SOLARTECH AWARDS SOLAR HEROES TO TWO BAY AREA LEADERS
Not-for-profit consortium launches new 501c3 Fund and engages audience in lively debate on the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.
San Jose, CA, December 7, 2009—SolarTech today honored San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and McCalmont Engineering CEO Tom McCalmont for their continuous commitment and work to promote clean energy business, new technologies, and the jobs that come with them. The awards ceremony launched the company’s 501c(3), SolarTech Clean Energy Fund.
In the forward-looking theme of the awards, SolarTech also hosted a panel discussion at the ceremony to debate the importance and business implications of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference as it begins today. Moderated by Dana Hull of the San Jose Mercury News, the panel hosted Kevin Surace of Serious Materials, Dirk Michels of KLGates, Jeff Anderson of Clean Economy Network and Doug Henton of Collaborative Economics. The audience participating in the debate included thought leaders, policy makers, business leaders and clean energy advocates.
“Today, when we have the opportunity to build a new economy that maintains the United States' position as world's innovation leader, Solar Tech is leading the way for solar to come together and collectively succeed,” said Carl Guardino, SolarTech Vice Chair and Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO. “Mayor Reed and Tom McCalmont have both championed for a better economy where clean energy technology becomes the norm and accessible to all. In the same spirit, the SolarTech Clean Energy Fund will engage in philanthropic endeavors to make solar happen faster.”
The SolarTech Clean Energy Fund will operate as the philanthropic arm of the organization, whose goals are to address key issues faced across the entire solar industry that reduce cost, save money and support innovation. SolarTech is committed to help achieve a 20% annual reduction in solar energy project deployment times for residential, commercial, non-profit, and government solar energy systems within the next five years.
Recipients of the Solar Hero Awards embodied the company’s values and mission, and have a proven record of supporting the clean energy industry. Mayor Reed has been a strong advocate for clean energy in San Jose, and has pushed Congress for greater funding in the clean tech industry, promoting job growth and innovative solutions. Tom McCalmont, co-founder and SolarTech Chair has committed his career to developing technology solutions that address today’s energy crisis. An engineer and physicist, McCalmont founded Regrid Power in 2002, leading the firm to its 2008 acquisition by Real Goods Solar, one of California’s largest solar companies.
About SolarTech
Bringing together industry and the public sector, SolarTech drives the growth of solar energy at the state and local level. Our efforts develop and provide best practices and implementation standards that make mass adoption of solar a reality by addressing six key issues: workforce development, financing, performance, installation, permitting, and interconnection. We make solar happen.
For information on SolarTech, visit www.solartech.org
For information on Silicon Valley Leadership Group, visit http://svlg.net/