Eviation begins pre-sales of its nine-passenger Alice aircraft fleets for "middle mile" flights

PARIS, June 18, 2019 -- 53rd PARIS AIR SHOW -- Today at the 53rd Paris Air Show, Eviation Aircraft, a global manufacturer of all-electric aircraft, reveals the first all-electric commuter plane to debut at the show, its full-scale, all-electric commuter plane, Alice. To meet existing and pre-sale purchase orders for Alice, Eviation will complete its first flights and begin manufacturing in the U.S. in 2019, and, in conjunction with commercial customers and the FAA, will bring certified fleets to market in 2022. Experience aviation's new icon in Le Bourgèt at Chalet #282 or join our livestream to see #AliceinParis.

Targeting highly-trafficked "middle mile" commutes around the world for routes like France's Paris to Toulouse, Norway's Oslo to Trondheim and America's San Jose to San Diego, Alice is a radical rethinking of the cost, experience and environmental impact of regional travel. Air carriers, like their ground mobility peers, are moving to replace expensive, aging fleets with electric options that dramatically reduce maintenance and operating costs. Alice will reduce those carrier costs by up to 70 percent, while bringing travelers a cost-competitive, emission-free option.

The culmination of four years of design and collaboration with an ecosystem of partners that spans France, Italy, Singapore, Germany, South Korea, Australia, the US and Israel, Alice represents a breakthrough on many levels. Working hand-in-hand with its world-class partners that include Honeywell (flight-by-wire systems), Siemens (EPUs), Hartzell (propellers), magniX (EPUs) and Magnaghi Aeronautica (LG), has made the Alice a harbinger of a new, more sustainable era in aviation. Eviation has extended its network to include the collaboration with AeroTEC, which will lead Alice's flight tests and first flight in Moses Lake, Washington and serve as a partner for certification.

"Capable of flying with 9 passengers at 240 knots and a range of up to 650 miles, we are thrilled to introduce Alice to the aviation world at the aviation industry's largest gathering. Operating at a fraction of the costs of conventional jet liners, our Alice will redefine how people travel regionally and usher in a new era of flying that is quieter, cleaner and cost-effective," said Eviation CEO, Omer Bar-Yohay. "On behalf of the world-class group of suppliers within Alice's anatomy, we are humbled to recognize this debut as more than an unveiling - a historic milestone within the aviation industry. With the introduction of Alice, we welcome an all-new breed of airplanes for the first time in 50 years and it is only the beginning of a bright future for electric aviation and sustainable transportation."

Top U.S. regional carrier sees Eviation's all-electric regional planes as the future of travel

PARIS, June 18, 2019 -- 53rd Paris Air Show -- Today in a livestreamed press conference from the Paris Air Show, Eviation Aircraft, a global manufacturer of all-electric aircraft, announced the first commercial customer for its all-electric Alice airplane, Cape Air. With a fleet of 92 nine-seater airplanes, Cape Air is one of the largest regional airlines in the U.S., and has a double-digit purchase option for Alice. It will incorporate Eviation's Alice nine-seater planes into its existing fleet, offering flyers in the U.S. an unparalleled flying experience. Experience aviation's new icon – the first fully operational Alice – at Eviation's Paris Air Show chalet #282 or via our livestream here.

Today regional travel in the U.S. is on the rise, with an increase in consumers flying short distances between 50 to 650 miles. This growing segment offers the ideal scenario for Eviation's all-electric Alice, which aims to undercut the cost of travel by making middle mile trips cheaper, faster and cleaner. The shift to electric will reduce operating costs, eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, make air travel more affordable and connect communities like never before.

"Cape Air has never been just another airline. We are a company of firsts, and one with a deep sense of social responsibility. Seven years ago, we were recognized by the EPA for our sustainability efforts. Today, we are stewards in what is the world's single most emissions-laden industries," said Cape Air founder and CEO, Dan Wolf. "We see tremendous opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of our operations, and to help our employees and communities do that as well. Augmenting our fleet with the all-electric Alice aircraft is the next chapter in our future."

With the goal of making regional air travel accessible for all, Eviation designed Alice to create a new flying experience for passengers that is cleaner, quieter and cost-effective. Inspired by the new design possibilities that emerged by replacing turbine engines with all-electric motors, Eviation and its team have reimagined what sleek, stylish and cost-effective air mobility can be with the introduction of the first zero-emission aircraft. Eviation's Alice leverages an IP portfolio that includes innovations in thermal management and autonomous landing, as well as distributed electric propulsion, industry-leading battery technology and cutting-edge composite body frames, capable of flying with nine passengers at 240 knots to a range of up to 650 miles on a single charge.

"For the first time in over 50 years, Eviation has created a new breed of aircraft fleets and a new era in aviation with the all-electric Alice. By securing our first commercial customer with a large and well-respected regional airline such as Cape Air, we have demonstrated and proven Alice as a leader in first-to-market innovation and reliable zero-emission aviation," said Omer Bar-Yohay, Eviation CEO. "We are beyond thrilled to partner with Cape Air to bring the first all-electric regional aircraft to airports and air passengers across North America as we redesign air travel to make it quieter, cleaner and affordable."

Following test flights this year and certification in 2021, Eviation will begin shipping the aircraft for commercial use in 2022.

As building efficiency standards increase around the U.S., Redaptive helps manufacturing customers like Saint-Gobain and Bentley Mills upgrade their facilities

SAN FRANCISCO, May 20, 2019 -- Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognized Redaptive, a leading provider of data-driven energy efficiency services for commercial and industrial customers, as having achieved its goal as a financial ally of the Better Buildings Challenge. The Better Buildings Challenge is a DOE program that works with market leaders to drive the acceleration of cost-effective and proven strategies to improve the energy efficiency of the nation's buildings. With portfolio projects that span across 44 states and 205 utility regions, Redaptive has unlocked tens of millions of dollars in savings in commercial buildings.

Redaptive has achieved its goal of $50 million in funds extended for energy efficiency projects in 2018. Since the Better Buildings Challenge launched in 2011, partners have saved nearly $4 billion dollars and 470 trillion BTUs of energy, while total funding extended surpasses $19 billion. Redaptive works with many Fortune 500 companies, including other members of the Better Buildings and Better Plants program. Saint-Gobain and Bentley Mills have been members of the program and deployed numerous efficiency projects at their U.S. sites.

Redaptive worked with 2018 Better Plants Energy Savings Goal Achiever Bentley Mills, California's largest carpet design and commercial manufacturing company, to implement a number of energy efficient retrofits at their corporate office and manufacturing facility in the City of Industry that resulted in an annual savings of $270,000 and 1.64 million kWh.

"As a business that derives its culture from a sustainability driven approach, we take our footprint seriously, which is why we were so pleased to work with Redaptive to achieve significant savings," said David Turkes, Bentley Mills Director of Sustainability. "Our facility managers were looking for ways to enhance the performance of our operations while reducing our energy consumption and utilizing cost-effective methods that required no upfront capital."

Longtime Better Buildings member, Saint-Gobain, the world's largest building materials company, partnered with Redaptive to upgrade their manufacturing complex in Huntsville, Alabama with energy efficient LED lighting. Redaptive delivered a fully funded upgrade project without requiring any upfront capital from Saint-Gobain corporate. The manufacturing facility will experience an estimated 74% reduction in lighting costs. By reducing energy consumption by 1.87M kWh, the facility will avoid more than 3 million lbs. of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere - the equivalent of taking 299 cars off the road each year.

"We brought a unique and challenging manufacturing site for Redaptive to address, and their EaaS program was integral in achieving our cost and savings goals with minimal effort from our Huntsville team - generating savings to our bottom line and freeing up our team to do what they do best," said Ryan Spies, Director of Sustainability, Energy and Stewardship at Saint-Gobain North America.

Redaptive provides capital solutions, data transparency and project resources to scale efficiency deployments through an innovative platform, enabling measurable savings and project underwriting. Redaptive's platform helps companies track the savings from LED, HVAC and RTU retrofits, replacements and other infrastructure equipment to empower energy managers with insights and metrics to enhance business performance. By taking on every aspect from plan to execution, Redaptive removes the risk and ensures project success, making it easier for customers to switch to energy efficiency technologies at scale across their real estate portfolios.

"We are proud to be members of a program that is well aligned with our own mission," said John Rhow, Co-CEO at Redaptive. "We look forward to continuing to work with the Better Buildings program and its members to continue to break down the barriers to large-scale energy efficiency adoption," added Arvin Vohra, Co-CEO at Redaptive.

Petroleum-free ingredient fosters gentle skin health, protects against environmental stressors and enables indulgent textures

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., May 1, 2019 -- Plant-based innovator Renmatix is introducing Celltice™, the beauty industry's first zero-chemical self-emulsifying active, debuting at the New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists Suppliers' Day on May 7th and 8th in New York City. A brand-new ingredient consisting of botanical building blocks cellulose and lignin, Celltice delivers a variety of benefits in personal care and cosmetic applications, functioning both as an active and an excipient in formulations.

Over the last two decades, the clean beauty movement has gathered momentum, prompting cosmetic manufacturers to reduce their use of chemicals. Today, in response to widespread consumer demand, manufacturers are moving to petro-free, plant-based ingredients for clean cosmetics with minimalist formulations, seeking sustainable, cruelty-free ingredients that also deliver comparable or superior performance to traditional ingredients. 

"Historically, scientists have failed to extract cellulose and lignin in the form in which Mother Nature created them, and have resorted to using harsh chemicals that materially altered their compositions and dramatically limited their functions," said Renmatix CEO Mike Hamilton. "Without the use of any harsh chemicals or solvents, Renmatix is able to release these building blocks of nature to create an entirely new material that delivers multiple functional benefits."  

Harnessing the power of supercritical hydrolysis, Renmatix's award-winning Plantrose® Process uses only heat, pressure and water to gently release cellulose and lignin material from sustainably grown, non-genetically modified red maple (Acer rubrum).

Celltice's key benefits include:

• Gently fostering skin health. With a high oil absorptive capacity that controls the formation of sebum, Celltice delivers a more matte and healthy skin complexion after just one use, showing a 45 percent reduction in sebum in clinical studies following 30 minutes of application. Celltice also addresses dry and flaky appearance of the skin by accelerating gentle skin turnover and exfoliation, with clinical trials showing a 66 percent reduction in dry skin after only 30 minutes post-application, as measured by the D-Squame assay.

• Protecting against environmental stress. Celltice functions as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant shield for the skin when subjected to environmental pressures, even when used at low levels. In an ex-vivo model study, Celltice was proven to significantly shield against free radical (Reactive Oxygen Species) formation induced by blue light. When applied 24 hours before UV exposure, Celltice also has a pronounced protective effect on the skin by preventing the formation of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1a and PGE-2.

• Enabling indulgent textures. Celltice's micellar-free approach uses a novel Pickering mechanism to stabilize the interface between water and oil phases, enabling superior textures, from lightweight sprayable lotions to rich hydrating night creams, without requiring any chemically derived emulsifiers. Effective even at low levels, Celltice can efficiently emulsify a wide variety of oil soluble ingredients with ease, including nourishing plant oils, seed butters and active UV filters.

"Celltice is not just a plant-based alternative to chemical emulsifiers and actives," said Hamilton. "This first-in-kind product from our Plantrose process also provides manufacturers with a cost-advantaged, high-performing, multi-functional ingredient to help them deliver superior cosmetics to consumers."

Formulators interested in meeting with Renmatix during NYSCC Suppliers' Day should visit the company at booth #1737.

Energy Efficiency leader doubled headcount in 2018 and expands to CO as demand for Efficiency-as-a-Service (EaaS) grows

National Project Portfolio Spans 44 States with 205 utility regions, unlocking approximately 600 million kWh of energy savings and avoiding 424,000 mt of CO2 emissions

DENVER, April 30, 2019 -- Today Redaptive, a leading provider of data-driven energy efficiency services for commercial and industrial customers, announced that it has expanded its operations with a new location in Denver, Colorado. With more than 1,300 sites under management, Redaptive is now continuously monitoring more than 100 million sq. ft of commercial and industrial facilities for energy savings and building insights through its EaaS platform. Redaptive projects span 44 states and 205 utility regions and the Denver location will serve as secondary to Redaptive's primary headquarters in San Francisco. With commercial energy efficiency on the rise, Redaptive has grown its team in San Francisco, the East Coast, and is cementing its presence in the Rocky Mountain region which will provide additional access to its growing customer base across the country.

Redaptive provides capital solutions, data transparency and project resources to scale efficiency deployments through an innovative platform, enabling measurable savings and project underwriting. Redaptive's platform helps companies track the savings from LED, HVAC and RTU retrofits, replacements and other infrastructure equipment to empower energy managers with insights and metrics to enhance business performance. Redaptive has unlocked millions of dollars in savings at customer facilities. In 2018, one of Redaptive's largest customers, AT&T, announced it saves nearly $20 million annually across its portfolio through Redaptive's EaaS program, contributing to AT&T's 10x Sustainability goals.

Colorado, similar to the Bay Area, has been on a consistent path to reduce emissions with an assortment of community, transit, and green building initiatives. According to the ACEEE, Coloradoranks 14th in the Nation on the State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, and provides support for efficiency through an array of financial incentives, including PACE financing for commercial properties. In 2016, the Denver City Council approved a set of building codes that increased energy efficiency standards by 25 percent and made it easier to renovate and repair buildings. Redaptive currently has 20 projects in Colorado and works with partners to hire local contractors for the audits and installation. Redaptive also works with Xcel and other local utilities to administer energy efficiency rebates on behalf of customers. 

