The developers behind Tic Tac-sized light bulbs powerful enough to illuminate a sidewalk, a solar project used to extract oil and other cleantech innovations took center stage Tuesday night at the inaugural Bay Area Energy Awards.
About 235 people attended the awards ceremony at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View.
The awards, produced by the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, honor dedicated companies and leaders that rise to the top in cleantech and energy conservation in seven categories.
“During this process we’ve learned firsthand how much the Silicon Valley impacts conservation efforts worldwide,” said James MacGregor, publisher of the Business Journal.
Paul Tucker, associate administrator, responsible for facilities, security and construction at Regional Medical Center of San Jose, was presented Best Energy Manager Award.
Winners in the other categories are:
Best Technology & Innovation- GlassPoint Solar Inc., which unveiled the nation’s first commercial solar project targeted at oil recovery in Bakersfield in February.
Best Emerging Cleantech Company- Luxim Corp., which has been illuminating cities across the globe with its Light Emitting Plasma technology.
Best Cleantech Project- ChargePoint America, a $37-million public-private partnership sponsored by Coulomb Technologies Inc. that will provide nearly 5,000 electrical vehicle charging stations across the United States for free.
Best Service Provider: Hara, which created an environmental and energy management program that helps businesses track and control their energy and water usage and emissions.
Best Conservation Leader – Private Sector: Google Inc., which has cut its carbon footprint in half since 2007.
Best Conservation Leader – Public Sector: City of San Jose, which since launching its green goals in 2007, the city has brought in $5.3 billion in venture capital funding for clean technology and has created more than 4,350 green jobs. Most recently, the city launched a pilot program to help homeowners go solar and developed resources to help other communities do the same.
Finalists are:
Best Technology & Innovation: Envia Systems Inc., which has developed a smaller, more efficient battery, which means electric cars can weigh less and travel farther.
Best Emerging Cleantech Company: SeaMicro Inc., which has developed a server that can replace a rack of servers four times its size while consuming a fourth of the power.
Best Cleantech Project: Fortune Data Centers, one of the first to earn LEED Gold Certification for a multitenant data center in 2009.
Best Service Provider – Optony Inc., which helps businesses and government agencies, like Santa Clara County, evaluate and invest in solar projects.
Best Conservation Leader – Private Sector: Adobe Systems Inc., which since 2001 has implemented 75 different projects at its San Jose headquarters that have resulted in reducing electricity use by 27 percent, water use by 53 percent, natural gas use by 16 percent and irrigation by 93 percent, compared to what consumption would have been had they grown without implementing energy savings measures.
Best Conservation Leader – Public Sector: Center for Sustainable Energy and Power Systems, University of California, Santa Cruz, whose educational program was launched in 2009 to find renewable energy solutions that communities will embrace.
Full profiles of all the winners and finalists will appear online and in this week’s Business Journal on Friday.
The first smart fortwo ED was delivered by Roger Penske in snowy Washington DC. A ChargePoint was on hand as well. Did you know if you live in the DC region you may qualify to receive free ChargePoint stations? Visit www.chargepointamerica.com
Kristin Zimmerman, of the Chevy Volt design team, plugs in. (Source: Brandy Baker/The Detroit News)
Here come the charging stations! Last Thursday, September 2, Coulomb Technologies’ ChargePoint America program unveiled it’s first networked charging station in Michigan, at NextEnergy just outside of Detroit. It is the first of hundreds of public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations that will be installed throughout Southern Michigan as a part of a $37 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Coulomb is working with Ford, General Motors and smart USA, all of whom have announced plans to introduce EVs in Southern Michigan in the coming months.
Right now Business and municipalities in Michigan from Grand Rapids to Lansing to Ann Arbor to Detroit should apply online to own these free charging stations.
If you are a business owner or municipality located in Southern Michigan and would like to apply for a free ChargePoint America Networked Charging Station, fill out an online application now because the EVs are coming!
The more than 80 people who attended the press conference were joined by United States Senator Debbie Stabenow, Coulomb CEO Richard Lowenthal, NextEnergy CEO Ronald J. Gardhouse and Director of the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth Andy Levin. Senator Stabenow was the first person to plug in an EV in the State of Michigan. She commented,
“Thanks to strong private-public partnerships, Michigan companies are creating jobs and leading the country in the development of electric vehicles and the advanced batteries that power them. Now Coulomb Technologies has unveiled the first of hundreds of ChargePoint America stations across the state here at NextEnergy, which was made possible by the Recovery Act. These stations will make it easier for drivers to charge their electric vehicles as we continue to build these new vehicles here in Michigan.”
