A SARTA initiative. Making the Sacramento Region a 'Green Powerhouse'.
CleanStart is an initiative of SARTA designed to accelerate the development of clean energy technology ventures within the Greater Sacramento Region. CleanStart was born out of an innovative needs assessment study that was jointly funded and managed by the California Energy Commission, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, and the McClellan Technology Incubator.
CleanStart will help entrepreneurs assemble solid management teams, secure adequate funding and accelerate the commercialization of sound product ideas. Through this mission, CleanStart will create jobs and wealth for the Capital Corridor region.
Our mission is to help Capital Corridor entrepreneurs by empowering them with the knowledge, capital and connections that are critical to creating a successful new business.
In the United State, more than $1 billion per year is invested in the Clean Technology industry, a number that could double to $2 billion in the next decade. With its history of investment in technology and access to a talented pool of technology scientists and researchers, California has become a worldwide leader in Clean Technology innovation, providing more than 25,000 jobs in clean energy companies.
In the Capital Corridor alone, there are 30 active clean energy companies, a number that is projected to grow to more than 300 in the next few years, employing another 10,000 people and bringing over $5 billion in new economic activity to the Sacramento region.
CleanStart Goals
- By 2008, add 10 new Clean Energy Technology (CET) companies in the region, with 100 net new jobs.
- By 2010, add 25 new CET companies and 1,000 net new jobs in the region.
- Build a network of expertise in the CET Sector.
- Develop an approach to assist CET companies with the commercialization of their technology and acceleration of their technology and acceleration of their business success.
- Establish acceleration programs as an important tool for developing strong partnerships with local universities, the business community and the technology communities
The Capital Corridor has:
- A talented pool of technologists within top research and educational institutions at UC Davis and Sacramento State University.
- A growing network of seed and early stage investors seeking to put financing to work in local innovative firms.
- A number of relevant State regulatory and R&D agencies interested in seeing new Clean Technologies reach the marketplace.
- Progressive institutions that engage in product demonstration, technology transfer, economic development, and business incubation.
What are Clean Energy Businesses?
For the purposes here, “clean energy” is defined broadly to include:
- Renewable energy—solar, wind, bio-energy, and environmentally-friendly hydroelectric technologies
- Energy efficiency and demand response—electricity end-use, buildings and grid applications
- Environment-enhancing technologies—advanced flue gas clean-up, ultra-low emissions generation such as fuel cells, environmental remediation, and exceptionally efficient generation
- Enabling technologies—power electronics, storage, low-loss cables and wires, sensors and instrumentation, control systems, materials and manufacturing technology, and integrated clean energy applications.