Quality of Life & The Grid

Quality of Life & The Grid

Right now, the energy transition is focusing on the Grid. It is where the ZEV, building, industry and generation all meet. It is also where there will be future jobs. Jobs with Heating and Cooling, Electricians, Plumbing and more. Jobs connecting EVs and retrofitting exciting houses for the energy transition. 

If you want to join CleanStart in accelerating this transition, reach out to our Executive Director, Thomas Hall.

A constant refrain, “This transition needs to be equitable.” I think by definition it has to be. We all need to decarbonize; it would be fruitless to ignore any community. However, we cannot be complacent. If Sacramento Takes the lead as a green city, we can leverage funds for the energy transition and be a giant boost to communities.  Fortunately, the things that make a more resilient energy system can also improve the quality of life in all communities. 

Weatherization and heat pumps create more efficient buildings, decreasing the demand on the grid while improving comfort. Being able to cool living and working spaces without the same increased cost. Other technologies like Electric Water Heaters, smart kitchens, and smart thermostats can help with demand response. Programs like CRPs weatherization program or Grid Alternatives Solar in underserved communities are examples of regional success. They train people and they improve the quality of life where they live. 

But we can go bigger. With a Community Energy Project to electrify everything. We can bring together resources to train people in the community, improve where they work and live, all while decarbonizing. Connecting technologies like mobility with ZEVs, generation with smart homes, energy efficiency with storage in a larger project. Showing they all can work together. 

This needs to involve local businesses in the service sector, working in their communities. SMUD has experience working with larger businesses for demand response programs to benefit the community and company. If we bring several businesses together in the community to work together, they could leverage those benefits, too.

There is grant funding and incentives from government at all levels.They all have a focus on equity and/or positive community impact. The Sacramento region is uniquely positioned to take advantage of these funds, recruit companies, create access for the community, and lead the energy transition. We already have strong community groups providing resources.

This is a daunting project. If it were as easy as I mentioned, then everyone would do it.  There are several groups trying. There is San Diego Gas & Electric Microgrids and in Massachusetts the community is coming together around one. The Sacramento Region should be the leader on this list. We have the community to make it happen, to improve people’s quality of life and prepare us for the ture. 

Because of existing strong community groups focusing on both equity and energy, because we have SMUD (singular point as a ISO and Utility), because we have groups focusing on the energy transition, we have an opportunity to leverage those, support local companies and attract investment in our communities.

We can be a connected city innovating with technologies, improving people’s life, providing future jobs, and leading the energy transition.  Join CleanStart in making this happen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas is the Executive Director of CleanStart. Thomas has a strong background in supporting small businesses, leadership, financial management and is proficient in working with nonprofits. He has a BS in Finance and a BA in Economics from California State University, Chico. Thomas has a passion for sustainability and a commitment to supporting non-profits in the region.

CleanStart Sponsors

Weintraub | Tobin, Moss Adams GreenbergTraurig

BlueTech Valley, PowerSoft.biz, Revrnt, Synbyo, Califronia Mobility Center

A Friendly New Lender for Climate Tech Companies

A Friendly New Lender for Climate Tech Companies

Our friend Sedale Turbovsky at OpenGrants did a web interview with Dmitry Gershenson of Enduring Planet recently to highlight the increased availability of loans to build your company.  Enduring Planet is a much different lender than a bank because they understand startups and want to see more companies based on sustainability succeed.  Accordingly, their lending requirements are more generous than one typically finds at a bank.  

Specifically what Dmitry is offering is a revenue-based loan.  A company has to be generating revenue and growing to qualify, but doesn’t need to be immediately profitable.  It needs to show revenue of at least $25,000 per month and be growing 30% year-over-year.  Loan terms are pretty simple.  No collateral required and no personal guarantees.  As Dmitry says, this is the fastest and least expensive capital available.

Dmitry has also recognized a need for loans for another type of situation—cash flow loans to bridge the gap between expending money on a project funded by the government and getting reimbursed for that cost.  This may take more than 90 days.  Government grants and contracts are wonderful sources of non-dilutive capital, but a company can go broke dealing with the reality of the slow payment of invoices.  Dmitry hopes to have this offering ready before the end of the year.

