Clean Edge Ranks Cleanest States and Metro Regions

Clean Edge, the world’s first research and advisory firm devoted to the clean-tech sector, has released its inaugural U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index with the following U.S. states and metro regions topping the list:

Lead State Rankings: California, Massachusetts, Oregon, New York, and Colorado

Lead Metro Regions:  San Francisco, San Jose, Portland, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C., Lead Metros
Clean Edge, the world’s first research and advisory firm devoted to the clean-tech sector, today released its inaugural U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index report featuring extensive data from the firm’s State Index (fourth annual edition) and Metro Index (second annual edition). The report can be downloaded for free at www.cleanedge.com.

“Clean-tech deployment in the U.S. is largely being driven by state- and metro-level activity,” says Clean Edge managing director Ron Pernick. “And it’s no longer about small, barely visible slices of market share. Overall, renewable energy (from wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and other sources) accounted for 49 percent of the nation’s added electricity capacity in 2012 – its largest share ever and more than the 33 percent share of new generation capacity from natural gas.”

The top 10 overall states in the 2013 State Index are:

1. California

2. Massachusetts

3. Oregon

4. New York

5. Colorado

6. Washington

7. New Mexico

8. Illinois

9. Minnesota

10. Hawaii

The top ten overall metro areas in this year’s Index are:

1. San Francisco

2. San Jose

3. Portland, OR

4. Los Angeles

5. Washington, DC

6. Sacramento

7. San Diego

8. Denver

9. Seattle

10. Boston

This year’s Index shows that leadership in clean tech at the state and metro levels is inextricably linked. Half of this year’s top 10 metro areas are located in California – the State Index leader for the past four years. Four other metro areas are located in the top 10 states of Massachusetts, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington. The only exception among the top 10 metro areas is America’s unique “city without a state,” the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C., which ranks fifth in our 2013 Metro Index.

“Some states and cities now compete with entire nations for clean-tech leadership,” says Clean Edge senior editor Clint Wilder. “Iowa, for example – ranked #6 in the State Index’s Technology category – now generates more electricity from wind than the international powerhouse Denmark.”

The State Index is comprised of nearly 70 indicators contained in the three major categories of Technology, Policy, and Capital. The Metro Index includes more than 20 indicators within the categories of Green Buildings, Advanced Transportation, Clean Electricity & Carbon Management, and Clean Tech Investment, Innovation, & Workforce. The release of the 50-page report represents the first time Clean Edge has made available a comprehensive public report with state- and metro-level scores and rankings beyond its subscriber base.

About the U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index

Sponsors of the 2013 U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index include lead partners The Energy Foundation and Wells Fargo and supporting partners APCO Worldwide, Environmental Entrepreneurs, the City of Houston, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, SolarCity, and the Portland Development Commission. In addition to publicly available datasets and Clean Edge-derived indicators, Clean Edge leverages data from private data partners including Cleantech Group, Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C., InnovateTech Ventures, Interstate Renewable Energy Council, and R.L. Polk & Co.

About Clean Edge

Clean Edge, Inc., founded in 2000, is the world’s first research and advisory firm devoted to the clean-tech sector. For more than a decade the firm has delivered timely data, expert analysis and comprehensive insights to governments, corporations, investors, foundations, and nonprofits. The company offers an unparalleled suite of index, benchmarking, and advisory services including the U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index, sponsored publications including the annual Clean Energy Trends report, and benchmark clean-tech stock indexes with NASDAQ®. To keep abreast of the latest clean-tech trends or learn more about our services, visit www.cleanedge.com.

Category: Featured, General Update, Green