By Alison van Diggelen, host of FreshDialogues

It only took six days to change the (clean tech) world.

On January 20th, while the world stopped to watch, President Obama gave a stoic but very powerful Inauguration Address. Instead of the soaring oratory we’ve grown accustomed to, he was somber in his words and delivery, reflecting the gravity of our economic crisis.

From my perspective, the speech has brought nothing but optimism and goodwill from friends and colleagues in Silicon Valley and around the world.  I was especially cheered by his promise to restore science to its rightful place in government policy making.

Here are some excerpts of President Obama’s Inauguration Address that underline his commitment to fighting climate change and boosting clean tech:

“…each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.”

“We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories.”

“With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet.”

On January 26th, President Obama announced his new energy policy at a White House press conference. His words will no doubt bring sighs of relief and even some champagne sloshing to those in the clean tech world, especially electric vehicle manufacturers.

“No single issue is as fundamental to our future as energy. America’s dependence on oil is one of the most serious threats our nation has faced…it funds both sides of our struggle against terrorism and puts the American people at the mercy of shifting gas prices; stifles innovation and sets back our ability to compete.”

He’s also started to follow through this week on his campaign pledge to allow California and 13 other states to set strict car emissions and fuel efficiency standards. The California Air Resources Board estimates these new standards will cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars 18% by 2020, and 27% by 2030.

This fine president not only talks the green talk, he walks the green walk. Bravo.

By Alison van Diggelen, host of FreshDialogues

If we need any more evidence that clean tech is hot in Silicon Valley, this is it. Last Wednesday, I attended a lecture on Clean Tech Entrepreneurship by Andres Wydler at Stanford University. Originally planned for 20 to 30 students, the class was heavily oversubscribed and extended to 80 students. As of this writing, there are still 30 on the waiting list. 

The class was packed with energetic people and ideas: a woman from National Geographic, just back from the Antarctic who’d witnessed the scale of the ice melting; a “green” executive from WallMart; entrepreneurs working in the solar, wind, and batteries sectors, and at least one VC. According to Andres’s questionnaire, two key factors are motivating attendees: making a living and making a difference. Several attendees are “between jobs” so the down economy is providing opportunities for some efficient reallocation of capital and labor.

Andres, founder of smartgrid company, BPL Global, wants to equip cleantech entrepreneurs with the tools they need to leverage their skills and ideas; and is bullish about Silicon Valley’s role in the world of clean tech. Admitting that the U.S. currently  lags the rest of the world, he anticipates that we will be in the forefront of clean tech in certain sectors within the next 3-5 years.

“When Silicon Valley puts its mind to something, it’s a fantastic environment to pursue a cause,” he says.

His reasons for optimism:

President Obama’s “New Energy for America” plan

End markets are real and huge

The regulatory enviroment is moving in the right direction

Encumbant energy companies are motivated to change

FDR’s motivation: “a crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” (heard again by President Obama’s chief of staff Rahm Emanuel most recently )

VC funding for clean tech is at record levels. Although 2008 Q4 showed a marked reduction in VC funding, Andres points out that it’s still attractive and alternative clean tech funding sources are available

Recommended reading:

Thomas Friedman’s “Hot, Flat and Crowded” (described as inspirational)

“Perfect Power”by Robert Galvin and Kurt Yaeger

GreenTech Media

Coming Soon: After his last class in February, I will interview Andres at length to find out what hot clean tech entrepreneurs he discovered, and get an overview of his conclusions and predictions for clean tech in Silicon Valley.

By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues

Last Friday, I met with Linda Holroyd, CEO of Mountain View based FountainBlue to discuss her views on the resiliency of green tech in today’s economy. Given that the oil price has now tumbled to under $50 a barrel and gas prices are half of last summer’s high of $4+ a gallon in Silicon Valley, is there still a pressing case for clean energy and green tech investment? We discuss:

The mood of FountainBlue’s clean energy group

Her expectations for President Elect, Barack Obama’s  stimulus package and her advice to our next president.

What local VCs like John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and authors like Thomas Friedman are doing to green the minds of Washington DC

The California CleanTech Open and how it stimulates clean tech development

Why failure is a badge of success in Silicon Valley

Why the downturn can create fertile ground for new startups 

Check back soon for audio

By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues

Download or listen to this lively Fresh Dialogues interview

We welcome feedback at FreshDialogues.com, click on the Contact Tab

In Part Two of our interview with Mayor Chuck Reed, the Green Mayor discusses how the city is changing its rules and practices to move “at the speed of business” to attract clean tech companies like Tesla Motors to Silicon Valley. The interview includes:

Why the Mayor’s Green Vision had to be bold and aggressive

Which green achievement makes him most proud

Why Mayor Reed thanks Governor Schwarzenegger for his part in Tesla’s decision to relocate to San Jose

The phone call to Tesla’s CEO and how it got San Jose on the company’s shortlist

What rule changes the City of San Jose put in place to accommodate clean tech business

What entrepreneurial practices does the city use that are models for the rest of the world?

How did the city reduce one approval process from 3-6 months to one HOUR?

The interview took place in November 2008 at San Jose City Hall.

Listen to Fresh Dialogues with Mayor Chuck Reed, part two on Tesla and clean tech in Silicon Valley

To check out part one of the interview with Mayor Chuck Reed, on his humble beginnings, his inspiration for the Green Vision and his views on Obama’s presidency, click here

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