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California Leading Clean Tech Innovation, Report Finds

The California Green Innovation Index found that California is now at the forefront of the fight against climate change, and its development of, and investment in, clean and energy efficient technologies will bring new breakthroughs.

Innovation is nothing new in California, a state whose past renaissances include the dot-com and biotech booms.

A new report indicates that California is now at the forefront of the fight against climate change, and its development of, and investment in, clean and energy efficient technologies will likely bring new breakthroughs.

The California Green Innovation Index from the nonpartisan organzation Next 10 found that the Golden State is more energy efficient and with lower greenhouse gas emissions per capita than Germany, United Kingdom, Japan and the U.S. as a whole.

But the Golden State has managed to be an environmental innovator without destroying its prosperity. Its gross domestic product is one of the highest in the nation while its per capita emissions are lower today than 15 years ago.

Partly due to its weather, California's energy consumption is lower per capita than the nation, Texas and Florida. Part of this also can be explained by utility, appliance and building efficiency programs and regulations.

But the citizenry also is on board, showing widespread recognition about the threat of global warming and adopting energy-saving products and practices, such as solar energy systems and hybrid vehicles.

Creation of these green products is expected to continue growing as clean tech patents and venture capital investment increases.

The index -- comprised of 10 environmental and economic indicators -- also highlights new innovation that needs to take place in order for California to follow through on its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.

For instance, the index stresses the importance of using technological innovation to drive down the cost of clean energy adoption. The federal government's spending on clean tech research and development also is lagging, the report said.

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