Cleantech Innovation Gets Big Boost in Colorado

The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association is a Key Stakeholder in Milestone Advanced Industries Acceleration Act

2013-05-12

BOULDER, CO, May 12, 2013 (Press-News.org) The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA) today announced the passing of House Bill 13 - 1001, the Advanced Industries Acceleration Act by the General Assembly and awaits the Governor's signature. The bill provides for annual allocations of several million per year for the next decade including over $12 million next year in grants supporting seven advanced industries driving the Colorado economy including energy and natural resources.

Through this act, the Colorado Office of Economic Development will provide grants for clean technology projects based on the existing funding stream within the Clean Technology Discovery Evaluation Grant Program starting in 2014. The goal of the act is to grow the most promising technology sectors in Colorado by providing grant opportunities to energy and natural resources; advanced manufacturing; aerospace; bioscience; electronics; engineering; and information technology.

"Colorado's future depends on these advanced sectors, and further innovation in cleantech will lead the way in spurring job growth and prosperity throughout the region," said Chris Shapard, Executive Director of CCIA. "The passing of the Advanced Industries Acceleration Act is a huge win for cleantech and a win for the Colorado economy."

The Advanced Industries Acceleration Act absorbed an existing clean technology grant program that is set to begin disbursing funds in spring 2014. Companies that qualify will now be eligible for proof-of-concept grants (capped at $150,000), early stage capital and retention grants (capped at $250,000), and infrastructure grants (capped at $500,000). All three types of grants have a required matching component. Additionally, if a grantee qualifies for a "preference," there are no caps on grant amounts.

"It takes innovation, capable leaders and financial capital to grow new cleantech companies that drive Colorado's economic development and provide attractive employment opportunities. Our state is a technology innovation hub with its research universities and national labs. We have taken steps, such as the Cleantech Fellows Institute, to strengthen the leadership talent pool. With the passage of the Advanced Industries Acceleration Act, we are addressing the critical need for funding to create successful, growing cleantech businesses in Colorado," said Chas Eggert, CEO of OPX Biotechnologies in Boulder and CCIA chair.

Additional bills CCIA worked to pass this legislative session include:

SB 13 - 126, HOA, Condo, Apartment Barriers, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations:
This bill knocks down barriers for EV owners looking to plug-in their vehicle at various different types of multi-family housing units.
SB 13 - 186, Updating Requirements - New Building Technologies: This bill makes it easier for certified roofing contractors and electricians to oversee new solar shingle installations.

SB 13 - 212, Commercial PACE: This bill allows commercial real estate owners to enter into an optional financing agreement with a financial institution to install renewable energy and energy efficient upgrades and repay the improvements through property taxes.

SB 13 - 252, Increasing the Renewable Energy Standard (RES) & Coal Mine and Landfill Methane: This bill increases the RES for rural and generation co-operatives to 20% by 2020, an increase from the current 10%. Additionally, the bill includes coalmine and landfill methane capture towards the RES and increases the Distributed Generation requirement.

SB 13 - 254, Performance Contracting for State Fleets: This bill allows the state to enter into performance contracts for alternative fuel vehicles.

HB 12 - 1110, Special Fuel Tax Electric Vehicle Highway Use Tax Fund: This bill revamps the natural gas and propane decal system, and will start to invest in the Electric Vehicle Grant Fund to help cities install public charging stations.

HB 13 - 1247, Innovative Motor Vehicle Income Tax Credit: This bill expands the tax credit for electric, natural gas and propane vehicles for six years, which closed the loophole that prohibited Chevy Volt and other plug-in hybrids from receiving the state tax credit.

CCIA's government affairs team is dedicated to supporting cleantech companies by testifying on behalf of its members and constituents in supporting or opposing appropriate bills during each State Legislative session. CCIA also writes legislation and actively lobbies lawmakers and the administration to benefit the Colorado cleantech ecosystem.

About CCIA
The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association represents the interests of the state's advanced energy companies and innovative energy consumers. Its mission is to further establish Colorado as a world leader in advanced energy use and production by providing representation and advocacy, a unified voice, relevant programming, and capacity development. For more information, visit http://www.coloradocleantech.com.

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Rising Sun Energy Center Invited to Participate in UN's First Youth Forum

2013-05-12

There are over 1 billion youth in the world today and they make up over one fifth of the world's population. The United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) chose to recognize the power of this growing and increasingly aware population at the UN's first ever youth forum, which focused on "Shaping tomorrow's innovators: Leveraging science, technology, innovation and culture for today's youth." The forum was held on March 27, 2013 in New York City and hundreds of delegates were invited from around the world to discuss three major topics: Girls and Young ...

Broadband Amplifier Line from Teseq Offers Low Distortion, Reliability

2013-05-12

Teseq, a leading developer and provider of instrumentation and systems for EMC emission and immunity testing, has expanded its broadband amplifier line to include a Class A linear and low distortion model that operates from 10 kHz to 400 MHz with a rated power level of 260 watts. Used in commercial or in-house EMC test laboratories, the CBA 400M-260 is ideal for automotive, military and aerospace BCI (bulk current injections) applications that require testing at higher levels. Like other Teseq broadband amplifiers in its class, the CBA 400M-260 uses gallium arsenide ...

