California and the Green Economy

California Economy Depends on Green Energy

Jan 12, 2011 - A portrait of California's economic future is emerging, and it's heavy on the green.

In 2010, the worldwide investment in green energy topped $243 billion, up 30 percent from the previous year, according to Grist.

The US is at risk of being outpaced by countries like China, which increased its green energy investment significantly last year. European wind and solar companies also made great strides.

But the Bay Area is poised to capture at least some of that market. Numerous automotive innovators are located near San Francisco. That includes Tesla, which has sold about 1,500 of its cars and is planning to produce a new model at a plant in Fremont.

In Santa Rosa, Zap produces cheap electric trucks and vans, and Columb in Campbell produces electric charging stations, according to the Gate.

Of course, even an electric car is still a car, and comes with a slew of decidedly un-green costs like highways, parking lots, and accidental death and dismemberment. {continued}