"Denver and Colorado have long been leaders in clean technology and green building initiatives, so it is a befitting secondary location for Redaptive," said John Rhow, Redaptive Co-CEO. "We are proud to continue to strengthen our platform and market reach as we provide solutions to commercial and industrial customers that unlock savings at-scale," added Arvin Vohra, Co-CEO at Redaptive. 

magniX Joins World-Class Team of Partners to Evolve Eviation's Nine-Passenger Alice Aircraft Fleets

PHOENIX and REDMOND, Wash., April 22, 2019 -- Eviation Aircraft, a global manufacturer of all-electric aircraft, announced today it has selected magniX, the company powering the electric aviation revolution, to provide its 375 horsepower magni250 propulsion system for Eviation's Alice nine-seater plane. The magniX propulsion system will be one of two propulsion options for Eviation customers to choose. magniX joins an expanding pool of industry-leading partners that will play a key role in bringing the first zero-emission, all-electric regional commuter plane to market.

Eviation selects electric propulsion leader magniX to support development of first all-electric plane. Pictured above: Eviation CEO, Omer Bar-Yohay, with magniX CEO, Roei Ganzarski, presenting a magniX motor, which requires no fuel and produces no greenhouse gases.

The current aviation industry contributes 12 percent of all U.S. carbon emissions and 4.9 percent globally, while providing few cost-efficient, on-demand travel and freight solutions. Eviation and its world class group of partners, including magniX, will work to transform 'Middle Mile' transit – passenger transportation up to 1,000 miles – in what both companies consider to be electric aviation's sweet spot. The shift to electric will reduce operating costs, eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, make air travel more affordable and connect communities like never before.

"Electrifying middle-mile aviation with fixed wing aircraft flying between the plethora of existing airports is a logical first step toward better connecting communities," said magniX CEO, Roei Ganzarski. "Together with like-minded leading partners like Eviation, we will see all-electric planes powered by our propulsions systems go into commercial service by 2022, enabling flexible, clean air-travel and package-delivery options at a fraction of today's prices."

magniX motors, which require no fuel and produce no greenhouse gases, have completed more than 1,500 hours in test facilities. The propulsion system can be used for newly designed all-electric aircraft and for the conversion of existing aircraft, accelerating the electric revolution in aviation. Following test flights this year and certification by the end of 2021, Eviation plans to begin delivering aircraft to customers for commercial use in 2022.

"We have been successfully testing the magniX system with our Alice aircraft propeller for quite some time now with great results," said Eviation CEO, Omer Bar-Yohay. "We will begin manufacturing battery-powered fleets this year for our U.S. regional carrier customers, with a value proposition that reduces their operating costs by up to 70 percent. In 2017, Americans spent $1 trillion traveling distances between 50 and 650 miles. Our goal is to undercut the cost of commuting by making middle mile trips cheaper, faster and cleaner. Together with magniX we're providing an economically and environmentally sustainable mobility solution that will forever change the face of aviation, and consumer travel."

The partnership follows several recent milestones for both aviation companies, including an Eviation board seat with the most influential aviation association in the U.S., GAMA, nine additional partners for the Alice, and magniX's partnership with Canada-based seaplane operator, Harbour Air.

Experience aviation's new icon – the first fully operational Alice – at this year's Paris Air Show in Le Bourgèt and see the magniX motor on full display in Eviation's Chalet #282 and at magniX's booth at Hall 2B-DE18.

To learn more, visit Eviation and magniX websites.

HONOLULU and EAST PALO ALTO, Calif., April 2, 2019 -- Elemental Excelerator(Elemental), a funder of environmental and infrastructure startups, today announced that California State Senate President pro Tempore Emeritus Kevin de León is joining the organization as strategic advisor and chair of its new California Community Council. In this role, de León will advise Elemental's portfolio companies working to serve low- to moderate-income (LMI) customers in California's disadvantaged communities and drive Elemental's collaboration with other organizations committed to increasing access to innovative technologies for underserved populations.

For more than a decade, de León led bipartisan collaboration to advance some of the nation's most far-reaching climate policies, including landmark legislation such as SB 100, which mandated 100 percent clean energy by 2045, and SB 535, which required a quarter of all California Cap-and-Trade auction revenues — now totaling over $8 billion — be invested in communities most heavily impacted by pollution and the adverse impacts of climate change. As an advocate for disadvantaged communities and with deep roots in some of California's most politically diverse climates, de León's unique experience as a labor rights organizer and policy change-maker are well suited to advance Elemental's mission.

"We are very excited to work with Kevin, whose policies helped develop the market for technology companies to invest in California's disadvantaged communities," said Elemental Excelerator CEO Dawn Lippert. "Our program to expand access to sustainable market-based innovations in areas disproportionately impacted by climate change is bolstered by Kevin's legislation. His policy expertise and track record of expanding opportunities for communities to thrive will be invaluable to both our portfolio companies and our California Community Council."

As part of Elemental's commitment to driving innovations that serve the needs of all people, the accelerator launched its Equity & Access (E&A) Track in 2017. The E&A Track is designed to support startups building strategies to increase equity both within their organizations — through diverse hiring, retention and inclusion, and responsible supply chains — as well as externally by deploying clean technology projects in collaboration with residents, businesses and policymakers in California's disadvantaged communities. More than 40 percent of the 500 applicants who applied to work with Elemental in 2018 were interested in the E&A track, demonstrating strong business interest in serving LMI customers. de León will advise portfolio companies and apply the economic and environmental expertise he gained representing East Los Angeles and leading the CaliforniaSenate.

The new California Community Council will bring together a coalition of stakeholders from the business, non-profit, government, philanthropic and education sectors to identify challenges and deploy innovative solutions. As chair, de León will help the council advance Elemental's efforts to increase access to sustainable technologies.

"Elemental Excelerator's unique model and focus on serving California's LMI populations dovetail perfectly with my policy work to prioritize disadvantaged communities as an essential element of combatting climate change," said Kevin de León, California State Senate President pro Tempore Emeritus. "To ensure that our most vulnerable populations thrive while transitioning to a clean economy, we must accelerate the deployment of technologies that deliver sustainable solutions quickly and at scale across all communities. I look forward to helping Elemental and its portfolio companies demonstrate that building a cleaner, more resilient and more equitable future is a winning business proposition."

Since 2013, Elemental has allocated more than $30 million to 82 companies that have since raised more than $550 million in follow-on funding, and funded 59 demonstration projects in Hawaii, California and Asia-Pacific. Applications for its 2020 cohort close on April 12, 2019. To contact Elemental about participation in the California Community Council, please fill out this form.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - March 22, 2019 - Phase Four, makers of electric radio frequency (RF) thrusters for in-space propulsion, announced today a new agreement with Japan-based advanced spacecraft experts, Sunrise.

Sunrise specializes in leading-edge aerospace technology, including satellite hardware and launch. As part of a three-year agreement, Sunrise will be bringing Maxwell, Phase Four's turnkey electric propulsion solution for small satellites (20-200kg) and other spacecraft, to market in Japan.

Designed for scale manufacturing, Maxwell brings the performance and efficiency of traditional, expensive electric engines to new small satellite constellations. Maxwell relies on Phase Four's proprietary RF thruster, which is designed to avoid components, like hollow cathodes, with high failure rates and long lead times. This means that its thruster is easily manufactured at scale and is fuel agnostic—all while achieving the performance of legacy electric propulsion systems.

"Cost-effective electric propulsion is crucial to our customers' space missions, and Phase Four's Maxwell is a game changer," said Hiroshi Nashimoto, president and CEO of Sunrise. Japanese companies and space startups have announced plans to launch more than 250 small satellites over the next three to five years.

"We're gaining traction among commercial and government satellite manufacturers, and solidifying our partnership with Sunrise today significantly accelerates our growth. We're excited to be working with Sunrise to power one of the world's largest and fastest-growing space economies," adds Beau Jarvis, CEO of Phase Four.

Validating customer demand, Maxwell thruster takes two prizes honoring innovators and innovations in the U.S. and abroad

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Feb. 28, 2019 - Today Phase Four, a best in class provider of electric radio frequency (RF) thrusters for in-space propulsion, announced that Maxwell, Phase Four's flexible propulsion solution targeted at small satellites, has been awarded the grand prize for Sustainability in Space by Climate Innovations Exchange, World Future Energy Summit and has been named a finalist in Electric Propulsion for the 2019 Edison Awards. Climate Innovations Exchange presented the award at the annual World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi on January 17, 2019. The Edison Awards, named after Thomas Alva Edison, recognizes and honors the world's best in innovators and innovations. The Edison Awards will announce gold, silver and bronze award winners at the annual Edison Awards held Thursday, April 4, 2019 in New York City.

Phase Four is creating safer, reliable, more sustainable ways of powering space transit and transportation, with the potential to significantly advance human efforts to expand into space. With customer deployments scheduled for later this year, Phase Four's Maxwell is the first turnkey RF thruster-based propulsion solution targeted at small satellite constellations and is gaining swift traction with commercial and government satellite manufacturers like Capella Space and Tyvak, Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc., a Terran Orbital corporation. Maxwell brings new small satellite constellations the performance and efficiency of traditional electric engines, while obviating the need for expensive components that have stalled high performance propulsion solutions for small satellites.

Climate Innovations Exchange recognized Phase Four at the 2019 World Future Energy Summit for significant contributions towards a sustainable future through a pioneering concept development for Maxwell. The Climate Innovations Exchange, launched in 2018, supports the UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment strategy to enable the sourcing and funding of climate change solutions and technologies. Phase Four's off-the-shelf Maxwell plasma engine is safer, simpler, modular, and more affordable compared to dangerous fossil-fuel incumbent propulsion systems equipped with single use disposable high voltage systems. Phase Four's reusable electric engines lower the barrier to entry for mobility in space.

Being recognized with an Edison Award has become one of the highest accolades a company can receive in the name of innovation and business. The awards are named after Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) whose inventions, new product development methods and innovative achievements literally changed the world, garnered him 1,093 U.S. patents, and made him a household name around the world. The judging panel was comprised of more than 3,000 professionals from the fields of product development, design, engineering, science, marketing and education, including professional organizations representing a wide variety of industries and disciplines.

"We are honored to be recognized for sustainability in space and as a finalist for the Edison Award in our category and salute our fellow finalists for their outstanding achievements and innovations," said Beau Jarvis, CEO of Phase Four. "As missions continue to launch in-orbit and industry demand for efficient, affordable, and safe propulsion systems rise, these awards further recognize market trajectory for satellites and the momentum to create a more sustainable planet.”

KADIMA-TZORAN, Israel - March 20, 2019 - Eviation Aircraft Ltd. today announced that a Special General Meeting of the Shareholders will be held on Monday, May 6, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. Israel time, at the Company's offices at 2 Ha'Ofe Street, Kadima-Tzoran, 6092000, Israel. The record date for the meeting is set for March 28, 2019.

The agenda of the meeting is as follows:

1. To approve the issuance of Ordinary Shares of no par value to the controlling shareholder of the Company, and that the purchase of such shares shall be deemed a private placement for the purpose of enabling the controlling shareholder to acquire at least forty-five percent (45%) of the voting power in the Company without requiring a special tender offer, in accordance with Section 328(b)(1) of the Israeli Companies Law.

2. To approve an amendment of the Company's Articles of Association (the "Articles").

3. To approve the repayment of certain outstanding amounts owing from the Company to its shareholders.

4. To approve the payment of compensation to certain of the Company's officers and directors.

5. To approve a grant of options to a director of the Company.

Only holders of record of Ordinary Shares as of the close of business on March 28, 2019 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the meeting, Eviation will send to its shareholders as of the record date a proxy statement describing the various matters to be voted upon at the meeting, along with a proxy card enabling them to indicate their vote on each matter. Copies of the resolutions to be adopted at the Meeting will be available to any shareholder entitled to vote at the Meeting, at the Company's offices during regular business hours or upon written request, submitted to the Company. You can contact the Company by phone at (972) 8 9137934.

Eviation Taps Siemens for Nine-Passenger Alice Aircraft Fleets

PRESCOTT, Ariz. - Feb. 20, 2019 - Eviation Aircraft, a global manufacturer of all-electric air mobility solutions, today announced that it has selected Siemens, the world automation technology leader and the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe, to provide high-power, all-electric propulsion systems for Eviation's fleet of regional Alice electric planes. The Eviation and Siemens collaboration marks a significant point in the commercialization of aviation's first all-electric plane, Alice, and electric propulsion systems, designed for this new era of air mobility. The Alice will be displayed at the upcoming Paris Air Show and will conduct its first flight later this year.

Keeping innovation and performance top of mind, Eviation has created a new era in aviation with the Alice. Inspired by the new design possibilities that emerged by replacing turbine engines with all electric motors, Eviation and its team have reimagined what sleek, stylish and cost effective air mobility can be with the introduction of Alice. Siemens was selected for Eviation's Alice motor for their leading development in extremely low weight and high-power compact efficient motors, especially designed to meet aviation standards and safety regulations. With a significant push toward bringing all-electric flight to regional markets, Siemens and Eviation will work on propulsion system integration, including: electrical integration, FBW system connectivity, thermal management system development and mechanical mounting.

"At Siemens, we believe that we are in a new era of aviation and mobility, an era that will be dominated by high-performing electric propulsion, automation and efficiency, which is why partnering with Eviation is so befitting. This partnership will serve as an industry milestone to demonstrate information exchange and system adaptations to create the first all-electric solution," said Dr. Frank Anton, Head eAircraft. "We are committed to providing technology that provides solutions to some of the world's most challenging problems, and by collaborating with Eviation to develop the Alice, we are able to further our mission."

The Alice leverages an IP portfolio that includes innovations in thermal management and autonomous landing, as well as distributed electric propulsion, industry-leading battery technology and cutting-edge composite body frames, capable of flying with nine passengers at 220 knots to a range of 650 miles on a single charge. Following test flights this year and certification in 2021, Eviation will begin shipping the aircraft for commercial use in 2022.

"For more than 150 years, Siemens has been a pioneer in developing motors designed for performance, efficiency and are well-respected for reliability. By utilizing Siemens' advanced motor technology, Alice is further established as a front runner for high performing zero-emission electric aviation," said Omer Bar-Yohay. "We are thrilled to collaborate with Siemens to develop the first fully-operational all-electric regional commuter and we're pleased to work with iconic partners who share our vision of making clean regional air travel accessible for all."