Relay Fitness Group Provides Indoor Cycles For Charity Event For Local Teen

2013-05-12

Club Fitness Addiction is hosting an indoor cycling event to raise money for Kaitlyn Dobrow, a local teenager who contracted bacterial meningitis, an ailment that has resulted in the amputation of both arms and legs and has severely compromised her skin. She is currently at the Burn Unit at UCI Medical in Orange County California. "We had such a good response for the event that we ran out of space," said Sandy Lopez, co-owner of Club Fitness Addiction. "We contacted Relay Fitness Group to see if they could provide a couple extra indoor cycles for the event; ...

Flagler Garden Becomes One Step Closer To Community Garden Reality

2013-05-12

After months and months in the works, the City of Fort Lauderdale CRA has contributed a $30,000 grant to the Flagler Village Community Garden. The grant was given by the city CRA to jumpstart the multi-phase project. With the backing and support of Fort Lauderdale, Flagler Garden now has a large portion of the funds needed for the community owned and operated green space. Flagler Garden President, Chad Scott, shares what receiving the grant represents, "This decision by the Fort Lauderdale CRA has sent a clear message to the community. Fort Lauderdale will now support ...

Voit Becomes Sole Regional Firm to Rank in Nation's Top Ten for Industrial Investment Sales

2013-05-12

According to statistics just released by national market research firm Real Capital Analytics, Voit Real Estate Services is the only regional real estate firm which ranked in the top ten nationally in industrial investment sales in the first quarter of 2013. Voit, a full-service commercial real estate provider serving the Southwestern U.S., was named in the top ten in a new 2013 quarterly report, alongside nine national and global firms. "This achievement is a direct result of our firm's recent expansion initiative, through which we have aggressively recruited ...

ESNAVI Dazzled by Dazzle Dry

2013-05-12

Eclectic, Soulful, Natural, Authentic, Vivacious, Intriguing - the essence of ESNAVI is the sultry singer's inspiration to embrace and endorse Dazzle Dry "Wet to WOW in 5 Minutes" Nail Lacquer line by VB Cosmetics. Making waves with nail artists, salons, busy moms, beauty-bloggers and it-girls at large; Dazzle Dry dries Rock-Hard in a stunning 5 Minutes and wears Chip-Free for up to 4 Weeks. Vegan, non-yellowing and non-toxic, the only Nitrocellulose Free nail lacquer system is also Free of Formaldehyde (in all forms), DBP, Toluene and Camphor. The "Go-to ...

Data Physics Corporation Adds 60 kN Shaker to SignalForce Line of Electrodynamic Shakers

2013-05-12

Data Physics Corporation today announced the release of the SignalForce model LE-1316-3/DSA10-100K Electrodynamic Shaker System, a shock and vibration test system that provides higher force and displacement capability in an air cooled package. Extending the force and displacement of the SignalForce air cooled shakers allows engineers to perform environmental shock and vibration tests without requiring water cooling. The new air cooled shaker is capable of 13,500 lbf (60 kN) for sine and random. The shaker, whose operating frequency ranges up to 3 kHz, can produce a ...

Fatburger Continues Massive International Growth With India Development Deal

2013-05-12

Fatburger (www.fatburger.com), known for juicy, made-to-order burgers, has officially announced its plans to enter the Indian market for the first time in the company's 60 year history. The fast casual chain has agreed to a 25 unit deal with VAZZ Foods Private Limited, a food and beverage distributor, and owner Vikramjit Singh to deliver the signature Fatburger experience to areas in the Northern region of India. Committed to growing the brand's name in the country, VAZZ plans to continue to bring the Hollywood burger favorite to other unexplored territories in the coming ...

Murata Machinery Turning Division Adds New Dealer Technical Equipment

2013-05-12

Murata Machinery's automated turning centers will now be available even more widely in the central United States with the addition of Technical Equipment Sales as a CNC machine tool dealer for the Muratec brand in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. "We couldn't be happier about this new partnership," said Steve Landrum, Sales Manager at Murata's Turning Division, "Technical Equipment offers decades of experience selling machining products, a stellar reputation in the industry, and a strong core of customers we're eager to work with." Technical Equipment ...

BKD to Present for the Missouri Society of CPA's

2013-05-12

BKD Forensics & Valuation Services, a division of BKD, LLP, is pleased to announce that Angela Morelock will be presenting at the Missouri Society of CPA's Governmental Accounting Conference. Her presentation, "Lessons from the Past: First-Hand Advice for Fraud Prevention," will take place on Thursday, May 16, 2013 from 8:30 - 10:10 a.m. and "Crossing the Ethical Boundary: Insights from a Fraud Investigator," will take place on Thursday, May 16, 2013 from 1:15 - 3:00 p.m. Morelock leads BKD's forensic accounting and investigations team, providing ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Research proves stool DNA as non-invasive alternative for colorectal cancer screening in Thailand

Detecting evidence of lung cancer in exhaled breath

A joint research team of Korea University College of Medicine announced the world's first single-port robotic thymectomy comparative results

International survey of more than 1600 biomedical researchers on the perceived causes of irreproducibility of research results

Integrating data from different experimental approaches into one model is challenging – this study presents a community-based, full-scale in silico model of the rat hippocampal CA1 region that integra