BayTEC Alliance Announces First Major Cleantech Project
May 28, 2009—Oroville, CA. The BayTEC Alliance, a public-private initiative aimed at transforming the Oroville region into the cleantech capital of Northern California, today announced its first collaborative project, a comprehensive regional center for alternative energy research, development and training. Nicknamed the Energy Farm, the Center is to be established at the Oroville Airport Business Park and will be dedicated to developing clean energy assets and products to stimulate new businesses and local job growth in new energy industries.
The Energy Farm will house various components including a research center bringing together scientists and engineers from local education institutions, a demonstration lab to allow businesses and individuals to demonstrate new advances in green construction materials and techniques, and a training center to prepare local workers for cleantech jobs.
Lead Project organizer Bill Finley, executive director of the Private Industry Council of Butte County, sees the potential for immediate job growth from the center. "The Energy Farm will showcase clean technology with its focus on sustainable products used in green construction, will give our local construction workers a leg up on the emerging state of the art, and will create new jobs right here in the region."
The Energy Farm will be realized through support from both public and private funding sources and BayTEC leaders say the breadth of early support for the project points to both their momentum and the power of regional cooperation and collaboration.
"This project reflects the combined strengths of our community coming together in a powerful and focused way," said Paul Zingg, president of Chico State University and a BayTEC board member. "The BayTEC Alliance is quickly demonstrating the true potential of regional collaboration."
Public sector partners in the effort include the cities of Oroville and Chico, the towns of Paradise and Gridley, Butte County and the State of California. Education partners include California State University Chico, Butte Glenn Community College and the Northwest Lineman College. Civic organizations signed on include, the Private Industry Council of Butte County, the Northern Rural Training and Employment Consortium, Oroville Economic Development Corporation, Tri-County Economic Development Corporation and Valley Contractor Exchange. Industry and private sector backers include PG&E and Spectra Physics/Newport Corporation, Living Elements, Slater & Son and Tracy & Associates.
"This is a great beginning, but it is just the beginning," said Gary Ott, chairman of the BayTEC board of directors. "The Oroville region is showing that it is taking the cleantech opportunity seriously and that it is getting good attention at the state and federal level."
The BayTEC Alliance plans a series of public events intended to communicate with and involve as many area residents as possible, including a major Community Briefing to be held in Oroville on June 18. For more details, visit the group's website at: www.baytecalliance.org
Contact: Jim Moll
530-533-0438
Virginia Walker
530-342-1009