Helda Rodriguez brings us exciting news about her travels to Washington, DC. As the president of NovaCharge, Coulomb’s Southeastern USA distributor, she was asked to join a panel for a Town Hall meeting on Clean Energy and contribute information on the ChargePoint America program and how NovaCharge is involved with helping end our dependency on foreign oil.
When she arrived, she was surprised to find herself in great company next to Senators Kerry and Merkley!
There were over 300 attendees in the room and although it seemed to go very quickly, it was a chance to educate many people on what Coulomb, ChargePoint America, and NovaCharge are doing to help.
ChargePoint America sees its name in lights with the New York charging station unveiling this morning! The station is located at Edison ParkFast, 451 9th Avenue in Manhattan. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Coulomb CEO Richard Lowenthal, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and Edison Properties Chairman Jerry Gottesman battled the rain but made it on time to attend this exciting event.
Mayor Bloomberg spoke at the celebration:“To meet the ambitious goals in PlaNYC, our long-term sustainability agenda, we will have to reduce transportation emissions by taking mass transit, walking or riding a bike, and increasing the use of alternative-fuel and electric vehicles,” he said. “Coulomb Technologies and the ChargePoint America program will help us support a new type of vehicle on City streets so we can reduce pollution and emissions in the most efficient way.”
New Yorkers will keep noticing this new A-lister charging station as The City of New York continues to install stations under the $37 million ChargePoint America program.
Look for more media coverage about this event throughout New York — the rain couldn’t keep these reporters from getting the top story today!
Charging stations are coming to a city near you! Coulomb Technologies will deliver free home and public ChargePoint® Networked Charging Stations for electric vehicles throughout the United States.The ChargePoint America program will provide nearly 5000 charging stations to program participants in nine regions in the United States: Austin, Texas, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, Fla., Sacramento, Calif., the San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area, Redmond, Wash., and Washington DC. Coulomb is also partnering with three leading automobile brands Ford, Chevrolet and smart USA.
Here are some of the most common questions (and answers) about the program
What criteria will determine who receives a free home charging stations?
Any purchaser of a program electric vehicle (the Chevrolet Volt, the Ford Transit Connect and Ford Focus Electric, or the smart fortwo electric drive), whose home is located within one of the nine target regions, will be eligible to receive a home charging station at no cost. Homes must be within a 70 mile radius of a given city center to qualify. Please ask your dealer for more information about the ChargePoint America program when you purchase a new electric vehicle.How were the nine program regions selected?
There were a number of factors that went into the decision of which regions would take part in this program. First, each region had to be on at least one of the participating automakers list of target regions where their vehicles will be for sale during the program period. Second, the regions themselves had to write a letter to support the grant proposal. Third, major metropolitan areas that were geographically dispersed were considered.Who pays for installation of the charging stations?
Charging station installation, in most regions, will be paid by the station owner or the individual.Are there special facilities requirements for installing a charging station?
Yes. These are Level II charging stations that require 220 volts, and special wiring is needed. The wiring is similar to the wiring needed to install a new electric clothes dryer. The wiring needs to be done directly at the garage or carport. Your auto dealer will be able to help you get organized for the installation.Do I own the charging station at the end of the program?
Yes.What kind of charging station data is required from individuals as part of the program?
While charging station data requirements are not completely defined, most, if not all data will be obtained directly from the ChargePoint Network. The DOE is interested in station utilization: amount of energy used, when the stations are being used, etc. An individual will need to authorize Coulomb to collect anonymous data from your charging station for use in analyzing the program.What happens if I do not have a garage or carport?
You will likely not be eligible to receive a no-cost home charging station. Rest assured, we are providing an electric vehicle-charging infrastructure to your metropolitan area. We are talking to many private and public garage operators who will potentially be getting charging stations as part of this program. You should contact the owners of the places you park your car overnight and/or during the day to see if they could apply for one of the program public charging stations. May people without their own garages will want to charge during the day at their work location. Others may request from their city a charging station location for where they park at night.How do I reserve a home charging station?
You don’t need for a reservation. Just make sure you apply for the ChargePoint America program at the auto dealer or with the auto company where you purchase your new electric vehicle. If they are not aware of the program, please contact us or have them contact us directly. OK.What is the catch?
There is no catch. The Federal government through the DOE wants to create an electric vehicle-charging infrastructure so that people will feel comfortable with acquiring electric cars. Electric cars are good for the environment, as they emit no harmful greenhouse or noxious gases. They reduce the country’s reliance on foreign oil, and they cost less to operate than gas powered vehicles. The new electric cars coming at the end of this year are robust, family size vehicles that should be very popular. You can help lead the way to a cleaner, healthier tomorrow.
If you are interested in learning more about the ChargePoint America program sign up here or visit www.chargepointamerica.com for more details.
