Energy Efficiency Innovation & Growing Local “Green” Markets Take Center Stage at December Solano EDC Meeting
Contact: Michael Ammann
Sandy Person 707 864-1855
Innovations in energy efficiency and business development will be featured at the Dec. 8 Solano Economic Development Corporation’s breakfast event in Fairfield.
Michael Ammann, president of Solano EDC, said it is appropriate that these two forward-looking topics be spotlighted for the final monthly breakfast event for the year 2010.
“The Solano County’s Energy Cluster report prepared by Collaborative Economic in November 2009 called out the opportunities for Solano County to capture regional innovation, building local markets, and preparing residents for growing jobs and careers in the energy cluster,” Ammann said. “The Work Force Investment Board (WIB), Solano Community College and the Trade Unions have been building the labor force through “green collar” training programs. It’s now time to align the business community to take advantage of energy efficiency innovations and building local market solutions for Solano”, said Ammann.
Nicole Woolsey Biggart, director of the UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center will discuss accelerating development and commercialization of energy efficiency technologies while training future leaders in energy efficiency deployment and research in Northern California.
Charles Rieger, executive director of the Solano Center for Business Innovation (which provides new and diversified services for business startups) will update attendees on the Centers launch the Solano Green Business Council which pulls the business community together to build the “Green Marketplace “ which includes projects such as audits and energy efficiency retrofits for residential and the “greening” of commercial and public buildings. Another activity will be the promotion of “green business practices and getting businesses to voluntarily sign up for the comprehensive Green Business Certification Program managed by Solano County.
The breakfast meeting begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfield. Cost is $25 for EDC members and $35 for non-members. Reservations may be made by calling 707.864.1855. Pacific Gas & Electric Company was the underwriter for the Solano County’s Energy Cluster and the major event sponsor for this meeting along with Sutter Health.
The annual monthly series of breakfast membership networking meetings is made possible by the Solano EDC Chairman Circle Members which include Solano Transportation Authority; Syar Industries; Solano Garbage Company and Republic Services, Inc.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Proposed Wal-Mart Center Clears Legal Hurdles i nSuisun City
Proposed Wal-Mart Center Clears Legal Hurdles Regulatory permits required prior to construction start | |||||||||
SUISUN CITY — More than two years after unanimous City Council approval, the Wal-Mart Supercenter proposed for Walters Road and Highway 12 has cleared all legal challenges. In August, the state Courts of Appeals upheld a Solano County Superior Court ruling that Suisun City followed all state laws and procedures in reviewing and approving the proposed store, related gas station and restaurant site. Developing this site, which was designated for commercial development for decades, to capture sales taxes currently leaving the city is essential to continuing to provide key public services to Suisun City residents. Before construction can begin, several key regulatory permits must be secured from various state and federal agencies. In October, the state Regional Water Quality Control Board granted its permission for the project pending approval of a mitigation plan, prior to construction, to compensate for enclosing a portion of a drainage facility running across the site. In working with the regional water board staff through 34 site plan revisions, Wal-Mart officials agreed to give up the gas station it had proposed and to slightly shrink the size of the store. With regional water board consent in hand, Wal-Mart can secure other outstanding permits and submit construction drawings for City review. Barring further challenges, construction could begin as early as summer 2011. | |||||||||
Salvation Army Reveals Community Center Vision
Salvation Army Reveals Community Center Vision $12 million center opening targetted for Fall 2011 | ||||||||||||
The Salvation Army’s goal is simply to redefine the term ‘community center’ with a facility unlike any other in the region to provide a place where lives will be transformed in body, mind and soul. The City Council sold the facility next to Hall Park on East Wigeon at Pintail Drive in December 2009. Renovations began shortly thereafter, but halted when The Salvation Army committed even more resources to the project resulting in an upgrade to the entire concept. In October, Salvation Army Capt. Jonathan Harvey revealed to the City Council architectural drawings of the $7.5 million renovation and expansion plans that will bring the Salvation Army’s total to-date commitment in Suisun City to $12 million. In addition to entirely repurposing 37,000 sq. ft. of existing building space, The Salvation Army plans to add 9,600 sq. ft. of new space, principally in an aerobics studio and tribute corridor. The new Community Center will have many features of centers recently opened in Oregon and Idaho. The building itself will feature:
The Community Center is designed to support a wide range of programming, such as
From the start, City leaders and The Salvation Army shared a commitment to provide the community with the very best center possible and do it right, even if it took a little more time. The Salvation Army has launched both a website and Facebook page to facilitate communication, including collecting input from the community on the types of programs residents would like most. For more information, go to www.SuisunSalArmy.org or www.Facebook.com/SuisunSalArmy, or call 707-439-7880. | ||||||||||||
