Austin is seeing green
February 27, 2007
Austin is leading the way in "cleantech," or venture capital-funded technology startups in green energy, according to a ranking by SustainLane Government.
With new information emerging on global climate changes and energy price instability, cleantech has become a hot investment topic. According to SustainLane, a sustainability resource helping state and local government to network on key topics, a handful of cities will become centers of cleantech incubation. Because of that, those same cities are likely to become primary drivers of economic growth for the foreseeable future.
As the home to seven startups developing everything from Internet-controlled irrigation to wind and geothermal energy technologies, Austin ranks No. 1 on SustainLane's list. The city also features the Clean Energy Incubator and leads the field with combined venture capital, a research-and-development partnership through the University of Texas and active incubator collaboration with city-owned Austin Energy for testing new technologies.
Austin Mayor Will Wynn says he's pleased that the city is being honored as the capital of cleantech development.
Rounding out the top five cities on the list in order are San Jose, Calif.; Berkeley, Calif.; Pasadena, Calif.; and Boston, Mass. Runners up include San Francisco, New York, Seattle, San Diego and Houston.
