North Bay Business Journal

Venture-backed LumiGrow moves to Novato

NOVATO — Backed by its first round of venture funding, LumiGrow Inc. relocated from San Francisco’s Treasure Island to Novato to further develop its line of specially tuned LED grow lights for food science research and commercial greenhouses.

Frost-pond bill passes; regulators float frost-water rule

The Legislature passed a bill by two North Coast state legislators that would streamline permitting of small irrigation ponds that could be tapped for frost prevention, rather than streams deemed habitat for protected fish. Meanwhile, state water regulators released the latest revision to a Russian River basin frost-water regulation more than three years in the making.

First third-party commercial PACE funding approved

ROHNERT PARK — Codding Enterprises, developer of Sonoma Mountain Village in Rohnert Park, said it received county of Sonoma approval for $1.6 million in funding for a second 1-megawatt solar electric array at the development, the first project funded under a new public-private model for clean-energy enhancements to commercial properties.

44-mile Napa Valley Vine Trail gets $2.5 million federal grant

NAPA — The Napa Valley Vine Trail, a 44-mile mixed use pedestrian and bicycle path currently under construction throughout Napa and Solano counties, received $2.5 million in federal funds last week from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Enphase Energy powers toward $100 million IPO

PETALUMA — Solar power technology startup Enphase Energy is preparing for what would be the North Bay’s largest initial public offering in years that could raise $100 million.

Frost-pond bill bound for governor

The Legislature today passed a bill by two North Coast state legislators that would streamline permitting of small irrigation ponds that could be tapped for frost prevention, rather than streams deemed habitat for protected fish.

Marin Clean Energy signs 31-megawatt supply deal

SAN RAFAEL — Marin Clean Energy today said it signed a power purchase agreement with enXco for 31 megawatts of electricity from new photovoltaic solar generators in California, including a 1-megawatt solar carport facility to be built in Marin County.

AmCan project turns waste heat to power

AMERICAN CANYON — In addition to a large solar electricity plant planned to cover much of the closed 80-acre American Canyon landfill and an existing power plant there that uses captured methane from decomposing garbage, a new project will harness heat normally lost during combustion of landfill gas to generate up to an additional 1.5 megawatts of electricity.

North Bay recycled water projects to get $2 million more

NOVATO — North Bay Water Reuse Authority is on track to receive a $2 million state grant, as part of the San Francisco Bay Area Clean Water Agencies being awarded their full grant request of $30.1 million.

Altec Industries breaks ground on Dixon plant

DIXON — Altec Industries, Inc., an Alabama-based leading international equipment and service provider for electric utility, telecommunications and contractor markets — including government and military — has broken ground for a new 42,000-square-foot manufacturing plant adjacent to its existing West Coast service center at 1450 North First St. in Dixon.

Santa Rosa task force focuses on city processes, fees

SANTA ROSA — The Planning and Permitting Study Group formed by the Mayor’s Economic Development Task Force has identified issues and practices in the city of Santa Rosa’s Community Development Department that it believes should be re-examined in an effort to streamline application and permitting processes to support Santa Rosa’s business stimulus efforts.

HybridCore Homes signs manufacturing, marketing deal with Champion Home Builders

SANTA ROSA — HybridCore Homes, a designer of modular rooms to make construction faster and more efficient, has signed an agreement with a major factory home builder to make the units throughout North America and the United Kingdom.

Calling all green technology startups

SAN RAFAEL – A new seed and angel funding investment forum featuring green technology is planned for Marin this Fall, part of a statewide push to bring together early stage investors with early-stage technology companies.

Business Journal Q&A: SolarCraft’s Bill Stewart

AN RAFAEL — Bill Stewart, an electrical contractor who saw the solar light early on, got into the industry in 1978 and founded SolarCraft in 1984, a good 20 years before improved state incentives encouraged a crop of solar companies to spring up in the North Bay.

Now at 45 employees Novato-based SolarCraft adheres to its original model: a crack team of installers do all the work themselves without resorting to contract workers except when intricate ground preparation is necessary.

America’s Cup race puts spotlight on keeping Bay clean

NORTH BAY – Yacht harbors and boatyards are gearing up for an influx of visiting pleasure craft as the America’s Cup race approaches, but increased business will also result in more awareness of the environmental quality of the water in the bay from both boaters and boatyards.

Energy program seeks employers’ help with home retrofits

NORTH BAY — As part of the new marketing effort for Energy Upgrade California, which provides incentives for owners to increase the energy efficiency of their properties, organizers of the program in Sonoma County are reaching out to local businesses to encourage their employees to undertake efficiency projects on their homes. The goal of the [...]

RP solar project a pilot for public-private financing

ROHNERT PARK — A planned project to double the size of the 1 megawatt solar array atop the expansive rooftops of the Sonoma Mountain Village development in Rohnert Park this fall could also greatly expand the use of property-assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects nationwide by allowing cash-strapped local governments to tap hundreds of millions of dollars of private money to fund the work.

Millions in solar installations going in at area schools

NORTH BAY — While the schoolchildren are away on summer break, solar energy system installers have been busy installing millions of dollars worth of equipment at school campuses around the North Bay.

‘Green jobs’ are not a panacea for California’s economy

During a recent California Energy Commission proceeding on our clean energy goals, it was recommended that job creation be included as a metric for measuring the success of clean energy policies. This will only be meaningful if we count all the jobs that will be lost as a result of a policy. Therefore our job creation goal, and the metric to measure it, should only count net new jobs.

Pacific Sanitation sues Rohnert Park over ‘buy-in fee’

[Updated: July 19, 11:25 a.m. with further lawsuit details and a link to the complaint] ROHNERT PARK — A Windsor-based waste and recycling company has filed a lawsuit against the city of Rohnert Park, alleging that its recent requirement of paying a “buy-in” fee to conduct business in the city “is tantamount to a bribe.”