What is Clean Technology?
As defined by BusinessDictionary.com, clean technology (also known as “clean tech”) is “economically competitive and productive technology that uses less material and/or energy, generates less waste, and causes less environmental damage than the alternatives.”
Clean technology should not be confused with “end-of-pipe” technology - like smokestack scrubbers. Instead, clean technology comes into play near the beginning of a business practice, and therefore has more of an opportunity to create greater financial returns.
Clean technology industry segments include:
Why Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania is uniquely positioned as a place for small businesses and entrepreneurs to capitalize on clean technology opportunities:
Specific sectors in Pennsylvania stand to benefit substantially from increased support and development of clean technology. For instance, there is a great potential for manufacturers in the wood and manufactured housing sectors—two large industry sectors in Pennsylvania—to turn biomass-rich waste materials from an expense to a revenue generator. The agricultural sector will have additional uses for its residues, including manures and spent-mushroom soil, providing new opportunities to make the 55,000 farms in Pennsylvania more profitable.
Past events are recorded and can be viewed by clicking on the below links:
The Energy Innovation Portal from the U.S. Department of Energy is a site that links energy technologies with market opportunities. Find information on energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies available for licensing developed by U.S. Department of Energy laboratories and participating research institutions.
A one year extension of the per-kilowatt-hour tax credit for electricity generated by qualified energy resources was included in the fiscal cliff deal passed by congress in early January 2013. The extension creates more market certainty and includes language that allows renewable energy projects that “start construction” as opposed to being “in service” in 2013 to claim the PTC. This effective change in deadline is critical to the wind industry, as well as the hydropower, geothermal, biomass and waste-to-energy industries as it takes into account the long-term time horizons required to complete projects. The PTC extension creates a more stable landscape for American renewable energy companies and investors looking to start construction in 2013. For more information on this tax credit, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) by clicking here.
The SBDC program is a public-private partnership that leverages the resources of government, higher education and the business community to facilitate the growth of Pennsylvania small firms.
