Sacramento Saves the World from Global Climate Change

Corn is a "Low Carbon" Fuel, Join the Clean Energy Diet and Lose Unwanted CO2

Last night, President Bush, in his State of the Union called for more intensive use of ethanol and other alternative fuels in an attempt to cut gasoline use by 20 percent by 2017. This initiative could boost the prospects of many Sacramento Clean Energy companies. Shares of Sacramento-based Pacific Ethanol Inc. jumped 6 percent in anticipation of Bush's State of the Union speech. Pacific Ethanol recently moved its headquarters to Sacramento from Fresno.

Among other things, Bush proposed a mandatory fivefold increase in alternative fuel consumption by 2017. Corn-based ethanol is the leading alternative fuel, although the president also called for greater use of products like biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol -- a form of ethanol made from things like agricultural waste.

Even Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is calling this week for a "low carbon" fuel diet to lighten California's greenhouse gas load. The executive order issued Thursday establishes a statewide goal of shrinking the carbon footprint of California transportation fuels by at least 10 percent by 2020.

Nationally, a consortium of ten large energy and industrial companies, including California energy giant PG&E, Inc. has broken ranks with some other U.S. business groups by calling on the federal government to enact strict limits on emissions that can trap heat in the atmosphere and help create a market for credits issued to companies that cut emission.

With companies like Nu Edison, Mariah Power, and Jadoo Power getting support from organizations like Sarta and the Clean Start Power Up business plan competition, this region may just become the first major Clean Tech hub. The key will be attracting and growing these companies in the Sacramento region. The business plan competition is nice, but how about introducing a world-wide technology competition for Clean Energy with a big payoff like the X-Prize. Or requiring these companies to move to the region in order to receive funding and support. If we really want to go green local cities and counties could give clean energy a huge boost by mandating clean energy policies and initiatives on home builders and large corporations.