Environmental Valuation & Cost-Benefit News

Link: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20080630/NEWS01/255913118

Northern and Central New York are well-positioned to become a "global leader" in four important sectors of environmentally friendly, or "green," technology.

In a report prepared for the Metropolitan Development Association of Syracuse and Central New York, the Battelle Memorial Institute concluded that what it called the "central upstate" region can become the Silicon Valley of indoor environmental quality, renewable energy, green buildings and sustainable designs, and water quality/water resources.

One official noted that foresight a decade ago created this situation.

"Ten years ago, several firms and institutions from across Central New York came together, envisioned new markets for environmental and energy systems, and committed themselves to collaborations to develop new products," said Edward Bogucz, executive director of the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Energy and Environmental Systems. "Today, results of the Battelle study show that the global markets have developed as we had envisioned, and that we have successfully developed world-class capabilities to compete in specific green technology areas. We look forward to using this report to refine our plans, and improve the position of our region's firms and institutions in the global marketplace."

Battelle found strengths in several products and sectors — air filtration, ventilation, conditioning and treatment; air sensors; air analysis; monitoring instrumentation; biomass; fuel cells; and materials, research and education.

The report said the massive effort to clean Onondaga Lake of industrial pollution has spurred area growth in water filtration, purification, desalination, water sensors and analysis, water monitoring, water engineering and watershed resource management. The Battalle study also found growth potential in wind and solar power, green structural and exterior finish materials, green interior systems and surface and finish materials.

Battelle researchers compared Syracuse and the "central upstate" region (which includes Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties) with five other areas considered to be leaders in green technology: Eugene, Ore.; Ft. Collins, Colo.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Pittsburgh; and Sacramento, Calif.

Battelle identified 330 companies around the world, from air filtration companies to watershed management firms, that economic developers should target with pitches to invest in Central New York. "When we can't bring them here, we'll go find them," said Rob Simpson, president-elect of the Metropolitan Development Association, one of 12 organizations that chipped in to pay for the $171,000 study. (2).

With 419 companies and 10,290 jobs in green technology sectors, "central upstate" has more green technology jobs per capita than any of the comparative regions and "compares favorably" with them in terms of numbers of existing companies. There is also "significant potential for further growth" due to "significant, world-class research" taking place in the region's colleges and universities, including Clarkson University, the study said.

Growth in private-sector green jobs represents 15 percent of all regional job growth over the last five years, salaries averaging $54,698 a year, 57 percent more than the region's average wage. (2).

Among the study's suggestions:

■ Build on regional strengths in indoor environmental quality, continue to develop a research and development base and support growth of innovative, emerging firms.

■ Leverage regional expertise in sensors, monitoring and other technologies developed to address both indoor environmental quality and water quality.

■ Pursue opportunities in renewable energy with a focus on biomass and fuel cells while also encouraging growth in wind and solar power.

■ Market the area's asset base to attract companies and entrepreneurs.

■ Support creation and growth of emerging companies within the region.

The report also identified more than 300 emerging and leading green technology companies — around the country and around the world — to target for relocation to the area.

"As the Battelle report shows, we must continue to build upon the resources we have in the Indoor Environmental Quality market, renewable energy sector, green building materials market, and water quality and resources area," said Assemblyman William B. Magnarelli, D-Syracuse. "We can't lose this opportunity to be an international leader in these areas."

For a copy of the full report go to: http://www.mda-cny.com/pdf/119.pdf

By Tom Wanamaker 1 and Tim Knauss 2 .
1. Watertown Daily News, http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/
Full article at http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20080630/NEWS01/255913118
June 26, 2008
2. Syracuse.com , http://www.syracuse.com/
Additional information excerpted from article "Central New York primed to grow green" at http://www.syracuse.com/business/index.ssf?/base/business-13/1214470578291550.xml&coll=1&thispage=1">industryhttp://www.syracuse.com/business/index.ssf?/base/business-13/1214470578291550.xml&coll=1&thispage=1
June 30, 2008