Government Policies and Investments in Clean Energy Companies

Our March 5 forum was on the topic of Government Policies and Investments in Clean Energy Companies

Since the dawn of the industrial revolution, governments have been keenly aware of the strategic importance of energy to national interests. But it took the oil embargo of the 70’s to catalyze non-OPEC governments into action. Since the 1970’s, more regulations, government agencies, oversight and direct intervention has taken place then ever before. This involvement encompasses the entire value chain in the sector from safety rules regarding extraction and production all the way to government labeling of products through programs such as "Energy Star".

In FountainBlue's March 5 Clean Energy Entrepreneurs' Forum, we had a conversation about the role of government policies including clean energy research, incentives to promote product adoption and distribution, and how best to navigate that process. The session helped clean energy entrepreneurs understand the objectives of local, state and national authorities and the related policy objectives as they build their clean energy efforts.

• Our facilitator Brian Reidy, Partner of Growth Process Group framed our discussion by covering how governments have been working with clean energy companies through all of recorded history.
• Panelist Steve Churchwell, Partner, DLA Piper provided his perspective on the types of clean energy companies out there and how each has different challenges.
• Panelist Kelly Fergusson, Mayor, City of Menlo Park, brought her perspective from a civil engineering/community leader background, sharing her plans for making Menlo Park a hot-bed for clean energy companies.
• Panelist Judith Ikle, Program/Branch Manager Procurement, Renewables & Climate Strategy Branch from California Public Utility Commission, brought her perspective both from the national and now the state regulatory angle.

Below are links to additional information about each of these organizations.

• California Public Utilities Commission http://www.cpuc.ca.gov
• DLA Piper's Energy: Government Affairs and Regulatory Practice http://www.dlapiper.com/energy_gov_affairs/ and Steven Churchwell's bio: http://www.dlapiper.com/steve_churchwell/
• Solar City to host a 3/11 and 3/17 event in Menlo Park
  

Other information of interest: NREL's clean energy investor's directory http://www.nrel.gov/technologytransfer/entrepreneurs/directory.html