Green policies: Silicon Valley upturn after IT slump
Jobs S.A.
February 1, 2007New directory of child/adolescent friendly GPs
February 3, 2007Clean-energy investments lead to jobs & cash after long IT spending slump
The ‘Weekly Grist’ article about Silicon Valley’s upturn due to investment in green technology reinforces what politicians in Oz seem to be recognising. Remember 2006 political speak about NOT adopting green policies, how they would hurt the economy?
Grist talks about a new report that says Silicon Valley added 33,000 jobs in 2006 after five years of job losses, thanks in large part to ‘gigantarific’ investments in green technologies. “There’s a lot of excitement about the green economy,” says Doug Henton of Collaborative Economics, which produced the report. “I think it’s real………but check out these actual numbers:
- ‘cleantech’ funding increased from $141 million in 2005 to $516 million in 2006, and in 2006 alone,
- it rose from $34 million in the first quarter to $290 million in the third.”
Grist reports that Russell Hancock CEO of ‘Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network’ who released the report, says boom-and-bust cycles define the valley, but “this time the investing feels more sober and well thought out.” The trend will be chewed over at a conference this week featuring none other than Al Gore.
FYI: Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network – established in 1993 – provides analysis and action on issues affecting our region’s economy and quality of life. The organization brings together established and emerging leaders – from business, government, academia, labor and the broader community – to spotlight issues and work toward innovative solutions.
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If you click through on the Collaborative Economics link above you’ll see this organisation ‘advises civic entrepreneurs’ – people who have the passion, vision, and commitment to blaze a new pathway for their community and who understand that a new kind of leadership is required, for what I would call ‘sustainable living’.
They say that over the last 15 years, they have worked with leaders in more than 40 regions to help their communities break from traditions that hold them back – they work with senior executives from business, foundations, government, education, and community sectors ‘to take specific steps that will create a breakthrough in how people think and act regarding their region.’
All sounds quite inspiring – do we have anything like that here? DO get in touch if you know of anything similar…..thinking how we might start a BALLE network (Business Alliance for Local Living Economy) here.
