Clean-tech group forms to support Obama

SAN FRANCISCO--Executives in the clean-tech sector plan to get a whole lot louder in their support for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

The drumbeat started Wednesday night here at the University of California's Hastings College of Law. An estimated 400 people from the technology and clean tech industries came out to support Obama's energy policies under the new banner of a constituency group called "Clean Tech and Green Business for Obama."

Among the executives at the event were Dan Reicher, director of energy initiatives at Google.org; clean-tech investor Sunil Paul, who co-founded Brightmail; Steve Westly, CEO of the venture firm The Westley Group and former senior vice president at eBay; and Aimee Christensen, an adviser on climate change issues who has previously worked with Google.org.

Their goal? Get Obama elected. Following that, the charge is to elevate issues of climate change and buoy the clean-tech industry.

"We want to use the opportunity of this serendipitous moment where energy, the environment, and the economy are featured in this race...to create a political brand and voice," said Jeff Anderson, founding co-chair of Clean Tech and Green Business for Obama.

The group was founded six weeks ago by Paul, Anderson and others, and so far it has raised about $600,000 from individuals in the clean-tech sector. In the coming months, the group plans to raise $1 million total through events like a fund-raising dinner with former Vice President Al Gore at the end of September. Clean Tech for Obama also aims to build a database of the companies and people employed by the green-tech business, especially in battleground states, so that voters are aware of the industry's ability to create jobs.

The group will also promote the idea that clean-tech businesses can ultimately help reduce gas prices by developing new energy alternatives and efficient cars. Already operating in 18 states, with plans for a national presence, the group also intends to throw "house parties" to promote the new energy economy, according to Anderson.

In his talk, Wesley promoted the energy policies of Obama over those of his Republican rival John McCain. But instead of spending much time on those policies, he called on people to create a movement that goes beyond an election. He said the group will open offices around the state of California; and it has already established outposts in San Francisco, San Jose, and Berkeley.

Google.org's Richter, a former assistant secretary of energy under the Clinton administration, said issues of climate change, security, and deep economic woes are prompting policy changes in the U.S.

He said the amount of money allocated to research and development in renewable energies is lower today than that of the Carter administration in the 1970s. The U.S. government has long given subsidies to energy markets like coal and nuclear, and the green-tech industry should now ask that it level the playing field. "We've gotten crumbs when it comes to energy and energy efficiency," he said.

"We have an opportunity to really engage on these issues," said Richter, who was there as an individual and not on behalf of Google. (Google.org has invested in several renewable energy projects, including two geothermal start-ups and a wind-power company.)

"We obviously need to get Obama and Biden elected. We also need to get a Congress elected that can pass the laws," he said.

For example, Richter touted Obama's plans to weatherize 1 million homes a year to offset energy costs for lower-income households.

Paul, founding partner of Spring Ventures, for his part, agreed that now is the time for the clean tech market to raise its voice.

"We're in the right place at the right time," Paul said. "Energy and energy-related topics are a top voting issue and that's so unusual for us--biotech, the Internet, semiconductors--have never been top voting issues."