Purchase of Phase Four's new Maxwell thruster validates demand for its, "Plug and play delta-V," propulsion system in LEO

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jan. 31, 2019 - Today Phase Four, a best in class provider of electric radio frequency (RF) thrusters for in-space propulsion, announced that Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc., a Terran Orbital corporation, has purchased multiple Maxwell thrusters for Tyvak's expanding portfolio of end-to-end microsatellite solutions. Tyvak, known for its impressive base of U.S. government and commercial customers, selected Maxwell to validate its capability to fulfill multiple mission needs, including orbital adjustments and safe de-orbiting of satellites.

Introduced in November 2018, Phase Four's Maxwell is the first turnkey RF thruster-based propulsion solution targeted at small satellite constellations and is gaining swift traction with commercial and government satellite manufacturers like Tyvak. Maxwell brings new small satellite constellations the performance and efficiency of traditional electric engines, while obviating the need for expensive components that have stalled high performance propulsion solutions for small satellites.

With efficiency and scalability at the forefront, Phase Four's core thruster technology allows for future spacecraft to use less expensive propellants or propellants sourced in space, further contributing to first-in-market differentiators and the sustainable in-space industry. Phase Four will begin shipping Maxwell beginning in Q3 2019.

"The emergence and sheer number of small satellite constellations headed into space over the next few years marks a turning point for the space economy, as increased demand for more commercial missions drive significant ROI for the first time in history," said Beau Jarvis, Phase Four CEO. "Maxwell was designed to be the engine that powers these missions into LEO and beyond in an economical and efficient manner for our customers and we believe our RF Thruster technology will be the long-term solution for satellite propulsion."

Early access purchase agreement demonstrates industry demand for Phase Four's new small satellite engine

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Jan. 31, 2019 - Today Phase Four, a best in class provider of electric radio frequency (RF) thrusters for in-space propulsion, announced that Capella Space, an aerospace and information services company providing Earth observation data on demand, has purchased six Maxwell engines for initial phase of constellation deployment, with an option to purchase additional Maxwell systems. Capella Space is well-respected for its Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology designed to detect sub-meter changes on the Earth's surface. The leader in radar imaging, tapped Maxwell as its preferred propulsion solution for Capella's phased deployment of a constellation of 36 micro-satellites.

Introduced in November 2018, Phase Four's Maxwell is the first turnkey RF thruster-based propulsion solution targeted at small satellite constellations and is gaining swift traction with commercial and government satellite manufacturers. Maxwell brings new small satellite constellations the performance and efficiency of legacy electric propulsion systems, while obviating the need for expensive components that have hampered high performance propulsion solutions for small satellites.

"Selecting Phase Four's Maxwell as an engine for our satellites enables higher performance at lower cost," said Christian Lenz, VP of Engineering. "In terms of ROI, delta-V performance, and plug-and-play integration, Maxwell checks the boxes for employing the best performing systems and space technology in our mission to make vital information about our planet more accessible and reliable. We are pleased to cement this partnership with Phase Four and look forward to putting their capabilities on orbit with our launches later this year."

Capella's small satellites are designed and deployed in less time and at a fraction of the cost of traditional high-resolution SAR systems, representing a seismic shift in the development of remote-sensing infrastructure. Once on-orbit, the high frequency revisit rate of the Capella constellation will improve reliability and accessibility to timely planetary insights anywhere on the globe. With support from Maxwell's propulsion system, Capella's small satellites will detect change and draw insights from high value areas of interest for customers across an array of industries, including commodity trading, shipping and maritime security, agriculture and food security, and defense and global infrastructure integrity monitoring. Phase Four will begin shipping Maxwell in Q3 2019.

"As the burgeoning demand for small satellite constellations increases on a commercial scale, propulsion technology that is performant, readily manufactured at scale and affordable is required. Demand for such high performing affordable propulsion solutions will only continue to increase," said Beau Jarvis, Phase Four CEO. "With efficiency and scalability at the forefront, Phase Four's core thruster technology allows for future spacecraft to use less, further contributing to the sustainable in-space industry and delivering on the promise to provide a satellite propulsion engine that powers missions into LEO and beyond in an economical and efficient manner."

Early targets include the $400M cost-in-use egg replacement market for baked goods in the U.S., with plant ingredient Simple Cellulose

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Jan. 3, 2019 - Renmatix today announced it has signed a distribution agreement with The Ingredient House, a leading supplier of specialty food and beverage ingredients, currently selling to many of the top 20 food and beverage manufacturers in the U.S. Together the two see the potential to replace eggs in baked goods by incorporating Simple Cellulose, a new plant-based ingredient that provides manufacturers up to 50 percent in cost-in-use savings. The two companies see growth opportunities in supporting the clean label movement with the innovative nature of Simple Cellulose, which exhibits multifunctional property benefits in emulsification, texturizing, moisture retention and fat replacement – increasingly desirable traits to meet today's healthy consumer tastes.

Derived from pure plant materials and agricultural feedstocks, Simple Cellulose allows food producers to replace eggs and fats, as it enhances the efficiency of texturizing ingredients and the moisture retention required for freshness extension - all while undercutting the cost of conventional ingredients. Simple Cellulose has also shown advantages in gluten-free and vegan baked goods and its breakthrough properties are currently being realized in baked goods such as breads, muffins, cookies and donuts. Future targets include soups and sauces, meat and dairy systems, and many other food ingredient applications. Simple Cellulose debuted at 2018 IFT in July, and since that time has been the key ingredient in dozens of bakery trial tests across the U.S., winning rave reviews and orders for its ability to improve 'free-from' recipes with tasty product, extended freshness and reduced costs. 

"Today we're happy to be entering a new era in food in which consumer appetite for healthier foods and clean labels is balanced with higher-quality ingredients and cost savings for food producers. This has always been the promise of plant-based ingredients, and the growth and interest we've seen just since IFT this summer has been amazing," said Mike Hamilton, Renmatix CEO. "The demand for novel plant-based ingredients like Simple Cellulose, coupled with the proven go-to-market success of The Ingredient House, provides an exciting next chapter for consumers. The relationships and track record that The Ingredient House has with its customer base, combined with the introduction of Simple Cellulose, will further allow it to serve shifting U.S. consumer food preferences and support cost savings in production for its customers."

"We're pleased to be joining with Renmatix to bring this unique ingredient to the food market, and our early market efforts will focus on leading bakery manufacturers," said Graham Hall, CEO of The Ingredient House. "Renmatix has achieved a true breakthrough with Simple Cellulose, offering multifunctional property benefits and cost savings to the baked goods industry. Given our ability to penetrate a supply position within the leading bakeries in the U.S. and our proven ability to deliver customer growth with innovative products, we expect to quickly realize market success promoting Simple Cellulose across our target customer base." 

The zero-emission vehicles support the Port Authority’s goal of a 100 percent-electric airport shuttle bus fleet  

Burlingame, Calif. – December 27, 2018 – Today Proterra, a leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has agreed to procure 18 Proterra Catalyst® E2 vehicles for shuttle service at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA), representing one of the largest electric bus fleet commitments of any airport authority in the United States. Six of the battery-electric buses are already in service at JFK, with LGA and EWR to each deploy six more in 2019.

“The Port Authority continues to look for innovative and eco-friendly ways to support the growth of its airports,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “By providing a more sustainable airport and delivering an enhanced passenger experience, we are continuing our commitment to reduce the agency’s carbon footprint.”

The Port Authority operates JFK, LGA and EWR, which together comprise the busiest airport system in the United States. JFK serves more than 59 million passengers annually, including the most international passengers of any airport in the United States, with 32 million per year. With access to Proterra battery-electric buses, airport riders will be able to enjoy the benefits of zero-emission mass transit technology, including improved community air quality and a modern, quieter rider experience.

The JFK buses were purchased with the aid of rebates offered through the New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program, which supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s ambitious clean energy goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030. Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Truck Voucher Incentive Program provides point of sale rebates to reduce the cost for businesses and government entities that want to purchase new clean vehicles or retrofit commercial vehicles and buses into hybrids, natural gas vehicles or zero-emission vehicles. The rebate reduces the incremental costs of purchasing advanced alternative fuel technology heavy-duty trucks and buses by up to 80 percent. Since 2013, it has provided almost 600 rebates for trucks and buses throughout the State.

The JFK introduction expands Proterra’s electric vehicle footprint across the East Coast, supporting New York and New Jersey’s goals of increasing transportation resilience, reducing congestion and improving air quality. Earlier this year, Proterra delivered five Catalyst buses to New York MTA under a three-year lease program, as part of MTA’s first deployment of electric buses.

With the addition of JFK, LGA and EWR, seven U.S. airports have now ordered or deployed Proterra electric buses, including Silicon Valley’s Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC), Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), Sacramento International Airport (SMF) and Honolulu International Airport (HNL), underscoring a recent trend toward electrifying airport ground transportation fleets. Earlier this fall, the Senate signed into law a five-year FAA Reauthorization Bill, which expands zero-emission vehicle and infrastructure funding under the Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE) Program. U.S. airports are now eligible for VALE program grants in non-attainment areas used to carry passengers to off-airport locations on dedicated airport-only duty cycles, and the FAA funding can also be combined with a battery or bus lease.

In 2016, the Port Authority won the Green Fleet Award, which recognized it as the greenest fleet among the nation’s airports. Using 18 battery-electric Catalyst buses instead of diesel vehicles can avoid approximately 49.5 million pounds of CO2 emissions over the 12-year lifespan of the buses and save more than 2 million gallons of diesel fuel. In addition to the environmental benefits, the new electric buses are expected to positively impact the Port Authority’s bottom line due to reduced maintenance and operating costs.

“This deployment represents one of the largest commitments to zero-emission vehicles of any airport authority in the U.S., and we applaud the Port Authority’s goal of converting their entire bus fleet to electric vehicle technology,” said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. “We’re proud to help New York and New Jersey introduce electric bus technology throughout the Port Authority airport system. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty airports are a gateway to our country. Clean, quiet, Proterra electric buses – designed and manufactured in America – will make a wonderful first impression on travelers from all over the world.”

###

About the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey:

Founded in 1921, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. The agency’s network of aviation, ground, rail, and seaport facilities is among the busiest in the country, supports more than 550,000 regional jobs, and generates more than $23 billion in annual wages and $80 billion in annual economic activity. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center site, where the 1,776-foot-tall One World Trade Center is now the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. The Port Authority receives no tax revenue from either the State of New York or New Jersey or from the City of New York. The agency raises the necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own credit. For more information, please visit http://www.panynj.gov.

About Proterra:

Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission, heavy-duty electric vehicles, enabling bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to local communities across North America. The company’s configurable Catalyst platform is capable of serving the daily mileage needs of nearly every transit route on a single charge. With industry leading durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley, South Carolina, and Los Angeles.

For more information, visit: http://www.proterra.com and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

Media Contact:
pr@proterra.com

Signaling industry collaboration with one of the most well-respected aviation institutions in North America

PRESCOTT, Ariz., Dec. 17, 2018 - Eviation Aircraft, a global manufacturer of all-electric air mobility solutions, today announced that it has selected Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, for research and development with fourth-year undergraduate engineering students. The university program is expected to launch in the spring of 2019 at the Prescottcampus.

Promoting innovation and collaboration within the aviation industry, Embry-Riddle students and faculty will work with Eviation's zero-emission all electric aircraft solutions, to focus on performance analysis, validation and testing as well as future electric propulsion and airframe design concepts. The university program will offer students the opportunity to contribute to and participate in preliminary design and sub-scale testing, a highly specialized and unique experience for students training for aviation careers. For nearly a century, Embry-Riddle has been educating some of the brightest and bravest in aviation who drive innovation and keep the aerospace and related industries running safely and productively.

"Embry Riddle is at the forefront of aviation innovation and we are excited to partner with Eviation Aircraft and deliver on our commitment to exposing students to groundbreaking technology," said Embry-Riddle Chancellor Dr. Frank Ayers. "By including Embry-Riddle engineers and students in the R&D pool, Eviation and the Alice Aircraft will take advantage of the exposure and knowledge from our best and brightest engineers."

With the goal of making clean regional air travel accessible for all, Eviation will be debuting the 9-passenger regional commuter at the 53rd Paris Air Show in June 2019. The Alice leverages an IP portfolio that includes thermal management and autonomous landing, as well as distributed electric propulsion, industry-leading battery technology and cutting-edge composite body frames capable of carrying up to nine passengers on 650 miles a single charge.

"With one of the oldest and most well-respected universities at the helm, we're confident that the Alice Aircraft is in good hands and we look forward to partnering with the prestigious university," said Omer Bar-Yohay, CEO of Eviation. "As we innovate within one of the world's most polluting industries, we look forward to partnering with Embry-Riddle to further our mission, vision and electric mobility development."

Global Manufacturer, Hartzell Propeller to provide customized and optimized propeller and system for Eviation's 9-passenger "Alice"

PHOENIX, Ariz., Nov. 5, 2018 - Eviation Aircraft, a global manufacturer of all-electric air mobility solutions, today announced that it has selected Hartzell Propeller, Inc., the global leader in advanced aircraft and airplane propeller design and manufacturing technology, as its development partner for Eviation's debut aircraft, the all-electric Alice. Under the terms of the development partnership, Hartzell Propeller will provide customized and optimized propellers and support systems for the Alice.

The partnership marks the second U.S. milestone for Eviation this year, on the heels of establishing its U.S. headquarters in Prescott, Arizona in June 2018. Founded in Tel Aviv in 2015, Eviation is led by an accomplished team of aviation and technology leaders from companies such as Phinergy and the Israel Defense Forces. In 2017 at the Paris Airshow in Le Bourgèt, Eviation revealed its plans for the aviation sector's first all-electric aircraft, the Alice. Initially targeting regional commuter routes in the U.S., Eviation will provide battery-powered fleets to regional carriers in the U.S, with a value proposition that can reduce carrier opex by up to 70 percent.

