SARTA CleanStart Showcase Highlights Sacramento Region Clean Tech Progress

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Sacramento region’s growing clean tech sector was highlighted today at the Sacramento Regional Technology Alliance (SARTA) CleanStart Showcase.

“The CleanStart Showcase helps focus attention on the fact that this is a great area for forming and growing world-class clean tech companies.”

Held at Sacramento State and attended by more than 500, the sixth annual event focused on regional and industrywide clean tech trends, including the latest innovations in solar, wind, biofuel, transportation, and energy-efficient technologies.

“The Sacramento region is getting good traction as a center of clean tech innovation,” said Gary Simon, chair of SARTA CleanStart. “The CleanStart Showcase helps focus attention on the fact that this is a great area for forming and growing world-class clean tech companies.”

The 2012 Clean Tech Innovator of the Year Award was presented to Michael Kuhlmann, chief executive officer of Rancho Cordova-based RCS Technology, a leading designer and manufacturer of energy management and control products for residential, small commercial and hospitality markets. More than 500,000 intelligent thermostat products from General Electric, Trane, Motorola, IBM and Lutron incorporating RCS devices have so far been sold globally.

The event included a display of 18 electric vehicles including unreleased prototypes from companies including Enertia Motorcycle, Segway, Toyota, Zero Motorcycle, Ford, Isuzu, Karma, BMW, Nissan, Honda, Coda and Tesla.

Prominent speakers included Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson; Kish Rajan, director of the Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz); Steve Westly, former California Controller and current tech investor; and Andrew McAllister, Commissioner with the California Energy Commission.

Sacramento-area based CleanWorld, RCS Technology and SunOptics were recognized for their notable achievements in the past year.

Other program highlights included a “Fresh Faces” venture pitch in which seven new companies had three minutes to win over the crowd with a compelling venture pitch for recognition as the most promising new firm.

Panel discussions were held on topics such as clean tech policy developments, electric vehicle opportunities, future smart grid developments, and evolving customer demands and expectations.

Expert-led roundtables were held on a range of issues including feed-in tariffs, electric vehicles, Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), investors, Renewable Energy Testing Center, entrepreneur training & education, carbon offsets, Jobs Act, California Lighting Technology (CLTC), smart grid, and exporting clean tech products.

SARTA CleanStart helps accelerate the development of clean technology ventures within the greater Sacramento region.