California Apollo Program to target cleantech jobs

Oct 21 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Dana Hull San Jose Mercury News, Calif.

Business, labor, community and environmental leaders on Thursday launched The California Apollo Program--a blueprint for expanding cleantech jobs and manufacturing in the state.

"We've seen energy policies stall at the federal level, and it makes what's happening in California all the more important," said Cathy Calfo, executive director of the Apollo Alliance. "It's important to have a comprehensive strategy to move toward a clean energy future."

The Apollo Alliance was formed in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to spark a clean energy revolution. Inspired by the Apollo space program, the organization promotes public and private investments in energy efficiency, clean power and mass transit as well as education and training. It has chapters in 10 states, including California.

The coalition's immediate goal is defeating Prop. 23, a measure on the Nov. 2 ballot that would suspend AB32, California's landmark global warming bill, until the state's 12.4 percent unemployment rate drops to 5.5 percent. Proponents argue that the state cannot afford more environmental regulations when unemployment is so high. Opponents of Prop. 23 argue that AB32 has created California's cleantech market.

"Prop. 23 will kill the goose that laid the golden egg--California's clean energy sector," said Dan Reicher, Google's director of climate change and energy initiatives. "Let's not just win but win by a big margin."

Tom Werner, the CEO

of SunPower, is one of several cleantech executives in Silicon Valley who has personally donated money to the No on 23 campaign. The launching of the California Apollo Program was announced at SunPower's Richmond offices.

"We are adding jobs because of AB32," said Werner, who noted that SunPower has created a manufacturing facility in Milpitas because of the robust California solar market. "We need to make sure that Prop. 23 doesn't pass. Prop. 23 is shying away from the opportunity to innovate in the face of a big challenge."

John Hunter is a contractor with Del Monte Electric, a Dublin company that decided to expand into solar installations last year.

"Solar now accounts for about a third of our business," said Hunter. "This new market will allow us to hire electricians who live in our local communities."

But beyond the Nov. 2 election, the California Apollo Alliance sees work ahead. The California Air Resources Board is the state agency responsible for enacting AB32, and there are concerns the board will come under increasing political pressure to delay its timetable, currently set for 2012, for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"We need to push for state legislation that will grow manufacturing," said Lisa Hoyos of the California Apollo Alliance. "And we need to push for full implementation of AB32."

Contact Dana Hull at 408-920-2706. Follow her on Twitter at Twitter.com/danahull.

To read/download The California Apollo Program, please visit: http://bit.ly/CAApollo.