"Eviation's new regional commuter aircraft provides an exciting opportunity to be a part of the next generation in aircraft powered by electricity," said Hartzell Propeller President Joe Brown. "And it is another example of manufacturers utilizing our expertise in supplying propeller systems designed to optimize performance specifically for their aircraft and mission profile.   

With development support from Hartzell Propeller, the Alice will be equipped with an innovative system of new propellers, designed to meet the unique needs of the first-in-kind aircraft. The design and manufacture of the propeller systems are already underway at Hartzell's headquarters in Piqua, Ohio, and will utilize Hartzell's 5-blade carbon fiber blades and bantam hub series to provide the optimal combination of reduced weight and maximum performance. 

Each of the propellers in the three-unit ship set will be approximately 65 inches in diameter and feature carbon fiber blades with nickel cobalt leading edges, certified for unlimited life. The structural composite propellers will be integrated with Eviation's proprietary technology advances, including: thermal management and autonomous landing, distributed electric propulsion, and cutting-edge composite body frames capable of carrying up to 9 passengers on a single charge for 650 miles.

"Hartzell is an industry icon in aviation for its innovative propeller designs. It is largely responsible for the two precursors to our battery-power engine – the turboprop propeller and the piston-engine, so we welcome them as a valued partner as together we chart this new era of electric aviation," said Omer Bar-Yohay, CEO of Eviation.

Proterra's heavy-duty energy storage system will power the Saf-T-Liner® eC2 vehicle to serve North American school bus needs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Oct. 30, 2018 - Today Proterra, a leading innovator in electric transportation, and Thomas Built Buses, a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America, unveiled a new high-performance electric school bus, featuring an industry-leading Proterra® battery system, at the 44th Annual National Association of Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Conference. The Saf-T-Liner® eC2 electric school bus powered by Proterra represents Proterra's entrance into a new commercial vehicle sector, the school bus market, and further demonstrates the mass-market shift towards electrification of commercial transportation solutions. The eC2 bus powered by Proterra is being co-developed with Thomas Built Buses in Proterra's Greenville, SC manufacturing facility.

"This collaboration with Proterra supports our mission to deliver sustainable solutions to schools," said Caley Edgerly, Thomas Built Buses CEO. "We are excited to integrate Proterra's proven electric vehicle technology into our buses, to provide safe, clean and quiet transportation for children across the country."

Thomas Built Buses is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America. In September, Proterra announced a collaboration with Daimler, the world's largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles, to explore opportunities to incorporate Proterra's electric vehicle technology into Daimler's commercial vehicle platforms. The Saf-T-Liner eC2 bus powered by Proterra is the first of these vehicles to be unveiled.

Designed from the ground-up with an emphasis on safety, durability and performance, Proterra battery packs provide industry-leading energy density and proprietary battery thermal management to ensure optimal vehicle performance and safety. Proterra battery systems undergo rigorous testing and incorporate both active and passive safety systems. The eC2 bus powered by Proterra can be charged with industry-standard J1772 CCS plug-in charging technology, including the Proterra 60kW charging system, in about three hours.

"School buses provide critical community infrastructure and are an excellent application for vehicle electrification," said Ryan Popple, Proterra CEO. "We're pleased to work with an industry leader like Thomas Built Buses to unveil a high performance electric school bus that reduces our children's exposure to diesel emissions."

As part of its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2024, Duke begins to electrify campus transportation

BURLINGAME, Calif. - Oct. 30, 2018 - Today Proterra, a leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that Duke University is adding two 40' Proterra Catalyst ® E2 electric buses to its fleet. Dukeis the first university in North Carolina to purchase electric buses, and expects to deploy the buses on campus in 2020.

"Using electric buses is a big step toward reaching our goal of being carbon neutral by 2024," said Jason Elliott, assistant director of Sustainable Duke, part of the university's Office of Sustainability. "The buses will be a great way for students, staff and faculty to experience the impact of the work Duke is doing in sustainability."

Since initiating the University's climate commitment in 2007, Duke has reduced the campus greenhouse gas footprint by 24 percent. However, in the same timeframe, Duke has seen a 9 percent increase in total emissions from employee commuting, air travel and Duke-owned fleets. In order to address the impact transit has on its carbon footprint, Dukeplans to phase out the purchase of hybrid and diesel-hybrid buses and will buy electric buses moving forward.

The new zero-emission buses will replace two diesel vehicles from the university's 24-bus fleet, which currently consists of hybrid-diesel and diesel vehicles. The battery-electric buses release zero tailpipe emissions, require no oil changes and use no liquid fuels. Duke expects to save approximately $924,000 in maintenance, fuel and vehicle costs over the lifespan of the two buses. As replacements for diesel vehicles, the Proterra Catalyst electric buses can also save more than 5 million pounds of carbon emissions over their 12-year lifespan.

"This was an easy decision to make," said Carl DePinto, director of Duke Parking and Transportation Services. "The buses are clean, quiet and support our goal of becoming a climate-neutral institution."

In addition to the two battery-electric buses, Duke will install two Proterra 60kW plug-in charging stations with standardized charge ports that can also be used to charge other electric vehicles in the fleet.

"Duke joins a growing list of forward-thinking educational institutions implementing Proterra electric vehicle technology and creating healthier campus communities," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra.  "We are proud to provide the Duke community with Proterra Catalyst electric buses, supporting the university's sustainability initiatives with clean, quiet campus transportation."

As part of Rhode Island's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, RIPTA is deploying three zero-emission battery-electric buses and charging infrastructure

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Oct. 22, 2018 - Today Proterra, a leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) is deploying three 40' Proterra Catalyst® E2 electric buses. RIPTA unveiled the buses at a press conference earlier today with Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Rhode Island received $14.4 million in VW funding and chose to invest the bulk of it in clean transit, with the intent to replace approximately 20 retiring diesel buses with new, all-electric zero-emission vehicles. This deployment marks the first step toward achieving this goal.

The milestone represents one of the first deployments to use funding from the Volkswagen AG (VW) diesel emissions settlement. The lease program provides RIPTA with an opportunity to evaluate the combined economic, environmental and performance benefits of deploying all-electric buses. The buses will be tested extensively and staff will be trained in the maintenance and charging of the vehicles before they are put in service.

"We are joining other forward-thinking transit authorities that are already employing electric bus technology," said Scott Avedisian, CEO of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). "We travel the state, and having a greener fleet is important to the neighborhoods we travel through – particularly urban areas with known air quality issues. Taking the bus rather than commuting alone in your car is good for the environment. Taking an electric bus is even better."

This deployment reinforces RIPTA's commitment to reducing emissions after nearly a decade of sustainable transit initiatives. In 2010, RIPTA began making substantial investments in cleaner vehicles, efficient facilities, green building initiatives and service improvements. Rhode Islandcurrently has 73 hybrid buses and with the addition of zero-emission buses, low and zero-emission vehicles will comprise approximately 36 percent of the state's bus fleet. Proterra's buses will replace three aging diesel buses on current RIPTA transit routes, with a focus on serving communities that suffer from poor air quality and high asthma rates.

"We believe Rhode Island is one of the first states to use VW settlement funds to deploy battery-electric buses and has set an example for other states by committing the majority of its funds to zero-emission transit," said Proterra CEO Ryan Popple. "We're proud to work with RIPTA to provide electric buses that will offer Rhode Island passengers -- particularly those in areas that suffer the most from harmful diesel emissions -- a quieter, more comfortable ride and a cleaner environment."

What's the ROI in Space? If anyone knows, it's Beau Jarvis, who joins Phase Four after building up critical early revenue streams for NewSpace notables Planet and HawkEye360

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Oct. 15, 2018 - Today Phase Four, a best in class provider of electric radio frequency (RF) thrusters for in-space propulsion for micro and small satellites, named Beau Jarvis as its chief revenue officer. Jarvis, an early veteran of the NewSpace era, brings more than 20 years of geospatial air and space experience to Phase Four. His focus will be to execute the company's go-to-market strategy and drive customer value and revenue growth.

Jarvis' career trajectory over the past 20 years has spanned across almost every major phase of the private aerospace industry's recent transformation. From the sector's early progress in producing more frequent, higher-quality earth imagery data from space, to the diversification of the cost and size of satellites, to catalyzing advances in how to provide these new fleets of mega-constellations with new levels of control and maneuverability, Jarvis has anticipated and led efforts at some of the industry's most influential companies.

After his first job with LiDAR and digital mapping service provider, Terrapoint, and his subsequent role at Trimble Navigation, where he led the Americas Geospatial Division sales region, Jarvis was recruited by earth-imaging company Planet Labs to be its first sales executive. During his time at Planet, Jarvis was tasked with refining  product features, business plan, and revenue generation for the raw earth imaging data collected by Planet's initial microsatellite constellation. After three plus years at Planet, Jarvis joined HawkEye360, a cutting-edge developer of small satellite technology, as its chief revenue officer, leading early sales and marketing efforts. He will now lead sales and new business development activities as he and Phase Four address the unmet industry need for an affordable small satellite propulsion system that can be manufactured at scale.

"Looking back over the last two decades, I've been lucky enough to ride the crest of some of the most exciting and promising technology innovation waves within the space industry. We're now at a point at which the market has matured enough to give way to this next growth phase, where technologies like Phase Four's reduce balance of system costs and enable mass production and deployment of low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations," said Jarvis. "One of the things that sets Phase Four apart is its focus on building the right product for the commercial side of the business, and I look forward to helping the company generate significant revenue as it enters its next phase of growth."

"Beau is a crucial addition to Phase Four's executive team as we focus on bringing our mass-produceable technology to market," said Simon Halpern, founder and CEO of Phase Four. "His incredible track record of helping to grow some of the most successful companies in the sector will be invaluable as we address the next big need for LEO constellations -- namely, a cost-efficient propulsion system that can be mass-produced at scale."

Telematics system optimizes battery-electric bus operations, reduces costs and streamlines remote fleet management for increased performance

BURLINGAME, California - Sept. 24, 2018 - Today Proterra, a leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, gave attendees at the American Public Transit Association (APTA) Annual Meeting in Nashville a glimpse at the next level for smart, connected, electric transit with the introduction of the Proterra® APEX™ connected vehicle intelligence system. With the new APEX™ system, Proterra's transit operator customers across North America can access historical and real-time information on the performance of their electric fleets via a secure, cloud-based data platform. Real-time access to data on vehicle speed, distance traveled, location, charge status, and energy usage gives operators powerful insights for fleet optimization and cost reduction.

"With mass transit now moving quickly toward a battery-electric future, we see a real opportunity to optimize vehicle and charging operations and create a deeper connection for our transit customers through new levels of transparency and data analytics," said Mike Finnern, Proterra Sr. Director, Customer Service. "The Proterra APEX system provides valuable insights to stakeholders at all levels of a transit organization, including advanced fleet analytics, customizable alerts and real-time information to help our customers smoothly transition to an all-electric future."

Designed for improved operations and greater fleet transparency, the Proterra APEX™ platform enables fleet operators to reduce costs and avoid potential operating delays by monitoring the performance and health of battery-electric fleets. By accessing performance data and receiving customizable alerts for vehicles and charging systems, customers can minimize risks, make informed decisions and ultimately reduce the frequency of on-site visits by solving problems remotely and proactively. In addition to vehicle analytics, the Proterra APEX™ system provides enhanced charger management with real-time updates on charger activity, charger status, and remote charging control. Data can be accessed from the APEX cloud-based portal, downloaded via customized reports, or integrated into a customer's existing intelligent transportation system (ITS).

With cities across North America committing to electric fleets, transit operators will require intelligent monitoring systems that exceed current standards and include new data points unique to battery-electric fleets. The APEX™ intelligent monitoring system takes a comprehensive approach to scalable, electric fleet management through actionable insights and support, enabling transit operators to offer emission-free transit service to their communities with a first-in-kind level of connectivity.  

"Demonstrating the heavy-duty performance and reliability of our battery-electric vehicles and charging systems has always been at the core of our mission. Now with the APEX platform, we're taking that performance a step further, creating a new standard for operational transparency and fleet optimization," said Ryan Popple, Proterra CEO. "We believe that this new level of connectivity and data transparency will support our transit customers as they adapt to an increasingly complex and changing transportation environment."

To learn more about the Proterra APEX™ connected vehicle intelligence system, visit proterra.com/technology/APEX.

Investment supports strategic partnerships for electric vehicle development

BURLINGAME, California - Sept. 19, 2018 - Today Proterra, a leading innovator in heavy duty electric transportation for the North American mass transit market, announced that it has closed a $155 million investment round co-led by Daimler, the world's largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles. Tao Capital Partners co-led the round, joined by G2VP and other technology investors.  

In conjunction with the investment, Proterra and Daimler have entered into an agreement to explore the electrification of select Daimler heavy-duty vehicles. The first of these efforts will be to explore potential synergies with Daimler's Thomas Built Buses division by bringing Proterra's proven battery and drivetrain technologies to the North American school bus market, the next frontier for zero-emission, commercial fleets. Similar to public transit vehicles, school buses provide mission-critical community infrastructure and offer an excellent use case for vehicle electrification, as most school buses travel a predictable distance per day that is well within the capability of Proterra's EV technology. With this collaboration on an electric vehicle for the school bus market, Daimler and Proterra have the potential to provide reliable, affordable transportation options with environmentally sustainable, zero-emission EV technology.

This announcement represents a significant milestone in the commercialization of heavy-duty electric vehicles as both manufacturers work to bring zero-emission technology to an expanded set of vehicle segments. With a history and legacy that dates back nearly 150 years, Daimler will be able to provide Proterra with relevant experience in manufacturing commercial vehicles at scale, while Proterra will leverage its proven experience in battery-electric mass transit and provide access to its industry-leading electric vehicle technology.

