June 27, 2008

Going green in Evergreen

By Bill Highlander
Editor

How do you coalesce a community? How do you craft an image that defines a geographical area, a feeling of identification?

SVTC Technologies solar company will move into 5215 Hellyer with operations beginning July 2009. Three other solar companies (Nanosolar,Stion, and SolarPower) are already located in Edenvale.

A group of Evergreen residents are posing those questions. Led by Mike Alvarado, vice chair of the District 8 community round table, two dozen people opined a plethora of ideas about how Evergreen can establish itself as a leader in green technology.

The group included engineers, educators, community activists and interested residents who appeared to be well informed about green technology, but agreed that much more information was needed to develop a cohesive plan.

Noting that several solar companies have chosen to locate in Edenvale, the group discussed ways to encourage more companies to create jobs here. San Jose Redevelopment Agency is encouraging and assisting companies already.

SVTC Technologies will employ 60 people in Hellyer Oaks once tenant improvements are complete, probably by July 2009. Space is available in Edenvale and incentives may entice many more companies to the area.

San Jose mayor Chuck Reed has put forth a “Green Vision” for the city and its goals can be used to Evergreen’s advantage. Companies are being innovative in developing the technologies and financing to increase the adoption of solar technology.

One possible goal espoused was to make Evergreen the community with the most solar powered homes in the Nation. Evergreen has two new neighborhoods that the developers equipped the homes with solar power. The group discussed ways to reduce the barriers to more adoption: cost, reliability and wider use.

A capable and available workforce is certainly needed to attract more companies. Evergreen has the capacity to meet that need with Evergreen Valley College and other training facilities. One task will be to identify the skill sets and number of workers needed to meet the demand.

Mike Alvardo led the discussion on a green vision for Evergreen at the Gathering Space, St. Francis of Assissi last Thursday evening.

The initial meeting allowed everyone to express ideas about what the goals should be and Alvarado guided the group to some possibilities for study.

One version describes Evergreen as a community that attracts companies to the area working on alternate energy technologies and establishes Evergreen as the community with the greatest adoption of alternate energy.

The group agreed that a plan should be developed to create a center in Evergreen dedicated to creating the alternate energy workforce of tomorrow, that supports R&D and enables the implementation of alternate energy systems and solutions.

The attendees were encouraged to join an email network to offer additional comments and ideas over the next two weeks and then the group will reconvene to continue the discussion.

The Evergreen Times will publish notification of the next meeting to encourage more people to get involved in the process of this community project.