Sedale recorded and transcribed the hour-long session and it is available here.  Check it out and even if you don’t qualify, keep this lender in mind when you are seeking capital.

Thomas Hall

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gary Simon is the Chair of CleanStart’s Board. A seasoned energy executive and entrepreneur with 45 years of experience in business, government, and non-profits.

CleanStart Sponsors

Weintraub | TobinBlueTech Valley, Revrnt, 

Moss AdamsPowerSoft.biz, Greenberg Traurig

California Sunlight Finds a Niche

California Sunlight Finds a Niche

In the same year CleanStart was founded, Bing Gu founded his startup, California Sunlight.  Bing and his team were always coming up with solar-based products that others had overlooked and built a business around that.  The early years were lean, but now Bing has some very interesting products that are attracting attention and sales are growing.  His journey is one of persistence and struggle, but one which may now pay off.

Bing was born in China and received his Ph. D. in plasma physics there before relocating to Canada for a post-doc in 1999.  He moved to Sacramento in 2001 to advance his career. Bing partnered with a NGO to build
very simple solar products for use in underdeveloped countries. On that path he developed a number of solar ovens and cookers that were simple and cheap.  They were adaptable for campers, particularly backpackers seeking a way to cook food without a fire and without carrying containers of fuel.  He produced a very clever inflatable solar balloon that focused the sun’s energy with the help of reflective inner surface on the balloon, and focused by its parabolic surface.   Still the products did not catch on.

Rethinking the idea of making simple and inexpensive solar products, but this time focused on first world countries, Bing realized the range anxiety of owners of EVs and the desire for portable power when camping or recreating could be other good markets.  He and his collaborators came up with a new range of products using photovoltaic panels and lithium-ion batteries.  You can see them and read the details on his website (https://california-sunlight.com/).  Basically, he has a range of capacities of battery packs with convenient input (AC and DC) and output ports (12 VDC, 120 VAC, 3 watt USB), and a variety of portable, foldable solar panels to charge the batteries or to be used directly.  His most popular battery pack is the 2000 W/1800 Wh one for $1800, with an integrated handle and wheels so it can be rolled around like a piece of luggage.  His foldable 36 v PV panels come in sizes from 100 watts ($200) to 1000 watts ($2,000) that can be plugged together.  He says the 2000-watt storage unit can run an efficient refrigerator for 24 hours.  

He has gained a great deal of interest in his products both from the recent spate of power shutoffs and from a road trip he took up from San Diego showing off his product at various stopovers at EV events along the way.  

His notion of using the 2000-watt unit as a “peace of mind” reserve for an EV is to keep it in the trunk and then use the Level 1 charger most EV come with to plug into the AC outlet on the battery pack to provide an emergency 8-10 mile charge to limp home or to a charging station.  He wanted to avoid trying to do something more elegant that would require altering the wiring on the vehicle and potentially jeopardizing the vehicle warranty.  Keep it simple.  

Since the pivot to the PV products, sales have taken off for California Sunlight.  He is now selling hundreds of units per year with revenues in excess of $250,000 per year and growing, a level which he says is profitable.  He has outsourced the creation and management of his website, as well as fulfillment of online orders.  His units are manufactured in Shenzhen, China for now, but he wants to bring that activity home.

He has no illusions that his products could be duplicated, but believes the features he has included, the simplicity of use, his aggressive prices (including a 10% discount for anyone in the Sacramento region), and his focus on a relatively overlooked niche product can propel his sales growth.  We will be monitoring his progress.

Bing Gu

Bing with the 100-watt folding PV array

Bing with the 2000 W

Bing with the 2000 W unit (yellow) plugged into the 100-watt foldable PV array, and a 500 W unit (red)

Thomas Hall

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gary Simon is the Chair of CleanStart’s Board. A seasoned energy executive and entrepreneur with 45 years of experience in business, government, and non-profits.

CleanStart Sponsors

Weintraub | TobinBlueTech Valley, Revrnt, 

Moss AdamsPowerSoft.biz, Greenberg Traurig