• Call it the “Blue Tech Valley”
• “First region in the nation to develop an industry-led water technology cluster”
The San Joaquin Valley is becoming known for its renewable energy leadership and cutting-edge innovations at the nexus of water and agriculture—earning the nickname Blue Tech Valley, claims a new report from the nonpartisan nonprofit organization, Next 10.
Its report says the San Joaquin Valley is using a mix of natural, technological, governmental, human, and business resources to mold key building blocks in California’s clean economy.
“The San Joaquin Valley is first region in the nation to develop an industry-led water technology cluster — a group of business leaders, community partners and academics working to drive economic development by strategically leveraging the region's unique assets,” says businessman Noel Perry, founder of Next 10. “This thoughtful planning and execution has created a hub for developing and testing new water technologies, including new ways of approaching irrigation, conservation and metering.”
The region’s water cluster features more than 200 companies located in the valley and networked nationwide, ranging from farms to tech firms.
“Companies have a fertile space to develop and test water technologies, with an incubator space through the WET Center, certified testing facilities, and connections to farmers for field testing," says Helle Petersen of Fresno State’s Water Energy Technology (WET) Center, which serves as an incubator, hub, and testing facility. “This regional collaboration among business, economic development, workforce and community partners creates an opportunity for the region to be a leader in water innovations.”
Partnerships have also helped the San Joaquin Valley become California’s leader in installed renewable energy capacity, the report says.
“Kern County has the highest installed renewable energy capacity in the state, with more than 8,750 megawatts permitted — enough to generate electricity for more than seven million people,” says Doug Henton, chairman and CEO of Collaborative Economics, which compiled the reports for Next 10. “These projects have attracted $25 billion in investment capital.”
The region also has nearly 65 MW in rooftop solar generation, due in part to programs designed to help lower-income residents install panels on their homes. To help ensure that local residents benefit from the growth in this industry, Kern County established a rule that renewable energy installation contracts must hire workers from within the local community. This and other factors have contributed to the creation of 6,000 construction jobs and 1,500 operational jobs in Kern County, says the report.
In all, there are more than 10,500 jobs in the San Joaquin Valley’s core clean economy, which includes businesses that provide the products and services that are facilitating the transition away from fossil fuels and the more efficient use of natural resources, the report says.
Next 10 describes itself as “an independent, nonpartisan organization that educates, engages and empowers Californians to improve the state’s future.”