where Joint Venture is not currently active, oversee our administrative staff and most operations, produce a variety of events, and work in close partnership with the CEO to plot the strategic direction of the organization. Read the job description.

Article of the Month “Three possible solutions to Silicon Valley’s unaffordable housing crisis” Silicon Valley Business Journal
Silicon Valley is exhausting its housing supply even faster than it is creating jobs in the region, Silicon Valley Business Journal managing editor Shana Lynch reported from a recent panel at Microsoft hosted by the Housing Trust of Silicon Valley and SPUR.

Micro-units, new development fees and building incentives were among the proposals to address the problem of affordable housing. Joint Venture CEO Russell Hancock was the keynote speaker at the event, which was part of Santa Clara County Affordable Housing Week. Read the article.

June on “Inside Silicon Valley”

The June 3 election results and healthcare are among this month’s topics on Joint Venture’s weekly public affairs radio program, “Inside Silicon Valley.”

Scheduled guests include San Jose State political science professor and political commentator Larry Gerston (June 6 & 8), Chris Wilder, executive director of the Valley Medical Center Foundation (June 13 & 15), and John DelSanto, senior managing director of Accenture (June 20 & 22).