Martin Daum, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG with responsibility for Daimler Trucks & Buses: "We started working on electric trucks and buses at a very early stage, and we aim to set the standards here in each relevant segment. We expect the cooperation with Proterra to deliver additional impetus for the development of heavy-duty commercial vehicles with electric drive."

Nick Pritzker, Chairman of Tao Capital Partners said, "We have made several investments in disruptive transportation companies and believe electric vehicle technology is the future of mass transit fleets.  We at Tao are proud to support Proterra in its mission to bring forth a clean, electric transportation ecosystem."

"We are excited to collaborate with Daimler, and we appreciate their investment and support," said Ryan Popple, Proterra CEO. "Daimler is a global leader in vehicles that serve almost every category and market. Over the past year, we've gained a great deal of respect for the engineering prowess, operational expertise, and environmental stewardship of the Daimler team. We also appreciate the continued support of our existing investors who share our vision of clean, quiet transportation for all."

Mayors from across the state support zero-emission buses in advance of the California Air Resources Board’s Innovative Clean Transit measure

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - August 23, 2018 – Today, 35 California mayors representing nearly 25 percent of the state’s population released a letter urging strong action on the transition to zero-emission buses, and this September, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will vote on the proposed Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) measure, which would require state public transit agencies to transition to 100 percent zero-emission buses by 2040. Already, cities across California and the United States have set goals to procure 100 percent zero-emission buses, because the electric bus solutions on the market today are simply better: more economical over the lifetime of the vehicle, higher performing and environmentally sustainable. Representatives from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and the Californians for Zero Emissions Vehicles (CalZEV) presented an expanded letter to CARB officials, which includes twice the amount of mayoral support from January in advance of the CARB public hearing on September 27.

Zero-emission buses will significantly improve the air quality in cities across California. The lifecycle emissions of electric transit buses are the lowest of all types of buses. Electric vehicles do not have any tailpipe emissions, which provides significant relief to the local air quality in the communities in which they are driven. Running on California’s electric grid, battery-electric buses emit 70 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than both natural gas and diesel-powered buses, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. 

Furthermore, zero-emission bus technology has advanced dramatically in the last few years, increasing the range and decreasing prices. There are also substantial incentives to make up for the difference in cost between a zero-emission bus and a gas or diesel or diesel-hybrid bus. CARB estimates that California would save over $500 million over the status quo if the state transitioned to all battery-electric buses by 2040.

Given the combined benefits of zero-emission buses, a growing list of fleets across North America have already planned to go 100 percent zero-emission, including twelve California public transit agencies listed below. In Los Angeles County alone, LA Metro, LADOT, AVTA and Foothill Transit will go all-electric. 

• Anaheim Resort Transportation - 2019/2020

• Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) - 2018

• Foothill Transit - 2030

• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) - 2030

• Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) - 2030

• Porterville Transit - 2025

• San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) - 2035

• San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) - 2025

• San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) - 2033

• Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) - 2033

• Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit Districts (Metro) - 2040

• Santa Monica Big Blue Bus (BBB) - 2030

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) also recently committed to a 100 percent zero-emission bus transition, and has the cleanest trolley electric bus system in California with 50 percent of its electric fleet running on 100 percent greenhouse gas-free Hetch Hetchy electricity via overhead wires. 

“Transitioning to 100 percent zero-emission buses across California is good for our cities, good for our state, and good for the planet,” said San Francisco Mayor London Breed. “California has always been at the forefront of environmental innovation. By converting our bus fleets to electric vehicles, we can improve our air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and fight back against the Trump Administration’s disastrous environmental policies.”

The mayors below are committed to advocating for zero-emission electric buses in their respective cities, and support transitioning bus fleets in their cities to zero-emission as soon as possible.

1. Mayor Sho Tay, City of Arcadia

2. Mayor Douglas Kim, City of Belmont

3. Mayor Jesse Arreguin, City of Berkeley

4. Mayor Michael Brownrigg, City of Burlingame

5. Mayor Mary Salas, City of Chula Vista

6. Mayor Catherine Blakespear, City of Encinitas

7. Mayor Andre Quintero, City of El Monte

8. Mayor Deborah Penrose, City of Half Moon Bay

9. Mayor Rey León, City of Huron

10. Mayor Sam Hindi, City of Foster City

11. Mayor Serge Dedina, City of Imperial Beach

12. Mayor Steve Croft, City of Lakewood

13. Mayor R. Rex Parris, City of Lancaster

14. Mayor Racquel Vasquez, City of Lemon Grove

15. Mayor Robert Garcia, City of Long Beach

16. Mayor Eric Garcetti, City of Los Angeles

17. Mayor Rob Rennie, City of Los Gatos

18. Mayor Gina Papan, City of Millbrae

19. Mayor Libby Schaaf, City of Oakland

20. Mayor Milt Stowe, City of Porterville

21. Mayor Tom Butt, City of Richmond

22. Mayor Darrell Steinberg, City of Sacramento

23. Mayor Sam Liccardo, City of San Jose

24. Mayor Heidi Harmon, City of San Luis Obispo

25. Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor, City of Santa Clara

26. Mayor London Breed, City of San Francisco

27. Mayor Cathy Murillo, City of Santa Barbara

28. Mayor David Terrazas, City of Santa Cruz

29. Mayor Ted Winterer, City of Santa Monica

30. Mayor Michael Tubbs, City of Stockton

31. Mayor Glenn Hendricks, City of Sunnyvale

32. Mayor Patrick Furey, City of Torrance

33. Mayor Erik Nasarenko, City of Ventura

34. Mayor John Duran, City of West Hollywood

35. Mayor Sylvia Ballin, City of San Fernando

“Electrifying buses is a big step forward in the local and global fight against the worst impacts of climate change. Lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for electric buses are more than 70 percent less than the emissions from the diesel and natural gas buses currently on the road. The mayors’ support of zero-emission buses is another reason why CARB should require California public transit agencies to purchase 100 percent zero-emission buses by 2029,” said Dr. Jimmy O’Dea, senior vehicles analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists. 

Next month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will host a public hearing on September 27, and board members will vote on the rulemaking, and the ICT is also expected to be discussed during the Governor’s Global Action Climate Summit, beginning September 12 in San Francisco. Take action now and tell CARB you support clean air and zero-emission transit for all here.

With exceptional battery performance in harsh weather environments, Proterra expands its Canadian Market Footprint into Alberta

BURLINGAME, California - Aug. 23, 2018 - Today Proterra, a leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) has ordered 25 new 40-foot Proterra Catalyst® E2 max vehicles, which will replace 25 of the agency's existing diesel buses. The purchase marks an agency milestone and supports Edmonton's long-term vision of green public transportation and emissions reduction.

"We're excited to work with Proterra and be at the forefront of integrating electric buses and emerging technology into our existing fleet," said Eddie Robar, Branch Manager of ETS. "Proterra's clean-running and quiet electric buses are winter compatible, have a range of up to 400 kilometres and contribute to our shift toward more sustainable transportation, a low carbon city and high-quality transit service for Edmontonians."

In addition to community, health, and environmental benefits, the new electric buses are expected to deliver a cost savings of roughly 30% for service and maintenance.

Proterra vehicles have proven their performance in harsh winter climates such as Worcester Regional Transit Authority in Massachusetts and Park City Transit in Utah. Performance remains reliable in extreme weather due to active thermal management of vehicle batteries and proprietary state of charge algorithms that enable long life, rapid charging and operation in virtually any climate.

Proterra will initially supply the City of Edmonton with two electric buses for infrastructure and charging verification, with plans to supply a total of 25 electric buses to be put into regular service in summer 2020. With Proterra battery-electric buses, Edmonton riders will enjoy the combined benefits of zero-emission mass transit technology, improved community air quality, and a modern, accessible electric vehicle experience.

"We are honored to be selected as the battery-electric bus provider for Edmonton and to play a pivotal role in helping the city move forward on its zero-emission goals," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "We look forward to working with Edmonton Transit Service on deploying our buses and creating a more sustainable transit system."

Transit agencies, universities and institutions can now purchase Proterra Catalyst® buses and charging stations directly from the Georgia state contract

BURLINGAME, California - Aug. 22, 2018 - Today, Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that it has been selected by the Georgia Department of Administrative Services as a vendor to supply zero-emission battery-electric buses and charging stations for its Statewide Contract for Public Mass Transit & Transportation. The state of Georgia has over 1,182 buses in operation servicing customers with nearly 150 million trips per year, who stand to benefit from the economic and environmental benefits of zero-emission bus technology.

Proterra, along with other manufacturers, was chosen by the State of Georgia for a "pool of providers" to dramatically streamline local transit agencies' access to the vendor and vehicle that best meets their specific transit system's needs. As a result, transit agencies can now purchase Proterra® zero-emission buses and charging stations through the state's pre-established contract. The deal represents Proterra's growing foothold across the southeast, and comes after Proterra has already signed contracts with transit agencies in similar climates including Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. Designed for efficiency and manufactured for durability, the Proterra Catalyst E2 series achieves 22 MPGe, while conventional diesel buses average 3.86 MPG. And unlike the industry's widely-used steel bus frames, Proterra's lightweight carbon-fiber-reinforced composite bus body maximizes vehicle life, while minimizing repairs and maintenance. Powering up a Catalyst bus is as simple as connecting to a Proterra charger or other standards-based charging system, because Proterra has a suite of high power DC fast chargers that comply with the EV industry's technology standards, including J1772 CCS, J3105 and OCPP 1.6.  Proterra's charging systems are also capable of bi-directional, vehicle-to-grid power flow (V2G) to maximize energy management capabilities and enable transit agencies to more easily achieve 100 percent electric bus fleets.

"Implementing this forward-looking transportation initiative and policy is a huge win not only for Proterra and Georgiastate institutions, but for EV adoption in the U.S.," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "We applaud the work of the state of Georgia and are eager to support the state's efforts to accelerate the adoption of emission-free mass transit for all."

Eviation selects Prescott, Arizona for expanded operations as it targets the U.S. as lucrative market for its electric commuter aircraft, Alice

PRESCOTT, Arizona - Aug. 2, 2018 - Eviation Aircraft, a global manufacturer of all-electric air mobility solutions, today announced it has selected Prescott, Arizona for its U.S. headquarters. The site, located adjacent to the Prescott Municipal Airport, will serve as Eviation's base of operations for its expansion from Israel into the U.S. market.

Eviation selected Prescott as an optimal location for its U.S. headquarters given the area's skilled workforce and high-density altitude, an ideal environment for test flights. An emerging aerospace and aviation hub, the city is home to the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, one of the world's most prestigious aviation universities. Prescott's aviation governance also provides a pro-business climate as the Prescott Municipal Airport's open airspace enables test flight operations without air traffic intrusions. Prescott is poised for growth from the aviation sector as Eviation joins SkyWest Airline's United Express service in its move to the area.

"Prescott is a city that prides itself on nurturing high-tech talent and creativity," said Mayor Greg Mengarelli. "Launching Eviation's U.S. headquarters in Prescott is a win-win. It leverages our incredible talent pool, while acting as an economic engine and solidifying Prescott's position as a city at the center of innovation within the aviation industry."

With the goal of making clean regional air travel accessible for all, Eviation is tackling one of the world's dirtiest industries - aviation. Its zero-emission, 100% electric solution, the Alice Aircraft, which will be test flown at the 53rd Paris Air Show in June 2019, leverages an IP portfolio that includes thermal management and autonomous landing, as well as distributed electric propulsion, industry-leading battery technology, and cutting-edge composite body frames capable of carrying up to nine passengers on a single charge for 650 miles. Eviation will certify and commercialize the Alice aircraft, while partnering with leading industry suppliers to bring its prototypes to scale and to the global market.

"As we develop our regional electric aircraft, the U.S. represents a high-growth, near-term target market for us, given its many regional transit corridors and abundance of approved airstrips," said Omer Bar-Yohay, CEO of Eviation. "We'd like to express our thanks to the city of Prescott for its support in our goal to bring clean, efficient, and affordable transit solutions to the U.S. and the world."

MENLO PARK, California - July 31, 2018 - Today G2VP, a venture capital firm dedicated to building and supporting industrial technology companies, announced that Sharon Ji has joined as an investor. Ji joins on the heels of the close of G2VP I, the firm's first $350 million fund dedicated to investing in exceptional teams that are applying emerging technology to traditional industries, sustainably. 

Ji brings unique perspective and experience on the impact that transformational technologies such as A.I., robotics and big data can potentially have on traditional industries. She developed her principal investing expertise at TPG Sixth Street Partners, a $25 billion special situations investing platform. During her tenure there, she evaluated and managed investments across both public and private markets, working with a wide range of growth to late stage companies across the retail, real estate, healthcare and software sectors. Ji began her career in investment banking with Morgan Stanley in New York and Citigroup in Asia, where she advised Media and Telecom, Ecommerce and Industrial companies on merger and acquisitions (M&As), initial public offerings (IPOs) and strategic transactions.

"Many of these traditional industrial companies that produce a lot of data, have an overload of information that they're not yet leveraging to make more strategic, swifter decisions across the board. That's a huge missed opportunity," said Sharon Ji, G2VP Investor. "I've seen firsthand how A.I. and machine learning have enabled major operational transformations in traditional industries, which is perfectly aligned with G2VP's thesis and why I'm so excited to join the G2 team as we expand and grow our portfolio."

"As our team here at G2 continues our work with start-ups, corporates and investors around the world, we're finding a deep resonance around our thesis and an incredible pool of talented, experienced leaders that are ready to engage with us to accelerate the digitization of industries," said David Mount, G2VP Co-founder and Partner. "We're very happy to welcome Sharon to the team and look forward to working together to help proliferate technology and drive efficiency in traditional industries that make up more than half of the economy."

