Blog
An Insider’s View of Clean Energy and Climate Policy
Bob Weisenmiller has been on the inside of clean energy and climate policy in California since 1977, when he started as an advisor to CEC Commissioner Ronald Doctor, pretty much straight out of graduate school at UC Berkeley. With 45 years of engagement, he has a...
State Of CleanTech
Since 2005 CleanStart has been working to build the Greater Sacramento region as a clean tech hub. Because of this work and the growing community Sacramento is well positioned to capitalize on the energy transition. Becoming a self sustaining beehive of activity...
Happy Accident Could Lead to Cheap 2000-Mile EV Battery
Battery scientists have always lusted for a way to use sulfur as the cathode in lithium-ion batteries because sulfur can donate up to 8 electrons per atom—and it is really cheap and abundant. It is largely a waste by-product today. To date, the use of sulfur has...
Return of ECOS Earth Day
ECOS (Environmental Council of Sacramento) Earth Day returned to Southside Park in Sacramento this year after a 2 year hiatus due to the pandemic. Sustainability minded community members and over 100 organizations flocked to the park to connect with each other and...
Ten Companies Present New Products at April 12 Showcase
We had ten regional cleantech companies step up to the plate and offer new products to fill the “innovation challenge” in SMUD’s plan to reach a carbon-free power supply by 2030 at our virtual Showcase. Over 160 people were watching online. Here are the highlights....
Legend Power Systems: Getting the Most from the kWhs You Buy
Recently we were introduced to an important new clean tech company by Bob Soczak, a long-time local resident who was formerly with SmartGrid Billing. Bob’s new company, Legend Power Systems is based in Vancouver, BC, and is working on solving a problem of introducing...
New Energy Nexus Expands Its Mission
On March 7, we heard from Denise Rushing the newly appointed Managing Director for California within New Energy Nexus about the accomplishments and aggressive goals it has for the future. By way of background, what is now New Energy Nexus began with $30 million of...
Vistar Energy’s XeroHome App: Right Product at the Right Time
If you haven’t heard of a software product called XeroHome, you will pretty soon. It is the primary product of startup company Vistar Energy in Rocklin. It is positioned in the sweet spot of a combination of Big Data + Machine Learning + Generous Rebate Incentives. ...
PEM Motion Has Big Plans for Base in Sacramento
How many proposed battery manufacturing plants are operating, under construction or in late planning stages in the US and Europe? Christoph Lienemann, Managing Director of PEM Motion North America, provided the answer with his first slide at our Perspectives podcast...