“To ensure a sustainable future, public/private partnerships are needed to foster learning-by-doing projects to make renewable energy systems cheaper and more available and to explore other options that may be less costly and safer. It is not just R&D, but R, D and D—Research, Development and Demonstration.... There can be little return on investment until there is investment, and the policy debate will need to focus on incentives to promote such investments.”

Palo Alto Business Goes Green (PABGG) is the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce initiative to this challenge so that Palo Alto remains a recognized leader in technological innovation and progressive business practices. Leadership in our local business community will insure that Palo Alto positions itself to take advantage of the challenges rather than be a victim of them. By promoting energy efficiency, smarter transportation choices and wise land use policies while developing cleaner technologies, Palo Alto businesses can actually earn money while still helping the planet. California’s energy-efficient measures save the state $4 billion each year.

To meet its objectives, PABGG is working closely with the City of Palo Alto, Stanford University, Environmental Health and Safety and Stanford Research Park Forum, Santa Clara County Green Business Program, Palo Alto Unified School District Sustainable Schools Committee, Sustainable Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Acterra, Peninsula Open Space Trust, Palo Alto Research Center and a variety of nonprofit and for-profit organizations. In addition, it is working with the Office of Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss, Sustainable Silicon Valley, Joint Ventures Silicon Valley and the County Leagues of Women Voters to develop a County Sustainable Plan.