Abatiell to Lead Key Operational and Growth Strategy Initiatives in North America and Beyond

SAN DIEGO, July 12, 2018 - Today Aquam Corporation ("Aquam"), a global provider of risk mitigation technologies for water and energy transmission, announced that Larry Abatiell, a 30-year veteran in the water infrastructure and engineering fields, joins the company as General Manager for the U.S. Division of Aquam Pipe Diagnostics (APD). Abatiell brings his deep-rooted experience of building and growing complex infrastructure solutions at a time when the company expands its footprint with first-in-kind technology targeted at water and gas risk prevention.

As the need to analyze and proactively update aging piping systems grows more pressing each day, decision makers must grapple with how and when to replace this key infrastructure. Being able to assess and prioritize projects leads to tremendous cost and asset savings, in both money and time, for municipalities and utilities involved with managing water and gas pipes before a water or gas line fails. According to the American Water Works Association, needed investments in buried drinking water infrastructure alone will reach over $1 trillion nationwide over the next 25 years to replace the infrastructure that is reaching its end of life. Aquam's technology can save municipalities millions in possible emergency costs, and keep cities and water supply safe from contaminants such as lead. 

Prior to joining Aquam, Abatiell most recently served as the Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Advanced Infrastructure Technologies, a U.S. based company focusing on composite bridge infrastructure solutions, where he was responsible for revenue growth and product marketing efforts. Prior to that, Abatiell led business development for Hydro International, a worldwide supplier of environmentally sustainable products for the control and treatment of wastewater, storm water, and combined sewer overflows. Abatiell is a licensed professional engineer and has worked with numerous municipalities and local towns in the United States on improving their Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), as well as helping them improve their underground infrastructure and bridge replacement and repair.

"As our cities age and the U.S. prepares for the impact of climate change, the need for rehabilitated water and gas infrastructure has never been more urgent, this is the critical work that Aquam strives to address through end-to-end service solutions," said Larry Abatiell, General Manager for APD. "Aquam's innovative technology and services are at the forefront of solving some of the most complex infrastructure issues to prevent and mitigate water and gas asset risk management safely, sustainably, and unobtrusively."

Aquam's award-winning technology and services predict the likelihood of system leaks, pipe lifespan, decay and failures, swiftly resolving them when failures occur thereby enabling the availability and reliability of transmission and distribution to networks over the long term.

Abatiell's role will be to scale APD by providing strategic direction and leadership while improving operational efficiency functions across Aquam's value chain from technology development to customer relations efforts.  

"Larry is a strong business leader and his addition to Aquam's leadership team brings a wealth of experience in deploying complex infrastructure solutions that are designed to support our growth plan, further establishing Aquam as a global leader in the infrastructure market," said Dan Squiller, CEO of Aquam. "His intimate involvement with municipalities to improve water infrastructure through Water Resource Management and Stormwater Pollution Prevention will be critical to Aquam's work with intelligent infra-city infrastructure. His deep knowledge of infrastructure, specialized technologies, and respect he has earned in the industry are key assets as Aquam continues to grow into new regions in the U.S. and abroad."

Supporting Foothill Transit's 100% battery-electric bus fleet ambition, the Proterra® heavy-duty E2 battery platform will power long-range commuter needs into downtown Los Angeles

BURLINGAME, Calif. - July 12, 2018 - Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, Alexander Dennis Inc (ADI) and Foothill Transit announced North America's first electric double deck bus order for a public transit agency. ADI chose Proterra's highly efficient E2 battery technology for its next-generation Enviro500 platform in North America, which will enter service in 2019 as part of Foothill Transit's growing battery-electric bus fleet in Los Angeles County. The Alexander Dennis signature vehicle, recognized in cities around the world from London to Hong Kong, Auckland, Singapore, Toronto, Ottawa, Seattle and Mexico City, will utilize the same high-performance E2 battery technology from Proterra that broke the world record for range last year, achieving 1,101.2 miles on a single charge with the Catalyst® bus. This deal reflects the mass-market shift to electrification and the growth of zero-emission technology transfer enabling heavy-duty fleets to go 100 percent electric.

"We're seeing increasing global demand for electric buses that combine high passenger capacity and comfort," said Robert Davey, President at Alexander Dennis Inc. "With congestion and local air quality challenges remaining top of every transit authorities' agenda, we're excited to raise the bar in Los Angeles County with transit pioneer, Foothill Transit, and heavy-duty electric vehicle technology innovator, Proterra."

Alexander Dennis is the world's largest double deck bus manufacturer, with a history and heritage of design, engineering and manufacturing excellence that spans more than a century. Drawing on its extensive global experience, ADI has tailored its modular bus design to suit metropolitan and regional needs across continents. Proterra® E2 battery packs will compliment ADI's next-generation Enviro500 platform, building upon its earlier product platform success. Designed from the ground-up with an emphasis on safety, durability and performance, Proterra E2 battery packs represent the heavy-duty industry's highest pack-level energy density at 157 Wh/kg and 260 Wh/L. In addition to Proterra E2 batteries, Alexander Dennis Enviro500 vehicles will be equipped with Proterra charging hardware and battery thermal management to ensure optimal vehicle performance.  

"The Alexander Dennis design and ride quality thoroughly impressed our most discerning customers during an extended demo through downtown Los Angeles last year," said Doran Barnes, Executive Director at Foothill Transit. "As congestion intensifies across Southern California, every inch of road space matters, so increasing passenger occupancy while maintaining comfort and a singular bus footprint is a public transit solution we're really excited to introduce."

The Alexander Dennis Enviro500 bus will provide Foothill Transit riders with an enhanced first-in-class experience, equipped with Wi-Fi, storage capacity and other amenities that create a comfortable and accessible commuter experience along Foothill's popular Silver Line route. As urbanization increases across California, Foothill Transit aims to attract new riders by being the first agency in North America to pioneer this state-of-the-art electric double deck bus technology. It also brings the agency closer to its goal of transitioning to a 100 percent electric fleet by 2030.

"It seems fitting that Foothill Transit will pioneer this next phase of the sustainable transit revolution," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "As electric mobility continues to evolve, we're pleased our battery technology has been chosen by world class, heavy-duty manufacturers like Alexander Dennis in their pursuit to go electric in North America. The opportunities to electrify medium- and heavy-duty platforms with our technology, from transit vehicles to trucks and school buses, are abundant." 

Results mark a new era of scalable, agile systems in aerospace

CINCINNATI - July 11, 2018 - AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum - Phase Four (P4), a provider of electric radio frequency (RF) thrusters for in-space propulsion, today announced new performance test results for its latest generation of electrodeless RF thrusters. This is the second test in several months revealing the best direct measurements publicly disclosed to date for RF thrusters, with a thrust output of up to 10 millinewtons (mN) and specific impulse up to 1500 seconds. Phase Four's Chief Scientist, Dr. Umair Siddiqui will present the complete performance findings in his "Updated Performance Measurements and Analysis of the Phase Four RF Thruster" presentation today at the AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The results of these tests demonstrate a new bar for what can be achieved with small in-space propulsion systems. The P4 RF thruster offers high levels of performance while eliminating many of the design and manufacturability issues - electrodes, high voltage electronics, and complex fabrication - which have plagued electric propulsion systems to date.

"This performance progress shows that electrodeless RF thrusters are ready to meet the needs of the mega-constellations," said Dr. M. Umair Siddiqui, Chief Scientist at Phase Four. "The thrust and efficiency levels produced by the Phase Four RFT represent the highest performance electrodeless thruster results ever demonstrated, by a significant margin – this is in part due to the rapid iteration we have been able to achieve with Phase Four's simple design."

Two of the company's plasma thrusters, a low power CubeSat-optimized unit and a higher power system designed for small satellites, were tested in-house for direct thrust, specific impulse, and thrust efficiency. The flexibility and simplicity of RF thrusters, coupled with Phase Four's agile approach to mass-production, make them a keystone component of an exponentially expanding in-space transit system. Results show that Phase Four's RF thrusters are the ideal propulsion solution for these full mission transportation needs providing final destination delivery, orbital maintenance and precise disposal of payloads after the initial launchers have taken them from sea level to Earth orbit.

"These most recent tests show that our thrusters continue to surpass performance expectations, providing agile, durable, and cost-effective mission solutions for satellites of all sizes. Our thrusters have gone through four generations of iterations since our April disclosure and within that time we have increased performance 4-fold and streamlined the design to a point where our systems are ready for mass manufacture here in our El Segundo facility," said Simon Halpern, Founder and CEO of Phase Four. "The future of the space industry is to put satellites of all sizes into the orbits of every planet, every day. Phase Four has just proven that our scalable systems can deliver flexible and affordable solutions to make that future a reality."

Wave of digital technologies transforming industrial sectors attracts diverse set of global LPs

MENLO PARK, Calif. - June 12, 2018 - Today G2VP, a new venture capital firm dedicated to building and supporting industrial technology companies, announced it has closed its first fund, with total capital commitments of $350 million. With alignment from global corporates, family offices, foundations, endowments and high net worth individuals, including venture capital veteran John Doerr, the fund will invest in entrepreneurs and companies that are digitizing traditional industry in sectors ranging from energy and manufacturing to logistics, transportation and agriculture.

G2VP was founded in 2017 by Kleiner Perkins Green Growth Fund (GGF) partners David Mount, Brook Porter, Ben Kortlang and Dan Oros. The team, which worked together for ten years while at GGF, share more than two decades of sustainable industry investment experience in companies like OSIsoft (shares sold to SoftBank and Mitsui & Co., Ltd.), SilverSpring Networks (acquired by Itron) and ServiceMax (acquired by GE). That domain knowledge and network base informs the firm's thesis: to find, build and support the companies that are modernizing traditional industries through digital advances.

"Today every corner of the industrial world, from energy and manufacturing to logistics, transportation and agriculture, is being disrupted by technology. And while these industries comprise more than half of the economy, they are largely overlooked by the venture community," said David Mount, G2VP Co-founder and Partner.

With a focus on industrial technologies, G2VP is investing in venture and growth stage disruptors that align with its new definition of sustainability.

"As our conversations with the fund's investors took us around the world, it became clear that this new approach to sustainable investing, infusing emerging digital technologies into traditional industries, has enormous global economic potential," said Brook Porter, G2VP Co-founder and Partner. "The world is still in desperate need for solutions to sustainability. Over the past ten years, a new palette of technologies has emerged, from low-cost distributed sensing to machine vision to digital marketplaces, that is enabling startups to re-write the rules of the game and drive efficiency across industries."

The data-driven technology represents a new era in municipal analysis and prevention assessment for water and other pipe-based infrastructure

SAN DIEGO - June 7, 2018 - Today Aquam Corporation ("Aquam"), a global provider of risk mitigation technologies for water and energy transmission and distribution assets, announced the launch of Amplus, the most advanced remote operated vehicle (ROV) for use in pressurized water, wastewater, and industrial pipe applications. Amplus will make its international debut at the American Water Works Association ACE18 conference and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in Las Vegas on June 11th and represents a massive advance in the infrastructure and analysis industry. 

Amplus' disruptive technology allows Aquam to provide their customers with remaining pipeline lifespan through high resolution imagery and pinpoint accurate real-time data, enabling customers to develop informed maintenance and replacement strategies that optimize limited financial budgets. Amplus is set to be deployed by Aquam service providers with commercial, residential, utility, and municipal customers in the US and UK effective within the next 30 days.

"Data-driven information is the future of infrastructure management and the key to preventing mainline bursts. With a minimal incision, we're able to obtain real-time data on leaks, flow, blockage, corrosion, and pipe thickness – critical information to developing and executing a cost-effective rehabilitation plan," said Cameron Manners, Aquam's Chief Technology Officer.  "Adding this cutting-edge technology to our pipe diagnostics offerings ensures our customers have the necessary data to extend budget dollars and spend smarter."

As technology improves and reduces in size, the opportunities for adopting remotely operated vehicles and robotics are rising; ROVs have become increasingly common in industries ranging from ocean and space exploration, to surgery, telecommunications, resource extraction and infrastructure maintenance. The underwater ROV market alone is projected to increase from US$2.69 billion in 2017 to US$5.20 billion by 2022. 

Amplus' state of the art technology utilizes both forward and reversing high definition cameras, ultrasonic scanners and acoustic hydrophone sensors for collecting and transmitting comprehensive and high-resolution analysis of pipelines in real-time. Deployed through access points as small as 100mm (4") the ability to crawl through pipelines regardless of flow or pressure, is one of the strongest differentiators for Amplus. 

Key features of Amplus include:

Lifespan analysis
Assessment capability of 2,000m (6,560') in one deployment
Comprehensive condition assessment data
Forward and reversing high definition camera systems
1,000 (3,280') cable tether
Ultrasonic scanning head
Hydrophone
512hz sonde
Two-motor axle mechanisms
Two-motor drive mechanisms
Stainless steel launch tube mechanism
Fully programmable using patented Amplus software

"The versatility of Amplus will change the way that the industry approaches infrastructure management," said Dan Squiller, CEO, Aquam. "Our products bring sustainable solutions to infrastructure challenges, and with Amplus we're not only able to empower our customers to take control of their future, but we've also provided them with the tools to develop an expedient solution saving them substantial emergency funds in the process. The addition of Amplus into Aquam's portfolio represents an industry breakthrough as we bring the most innovative and advanced solutions to our customers.

Phase Four's affordable, powerful thrusters offer new in-space mobility options for NASA

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - May 24, 2018 - Phase Four, a provider of electric radio frequency (RF) thrusters for in-space propulsion, today announced that NASA has purchased one of Phase Four's second-generation RF thrusters to vet its capabilities for small satellite propulsion. The Phase Four thruster is part of an Integrated Propulsion Assembly (IPA) that contains: propellant storage and management, engine control electronics, power processing, and a thruster in one integrated solution. NASA will utilize the P4 propulsion solution to gain operational flight experience that demonstrates Phase Four's capability to meet NASA's upcoming small satellite mission goals. The IPA will be delivered to NASA in 2019.

