Clean Energy Moves Full Steam Ahead

The Austin office market is experiencing an influx of "clean energy" companies. These firms are involved in a number of various fields of clean energy solutions. They include:

• Solar energy
• Wind farms
• Clean power technology
• Pollution abstinent firms
• Clean power resellers

High technology entrepreneurs have turned their attention to clean energy technologies as a result of the strong demand and large amounts of available venture capital. These firms are seeking to develop clean coal technology, abate greenhouse gases, and find solutions to clean up power plant pollution.

Applied Materials has begun to develop a new solar material to be used on solar panels. Their expertise in processing silicon in the computer chip industry should allow them to significantly reduce the cost of solar panels.

Turner Renewable Energy (Ted Turner) is located in Austin and is developing renewable energy production facilities that include solar and wind turbine farms. Austin makes an excellent choice for these types of firms because of its strong environmental consciousness and the number of University graduates who are very interested in working in the industry.

Clean energy resellers, such as Green Mountain, buy clean power from renewable energy developers and sell this product to companies seeking to “go green”. Many of these firms are trying to lower their carbon footprint by using renewable energy. Their demand will allow resellers to continue to grow over the next several years.

As energy costs continue to escalate, it is very likely that the Austin office market will continue to see more and more growth in the clean energy industry. The City of Austin’s technology base and strong environmental stance will help attract these firms and job growth in this area will outpoll most other fields in Austin.