Green technology getting a push at Inland summit

By KIMBERLY PIERCEALL
The Press-Enterprise
Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Inland Southern California should foster home-grown green technology that could save both energy and money, rather than let it be exported to countries that have already embraced environmental living, according to an economic development expert focused on green economies.

Doug Henton, president of Collaborative Economics Inc. in Mountain View, said the two-county Inland region could infuse a more environmental and cost-effective way of doing business in two of its leading industries: logistics and construction.

"It's important to be green, but it's also important that green is good for business," he said.

Encouraging greener ways of living and doing business in the Inland region will be the focus of a four-day summit starting Thursday at the Ontario Convention Center. Henton and several other political leaders and environmental experts are scheduled to speak at the Green Valley Summit as part of the SoCal Builder Expo, which is being held in the Inland region for the first time.

The Green Institute for Village Empowerment, a Corona-based nonprofit organization, will present workshops, presentations and product exhibits for professionals and the public.

Henton has worked with regions nationwide including the Silicon Valley to foster economic development, and has trained his attention on the economy of green, releasing the California Green Innovation Index.

Henton said collaboration is the key to assuring that the region capitalizes on green business and technology currently being shipped to foreign markets that are already using it.

"How do we make sure that the companies that are growing here ... find markets locally? How do we make sure that the industries in the Inland Empire can apply those technologies?" he said. "A summit like this is an opportunity."

Since the Green Valley Initiative was launched 11 months ago by Corona developer and owner of the Dos Lagos shopping center Ali Sahabi, most of the effort has been spent getting the region's political, educational and business leaders on board.

"Change is coming and the time is now to make money and do the right environmental things," said Daniel Cozad, program director for the Green Valley Initiative. "The greatest opportunity is not really bringing businesses in but providing information to businesses already here."

Community college leaders at a recent roundtable meeting for the initiative decided to focus on job training for solar and wind technology firms. Three Inland community colleges -- Chaffey, College of the Desert and Riverside Community College -- are seeking a $1 million grant for the programs with the initiative's help, he said.

The lineup of keynote speakers includes Henton, State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, California Public Utilities Commissioner Rachelle Chong, environmental public policy expert and UC Riverside lecturer Woodrow Clark II and solar energy engineer Peter Gevorkian.

The event will feature an exhibit hall of products plus free workshops detailing how to implement green designs in homes and businesses by landscaping and installing solar systems and environmental water heaters.

"That's what makes it different from a home show," Cozad said.

All-day presentations from solar design engineer Gevorkian cost $99 on Friday and $395 on Thursday and Saturday.

Reach Kimberly Pierceall at 951-368-9552 or kpierceall@PE.com