"Propulsion systems are one of the most challenging and expensive components in a satellite, so we're excited by the potential to bring a cost-effective solution to NASA's upcoming SmallSat missions," said Jason Wallace, VP of Operations at Phase Four and Program Manager for this NASA contract. "We look forward to working closely with NASA to field the next generation of the Phase Four thruster."

Based in El Segundo, CA, Phase Four builds an electrode-less RF thruster, the smallest plasma propulsion system available, which can be scaled for Cube- and SmallSat constellation satellites to larger, bus-sized satellites. Released on April 16, performance test results by The Aerospace Corporation reveal that Phase Four's RF thrusters measured on-par with today's costly state-of-the-art Hall Effect Thrusters (HET).

"This is a milestone for us and for the industry as it underscores NASA's commitment to small satellites as a serious platform for space exploration and scientific research," said Simon Halpern, Founder and CEO of Phase Four. "Our team continues to build products that are shaping the future of space and exploration, and with this contract, we will provide small satellites with the kind of affordable in-space mobility that will enable NASA to conduct a wider range of missions than currently possible."

Signaling a strong commitment to asset conservation, Orbis introduces the GPS Hydrant Meter, a go-to tool for 24/7 real-time remote monitoring of water and other infrastructure assets

SAN DIEGO - May 22, 2018 - Today Aquam Corporation ("Aquam"), a global provider of risk mitigation technologies for water and energy transmission and distribution assets, announced the launch of Orbis Intelligent Systems, an infrastructure and water quality monitoring company for commercial, domestic and utility applications, as part of the Aquam family. The new company, supported by its parent, Aquam, will empower customers such as utilities and municipalities to monitor their water quality and other assets 24-hours-a-day. With real-time monitoring, customers can engage in "active management" of their assets. By being informed in real time of flow, volume, and consumption, customers can proactively manage and mitigate challenges before they become costly and hazardous.

Orbis' first product, which is now shipping, is a cutting edge "GPS Hydrant Meter," a highly-scalable, patented monitoring tool designed to track efficiency through aggregation of data. The devices capture data including time, location, volume and transmit critical alerts to a customer within seconds. By linking water flow meters to a cloud-based portal, utilities and municipalities are now able to monitor their water assets with unprecedented precision. The GPS Hydrant Meter is deployed non-invasively and can be installed in minutes.

"When managing significant water and infrastructure assets, rapid information is not a luxury, it's a necessity that translates into dollars saved and crises averted," said Danny Krywyj, Managing Director for Orbis. "By allowing our customers to monitor their assets not just monthly, weekly, or hourly – but in real-time – Orbis empowers users to be 'active managers.'  With patented and data-driven solutions, Orbis is well positioned to be the new market leader in infrastructure and water monitoring."

Key features of the GPS Hydrant Meter include:

• Data logging
• Flow & volume monitoring
• Water consumption monitoring
• Alert notifications
• Live secure portal with dashboard
• SMS & email alerts
• Hourly, daily, weekly, and/or monthly reports
• Efficiency report
• GPS capability
• Live upload capability

Orbis will operate independently as a division of the Aquam family and as the technology engine for all of the Aquam businesses.

"We are proud to witness Orbis leverage the Internet of Things to empower customers of all sizes to be active managers of their water and infrastructure assets," said Dan Squiller, CEO of Aquam. "Celebrating deployment of the first Orbis product to customers, further affirms that Aquam is a leading technology innovator in not only the infrastructure sector, but the water innovation space as a whole."

Electric propulsion pioneer to supply in-space thrusters for satellite imagery and data collection

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - May 24, 2018 - Phase Four, a provider of electric radio frequency (RF) thrusters for in-space propulsion, today announced it has partnered with Astro Digital, a global imaging and analysis company that develops a platform for fast and easy access to satellite imagery, on a supply and resale agreement. As part of a two-pronged agreement, Phase Four will supply Astro Digital with multiple thrusters for its Landmapper data-collection constellation, while the resale portion of the agreement enables Astro Digital to couple and market its satellite products with Phase Four's propulsion system to meet the needs of the dynamic satellite industry.

"Phase Four has designed a propulsion solution that provides our satellites and our customers' satellites with greater flexibility, maneuverability and a longer lifespan," said Chris Biddy, Co-founder and CEO of Astro Digital. "Together, we're on the cusp of giving people greater access to space."

Using plasma propulsion technology, Phase Four produces electric radio frequency thrusters at a lower cost and less than 10 percent mass and volume of other high-performance systems. On April 16, the company announced performance test results by The Aerospace Corporation that revealed Phase Four's RF thrusters performed on-par with today's costly and overly complex state-of-the-art Hall Effect Thrusters (HETs).

Based in Silicon Valley, CA, Astro Digital manufactures and operates small satellites supporting its own Landmapper Earth Observation constellation as well as other commercial customer missions. According to the company, the addition of the Phase Four technology will increase its platforms' operational lifespan by as much as two years and provide greater mission flexibility.

"This agreement with Astro Digital provides Phase Four with the foundation of true industry credibility," said Simon Halpern, Founder and CEO of Phase Four. "We're happy and excited to be working with a company that believes in the work that we're doing, the products we're building, and shares our passion for space and exploration."

Offering more power and capability than ever before, the Redshift EXR empowers riders with the control and confidence to ride faster, safer and smoother

BRISBANE, Calif. - June 12, 2018 - Alta Motors, the leader in high-performance electric motorcycles, today announced the release of its highly-anticipated Redshift EXR. The 2019 Redshift EXR is the ideal multi-terrain motorcycle for the performance enthusiast, but equally intuitive and easy to ride for beginners. It recently made a clandestine global debut at the notorious Erzberg Rodeo and made history as the first electric bike to ever qualify for the main event. Ty Tremaine positioned his EXR on the front row in 43rd position, ahead of 457 other bikes, proving the EXR's performance in the most extreme race conditions.

"The Redshift EXR climbs ridiculously well," said Ty Tremaine. "Even on the most treacherous trails, like the Iron Mountain, its really intuitive and easy to control. Hands down, this is the best enduro bike on the market, and a lot of fun to ride."

Alta created a bike that can be ridden to local trails and unleashed to flow through off-road obstacles and effortlessly conquer even the most daunting hill climbs. Impossible to stall and incredibly sure-footed, the EXR is a purebred, single-track slayer with street legal capabilities. As a zero-emission, street legal dirt bike, the Redshift EXR has full access to all areas that permit off-highway vehicles, regardless of the season. With minimal engine noise, the riding experience heightens the rider's senses to the terrain around them while promoting responsible land usage.

The 2019 Redshift EXR will be available at over 60 dealerships nationwide midyear.

Key Features and Benefits

R-Pack
Building off of Alta's industry-leading A-pack technology, the highest-energy density battery ever put in a motorcycle, the new R-Pack represents the next evolution in battery performance. Alta'snew R-Pack utilizes state-of-the-art cell chemistry that delivers extended full-power range at cooler operating temperatures. The Redshift platform's firmware and software upgrades result in more range, increased power and faster charge times, making the 2019 EXR one of the most capable multi-terrain motorcycles available.

Electronics
Alta's proprietary software is developed to be lean and elegant. The company's development cycles are extremely fast and have enabled Alta to create the most refined throttle feel in the industry as well as swiftly release new controls and capabilities. Four unique performance maps allow the rider to change the power delivery character, engine braking freewheel, and flywheel effects. The Open loop "rate of change" torque control has a response rate of 5,000Hz, yielding the closest thing to "theoretically perfect" torque control yet achieved in the motorcycle industry. The seamless drive technology lets you focus on the terrain and the obstacles rather than what the engine clutch and transmission need from you. This means more of your attention is on the ride.

Despite numerous challenges and setbacks, Alta Factory Racing team riders, Ty Tremaine and Lyndon Poskitt, both qualified for the main event with Ty on the front row

EISENERZ, Austria - June 5, 2018 - Alta Motors, the leader in performance electric motorcycles, made two-wheel history as the first electric motorcycle factory race team to qualify for the Erzberg Rodeo. Ty Tremaine and Lyndon Poskitt rode the next generation of Alta's popular off-road Redshift against gas-bike competitors. By qualifying 48th and 113th for the Erzberg Rodeo, Alta proved that its electric motorcycles are fully capable of competing at the most demanding level.

Rookie to Erzberg, Alta had a lot to learn in attempting to compete in the hardest enduro in the world. While en route to the event, one of the team's race vans was burglarized and the culprits made off with two bikes and a significant amount of race equipment. Despite this major setback, the team stayed the course and still fielded both riders in the Prologue by sharing the two bikes originally set up for Ty. With no provision for pre-running the event, Alta's critical first run in the Prologue qualifying event disappointed the team with an overheated motorcycle and improper gearing. Even with these adverse problems, Ty placed 43rd out of a field of 1,500 competitors on the first day. On the second, Ty and Lyndon fared much better with Ty moving up for a 35th place finish against the best hard enduro riders in the world.

Although Lyndon qualified for the main, he did not compete due to the stolen motorcycles and equipment. Unfamiliar with the starting procedure, Ty had a poor start off the line and initially trailed the pack, but quickly exploited the Alta Redshift's performance and gained spots back, placing him amongst the top 20. But the Iron Mountain proved to be as treacherous as its reputation. With an off-course misstep during the confusing forest section and the hard charge to make up for the starting line glitch, Ty fell short of the planned battery swap site and had to retire.

"I was totally caught off guard at race start, but the Alta worked great and I made up a lot of spots quickly. The bike climbed super well and I got right back into it. I followed Paul Bolton, learned from his lines, and at one point I actually passed Graham Jarvis. The woods were the biggest surprise for me. They were super tricky and I found myself off course for a bit. I was disappointed when I ran out of power just before our planned battery swap point at Machine," commented Ty Tremaine. "I learned a lot about the Iron Mountain and I know that I am ready for this level and so is the bike."

"It's disappointing that our planned battery swap strategy came up short at our first Erzberg Rodeo. We've learned a lot about the course and collected the required data to plan for next year's swap strategy and optimize the software on the Alta Redshift," said Alta Motors Chief Technical Officer and co-founder, Derek Dorresteyn. "We choose to race the hardest possible race, so we can continue to develop the most intuitive, capable motorcycle ever made. We built the Redshift to compete head-to-head with the best gas bikes in the most brutal environments. Today we did that, there is nothing but upside for electric motorcycles in professional racing."

Alta Factory Racing team riders, Ty Tremaine and Lyndon Poskitt, will make history as they pilot the first electric motorcycles ever to compete for the podium at the off-road event

SAN FRANCISCO, May 8, 2018 -- Alta Motors, the leader in performance electric motorcycles, will make two-wheel history as the first electric motorcycle factory race team to compete for the podium at the Erzberg Rodeo. Ty Tremaine and Lyndon Poskitt will ride the next generation of Alta's popular off-road Redshift to compete against gas-bike competitors. By entering the Erzberg Rodeo, Alta continues to prove that its electric motorcycles are capable of competing at the highest level.

Part of the Red Bull Hard Enduro Series, Erzberg Rodeo is a 35 km race in the mountains of Austria where riders attempt to summit steep hillclimbs and daunting obstacles such as rock beds, boulder fields, and slick, wooded sections. Over 2,000 riders attempt to qualify for 500 starting slots in the main event. Only a small handful go on to finish the race within the four-hour time limit. In 2017, only 25 riders completed the race, and in 2016, only 9.

Erzberg will be Ty's first time tackling Erzberg, but his experience as a two-time X Games Finals competitor signals he will be a force to be reckoned with on the "Iron Mountain."

"Having the opportunity to make history by riding the first electric is an honor," commented Ty Tremaine. "After the past few months racing the Redshift, I am confident it will give me my best shot at conquering the Iron Mountain."

Alta Motors also secured Lyndon Poskitt, a professional off-road racer, Dakar rally veteran, and producer of the popular off-road motorcycle travel series, Races to Places, to race the Redshift at Erzberg. His extensive experience as a professional rider and previous participation at Erzberg will make him a serious contender at this year's race.

"After challenging Erzberg on a rally bike last year, I'm eager to see what I can accomplish on a premium bike that is designed specifically for this environment," said Lyndon Poskitt. "Partnering with Alta made sense because they've built a bike that delivers the control and power critical for this type of race—it just happens to be electric."

"We built the Redshift to compete head-to-head with the best gas bikes in the most brutal environments in the world. The Erzberg extreme enduro is the place to demonstrate that," said Alta Motors Chief Technical Officer and co-founder, Derek Dorresteyn. "The race comes at a time when electric bikes are struggling for acceptance in international competition. We are grateful that the Erzberg organizers share our belief that competition should be about advancing technology—not restricting it—and that they are providing a platform to demonstrate that electrics should have the right to compete."

Fourteen new Proterra Catalyst E2 vehicles will take riders across D.C.'s historical sites including the U.S. Capitol, National Mall and Lincoln Memorial

BURLINGAME, Calif. - April 20, 2018 - Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that the Washington, D.C. Circulator system has deployed 14 battery-electric Catalyst E2 buses, which will bring clean, quiet, zero-emission transportation to more than 4,800,000 annual riders and the Circulator's 189 drivers. This deployment is representative of a growing national movement to go electric, joining other major metropolitan cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, Seattle, Dallas and many other transit fleets in the transition to zero-emission vehicles.

"This new fleet of electric buses will support our efforts to make Washington, D.C. the healthiest, greenest, and most livable city in the nation," said Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. "The D.C. Circulator is one of the most popular transit systems in the city, and with this addition, we're doing more to ensure we remain a sustainable, multimodal city for generations to come."

