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by Ali Sahabi
The time has come for us to think differently about the way we use our natural resources. If the threat of global warming doesn't get us to change our habits, regulatory requirements put into place by our lawmakers will.
In 2006, California enacted AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, a comprehensive program of regulatory and market mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gases by roughly 25 percent, to 1990 levels, by 2010.
On a national scale, President Barack Obama has made green tech a priority. His federal stimulus plan calls for investment in a new economy that will create jobs and strengthen the economy with emerging industries that fortify our nation's independence from foreign oil.
There are challenges in these regulations, but inherent opportunities as well. Today, the Inland Empire is working together on a plan to establish Riverside and San Bernardino counties as a hub for clean and green technologies. This plan is called the Green Valley Initiative (GVI).
GVI is a collaborative, regional business and economic development initiative to promote investment in Riverside and San Bernardino counties and to establish the region as a leader in clean and green technologies. Its long-term vision is to create jobs based on a sustainable green economy that will help to rebrand the region and promote a higher quality of life for the people living here.
Growth in numbers
The Green Valley Initiative was launched in June 2007 at a conference of more than 100 stakeholders coordinated by the nonprofit organization, the Green Institute for Village Empowerment (GIVE). Since then, the effort has grown to include more than 500 key leaders from throughout Riverside and San Bernardino counties – people representing government, business, public utilities, transportation, education and the community-at-large.
GVI was identified in late 2007 by the Washington Post as one of the key green movements in the nation. Prominent leaders have praised the effort, including California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and several others.
Locally, both counties and more than 40 area cities and other organizations have adopted resolutions in support of GVI and its mission:
Funding resources In addition to garnering widespread support and participation from the region, the Green Valley Initiative has helped open the door to federal funding for clean- and green-technology projects taking root in the Inland Empire.
A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) commissioned by GVI and GIVE, was accepted in October, 2008, by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration and has qualified the region for federal funding related to the initiative. A CEDS is required to qualify for EDA assistance under its public works, economic adjustment, and most planning programs, and is a prerequisite for designation by EDA as an economic development district.
The report, prepared for GVI by the USC Center for Economic Development, identifies potential economic clusters within the region, with a focus on solar and renewable power, trade and logistics, construction and other industries.
The right place, right time
When it comes to suffering under today's economy, the Inland Empire has been among those hit the hardest. Unemployment in this inland Southern California region hit 10 percent in January 2009, the same month that just under 70 percent of residential re-sales for the area were in foreclosures.
On the other hand, we are an economic powerhouse, boasting a $77 billion economy that rivals many states in the nation. And, with 2 million new residents projected to move here in the next 15 years, we are growing at an unprecedented rate. The Inland Empire is a central hub for the nation's shipping and warehousing of products coming into the country from overseas through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. International airports, interstate corridors, affordable land, and a strong consumer base make our region ideal for many clean and green technologies.
GVI representatives recognize the need to work collaboratively on a regional approach to addressing these challenges. Since the launching of GVI, independent green programs have been established in both counties and in member cities throughout the region. Universities and school districts have adopted new curriculum guidelines that promote sustainability and provide job training in clean and green technologies. Business users are meeting with providers to discuss projects that would be mutually beneficial and create new jobs for the region. Federal EDA representatives have met with business owners to discuss funding for these projects.
GVI has promoted partnerships and stakeholder involvement that are transforming the dynamics of the Inland Empire. Working together, we are redefining ourselves as a leading center for clean and green technologies.
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Copyright © 2008, Green Technology. All rights reserved.
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