Pasadena among top 5 'cleantech' cities
March 3, 2007
Pasadena ranks among the top five cities in innovative, environmental-friendly technology, according to a national research organization.
Pasadena the No.4 "cleantech" city in the U.S., mainly because it is home to Caltech, Idealab and the Pasadena Angels. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is in adjacent La Ca ada Flintridge.
"We all share in the excitement of being a part of community that has that kind of interest," said Teresa Bridwell, spokeswoman from Idealab.
Cleantech refers to products and services that develop cleaner technology by reducing the use of natural resources and offer a cleaner, less wasteful alternative to traditional products and services.
Anything from biofuels to renewable energy falls under the cleantech requirements.
SustainLane Government sought out cities that had funded cleantech incubation centers or energy startups.
Caltech funds and assists Pasadena's environmental projects with its nonprofit organization Entretech, located on its campus. Entretech works with a network of investors to offer support to cleantech start-ups.
Additionally Old Pasadena's Idealab generates, funds and hosts companies with new innovate technology-related ideas.
It has produced more than 50 different companies.
"We have a whole host of companies that have been quite successful and have looked to challenge the status quo in their particular area," Bridwell said.
The company's most recent developments have been in robotics and solar energy.
"It's a tight-knit community that is interested in making technological solutions work," Bridwell said.
Heartland Resource Technologies in Pasadena develops formulations using soybean protein as adhesives for construction products to replace petroleum-based adhesives.
"We're less expensive and one of the benefits is that we're reducing formaldehyde," said company CEO Frank Trocino. "A lot of these investment groups are looking for green technologies."
Warren Karlenzig, chief strategy officer of SustainLane Government, said Pasadena could reach a No. 1 ranking in the future. The city is just starting to get involved with applying clean technologies. Further involvement from the city and the state would help Pasadena get higher cleantech rankings, he said.
"So far the state of California has only thrown its weight behind Berkeley as a cleantech cluster," Karlenzig said.
SustainLane Government has been a resource that the state and local governments have referenced. It has a large sustainability knowledge base and networks with similar cites. This is the first cleantech listing that this Internet and media company has done.
"We've had incredible recognition in this anywhere from scientists and companies to state local leaders. We think we nailed it pretty well," Karlenzig said.
For more information on the cleantech ranking visit www.sustainlane.us/articles/cleantech.jsp.
SustainLane Government, a company that specializes in nationwide surveys and environmental information gathering, named