Formed through a partnership between the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and DC Surface Transit (DCST), the D.C. Circulator system services six distinct routes across Washington, D.C. and Rosslyn, VA. In line with the DDOT's comprehensive Sustainability Plan and related green infrastructure initiatives, which strive to improve the environment, social structure and economy of Washington, D.C., these 14 Proterra buses will reduce emissions and democratize electric transportation access to all riders throughout one of our nation's most historic cities.                                                                            

Currently, the Circulator provides door-to-door transportation to more than 25 museums, monuments and memorials along the National Mall. Providing more than five millions trips each year, the Circulator only costs $1 to ride, ensuring that residents, commuters, and visitors alike have access to fast and affordable transportation. Now, with the addition of 14 new battery-electric Proterra buses, these riders can experience the appeal of zero-emission transit options over traditional diesel-dependent alternatives.

With 14 Catalyst E2 buses, the D.C. Circulator will displace more than 88,900 gallons of diesel per year, and eliminate more than 243,980 pounds of CO2 emissions annually. In addition to the environmental benefits, the new highly efficient electric buses will also have a positive impact on DDOT's bottom line, since they require less energy to operate and reduced maintenance. Over their 12-year lifetime, the 14 Proterra buses will result in fuel and maintenance cost savings of more than $6 million. The Catalyst E2 also holds the world record for an electric vehicle travelling 1,013.76 miles on a single charge.

"As one of the most vibrant and visited cities in the nation, Washington, D.C. is the perfect place for us to show citizens from across the country and the world that our technology not only dramatically reduces emissions, but also fundamentally improves the rider experience," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "We are proud to partner with DDOT, WMATA and DCST, which have made zero-emission transportation for D.C. possible and continue to raise the bar for its passengers and community alike."  

Silicon Joule® Technology recognized as this year's best battery innovation by Battery Council International's Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz Innovation Award

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - April 30, 2018 - Today Gridtential Inc., an innovator in low-cost, high-performance energy storage technologies, was announced as the winner of Battery Council International's Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz Innovation Award for its proprietary Silicon Joule®Technology, which combines two commodity infrastructures – lead batteries and silicon wafers – in a novel stacked-cell battery architecture. Focused on high-energy and high-power applications, Silicon Joule provides its global battery manufacturing partners with an economic, scalable and reliable platform for applications including automotive batteries, grid storage, backup power, personal mobility and many others. 

The annual award was presented on April 30, 2018 in Tuscon, Arizona, with entries evaluated on sustainability, safety, cost, performance, uniqueness and value. The award was established to honor industry thought leader, Sally Breidegam Miksiewicz, former CEO of East Penn Manufacturing Co and is a global competition recognizing pioneers in the lead battery industry. It aims to highlight key players and technologies spearheading remarkable breakthroughs in the industry. The award considers all components of lead storage, including technologies of equipment, packaging, chemistry and beyond.

"Silicon Joule technology represents an industry-shifting breakthrough that will only increase in significance as we work towards efficient, high-performance storage technologies for all. I would like to thank Battery Council International for presenting Gridtential this honor," said Ray Kubis, Chairman of Gridtential.

Gridtential licenses its technology to global battery partners – representing 50 times the manufacturing capacity of Tesla's gigafactory – which can easily adapt their existing factories to meet growing demand for a cleaner energy future. Gridtential's novel battery architecture integrates silicon wafers – similar to solar cells – into an advanced lead architecture providing premium performance advantages. Given its structural and chemical properties, the Silicon Joule battery is especially suitable and optimized to meet the requirements of 12-volt and 48-volt systems in stop-start and hybrid-electric and connected cars, a $40 billion market opportunity, as well as fixed storage applications such as micro-grids, and a variety of mobility applications.

Meeting or exceeding lithium's electrical capabilities and cycle life, Silicon Joule retains the traditional benefits of lead batteries: low cost, recyclability, and safety. As demand for high-power applications increases across industries, Silicon Joule technology delivers the flexible voltage scalability, efficient thermal management, recyclability, and manufacturability required to meet evolving performance needs. Silicon Joule's simple design and its industry interoperability enable partners to maximize lead battery capacity at scale with little capital requirements.

"To be recognized by Battery Council International is a testament to our ongoing commitment to developing safe, sustainable, cost-effective energy storage solutions with our strategic investors Crown Battery, East Penn, Leoch and Powersonic and other industry leading battery developers," said John Barton, Gridtential's CEO. "We are thrilled by the opportunity to work alongside our partners, and we will continue to strive to change the landscape of energy storage so that multiple industries and communities can reap the benefits of a cleaner, more efficient energy future for all."

Tests reveal 6x improvement in power and performance, results on par with Hall thrusters

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - April 16, 2018 - Phase Four, a provider of electric radio frequency (RF) thrusters for in-space propulsion, today announced the results of third party performance testing by The Aerospace Corporation, a provider of independent technical and scientific research to national security space (NSS) programs. The testing found Phase Four's second generation of RF thrusters achieved their best performance to date, demonstrating performance on par with today's state-of-the-art Hall Effect Thrusters (HETs) and a 3000% efficiency increase over all existing RF plasma thrusters. Phase Four's Chief Scientist, Dr. M. Umair Siddiqui will reveal the full set of findings in his "Technology Testing" panel today at the 34th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The Phase Four CubeSat Class RF thruster tested by The Aerospace Corporation achieved the highest performing electrode-free RF engine data ever directly measured, producing up to 3.3 mN of thrust at 700 seconds specific impulse. The improvements were 6x greater than the proof-of-concept "RFT-0" and were a 30x improvement in specific impulse per Watt over any RF thruster ever directly tested on a thrust stand. Phase Four's RF thruster achieved this despite being less than 10% mass and volume of other systems. This is significant as the RF thruster is particularly easy to manufacture compared to incumbents, making it a strong candidate for a mass-produced engine for satellite mega-constellations.

"These results validate our vision: to increase access to space by producing a thruster that can be used by all satellites, while matching performance levels previously available only to huge and expensive spacecraft," said Dr. M. Umair Siddiqui, Chief Scientist of Phase Four. "This sets a new bar for what can be achieved with these smaller electric thrusters, which offer high levels of power while eliminating many of the design and manufacturability issues - electrodes, complex electronics, and complex fabrication - which have plagued electric propulsion systems to date."

"From the outset, our goal has been to match the incredible innovation happening within the small satellite sector by tackling the two largest challenges to its growth: cost and performance," said Simon Halpern, Founder and CEO of Phase Four. "In this testing, our thrusters achieved a first for the industry – performance rates that exceed those of existing state-of-the-art Gridded Ion Engines and Hall Effect Thrusters. Rather than attempting to working around 50-year-old thruster technology, we started from scratch, with the goal of providing more efficiency, maneuverability and inherent manufacturability. The results we achieve today will point to a promising new range of capabilities for the entire satellite industry."

Leading EV charging software and services provider honored for innovation in energy management

LOS ANGELES - April 12, 2018 - Greenlots, a global provider of electric vehicle charging and grid management software, received a bronze medal at the 2018 Edison Awards in the category of energy and sustainability. The Edison Awards, named after Thomas Alva Edison, recognizes and honors the world's best in innovators and innovations. Greenlots and its fellow winners were celebrated at the 31st annual Edison Awards held in New York City on April 11.

"At Greenlots, we're working to bridge the gap between transformative trends in mobility and energy, and empowering utilities and other network managers to effectively scale charging solutions to match growing EV ownership," said Brett Hauser, CEO of Greenlots. "Winning this Edison Award is an important indicator of the needs we're filling in providing comprehensive software and services for the build out of EV charging infrastructure vital to the new electric mobility future."

Greenlots' award-winning SKY™ EV charging Network Software manages the activities between the grid and electric vehicles (EVs), EV chargers, and solar and battery storage to enable a dynamic energy system that is cleaner and more efficient. This Network Software enables utilities, cities, automotive manufacturers and other key stakeholders to work collaboratively toward the electrification of transportation, and makes EV technology more accessible to consumers by driving the deployment of charging stations worldwide. Greenlots SKY Smart Charging™ module bridges electric mobility, demand side management, solar and behind-the-meter energy storage solutions for the built environment.

Greenlots SKY™ Insights, a new analytics module of SKY™, is expanding the platform's functionality with several features, including advanced charging utilization data and analytics, real-time status of all charging events, and predictive analytics for asset reliability optimization. In addition, SKY™ Insights improves the ability of customers and network operators to expedite maintenance activities by increasing visibility to operational issues through custom fault notifications and emailed reports.  SKY™ Insights is in limited deployment with a larger expansion expected by the end of the year.

Operating one of the largest open fast-charging network in North America, Greenlots is also expanding its reach in key markets in Asia and Europe. With a number of utility partners in place, Greenlots is positioned to lead vehicle-to-grid integration, one of the top challenges facing utilities as electric vehicles go from niche to mainstream. Among Greenlots' investors is Energy Impact Partners, the world's leading coalition of utilities. Recent customer successes include Greenlots' selection as the operating platform provider for Electrify America's initial deployment of coast-to-coast high-power fast chargers as a part of its historic $2 billion investment in EV infrastructure.

Signaling a strong commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all of San Mateo County

BURLINGAME, Calif. - March 14, 2018 - Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) has ordered 10 new 40-foot Proterra Catalyst® E2 vehicles, which will replace 10 diesel buses. This milestone marks the agency's first electric bus order of many more to come, as SamTrans has set a goal of electrifying its entire bus fleet by 2033. With the adoption of Proterra zero-emission buses, the District has taken a major step toward creating a clean transportation future for all its riders and residents.

"We're proud that Burlingame is not only home to the world's leading electric bus innovator, but that our residents will have an enhanced experience taking these high-tech, zero-emission buses to and from work and school," said Mayor Michael Brownrigg of Burlingame. "It is great to be able to call Proterra both 'our neighbor' and 'our partner' as we work to improve the quality of life in our County – all while saving taxpayers millions of dollars."

SamTrans' 312-vehicle fleet carries an average of more than 36,000 people to school, work and other destinations each weekday. It operates 77 routes throughout San Mateo County – including Proterra's home city of Burlingame – servicing a 446-square mile service area that stretches into parts of Palo Alto and San Francisco. The 10 Proterra Catalyst buses will begin service in 2019, and serve a number of routes in San Mateo County.

With the 10 Catalyst buses, SamTrans will eliminate over 5 million pounds of harmful emissions, annually. In addition to the environmental benefits, the new electric buses will also have a positive impact on SamTrans' bottom line, since they require less energy to operate and reduce maintenance costs. Over their 12-year lifetime, the 10 Proterra buses will result in maintenance and operations cost savings projected at nearly $4.5 million. The purchase of these new buses is fully funded by a combination of federal, State, Bay Area Air Quality Management District and SamTrans funds.

"Proterra is designing and manufacturing the batteries that will be powering our new electric bus fleet just 20 minutes away from us," said SamTrans CEO/General Manager, Jim Hartnett. "We are proud to partner with Proterra as the company enables us to make this zero-emission vehicle commitment an easy call."

Proterra's new Burlingame battery production facility is currently ramping up production to meet demand and can produce over 500 MWh of E2 battery packs on an annual basis. The E2 battery packs represent the heavy-duty industry's highest pack-level energy density at 160 Wh/kg and 260 Wh/L. Made from lightweight ballistic-grade materials to withstand the toughest conditions, Proterra's standard E2 pack was designed from the ground up with an emphasis on safety, durability and performance.

"This partnership means a lot to Proterra. To be able to ride the buses we design and manufacture and see the impact they have on our community will continue to motivate our team for years to come," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "We're proud to have our corporate headquarters and state-of-the-art battery facility here in Burlingame, and partner with SamTrans, a real transit leader."

The Proterra Catalyst E2 buses support BGE and Exelon Corporation's broader strategy for electric vehicle integration and grid modernization

BALTIMORE - March 15, 2018 - Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation's leading competitive energy provider, will deploy two new 40' Proterra Catalyst® E2 vehicles to shuttle employees between BGE's headquarters in downtown Baltimore and its Spring Gardens campus in south Baltimore. The deployment reflects BGE's leadership in fleet electrification as part of a broader grid modernization strategy and comes on the heels of the State of Maryland's commitment to uphold the Paris Climate Accord. Already, Maryland is on track to meet its goal of reducing its emissions by 25 percent by 2020, and these two new electric shuttles will displace more than 11,000 gallons of diesel and eliminate more than 480,000 pounds of greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions annually. As Maryland's largest utility, BGE's deployment sets the utility apart as a pioneer, advancing Maryland's transition to electric transportation and grid innovation.

"As BGE looks at innovative ways to support our customers' growing interest in electric vehicles, we must be able to support not only our residential customers, but also our commercial and industrial customers," said Baltimore Gas and Electric CEO, Calvin Butler. "This is why we are thrilled to be the first utility to deploy heavy-duty electric shuttle buses and interoperable charging infrastructure which will not only provide an efficient way to get our employees from one location to another, but will also serve as active research lab that will help us plan for and build out the infrastructure necessary to support other fleets across our service area. We look forward to partnering with Proterra, as we build a market that supports our electrification and grid modernization goals."

The procurement was funded in part by a $20K voucher per bus provided by the Maryland Freedom Fleet Voucher Program. These are the first electric buses to receive this voucher from the State of Maryland. Now, with access to Proterra battery-electric buses, BGE employees will be able to enjoy the combined benefits of zero-emission transit technology, including improved local air quality and a modern, quiet rider experience.

Designed for efficiency and manufactured for durability, Proterra's 40' Catalyst E2 series achieves 22 MPGe, while conventional diesel buses average 3.86 MPG. These buses will utilize Combined Charging System (CCS) plug-in DC fast chargers, enabling interoperability with multiple vehicle types, including passenger cars and trucks to utilize the same charging equipment and ultimately lower infrastructure costs for all electric vehicles.

This heavy-duty electric vehicle shuttle program will inform future Baltimore Gas and Electric decisions on EV fleet integration, interoperable charging infrastructure and EV rate design, ultimately supporting a statewide electrification strategy. Currently, BGE offers its electric vehicle customers a reduced electric rate during off-peak hours to save EV drivers more money on their monthly electricity bill.

"Utility support of innovative electric vehicle programs and grid transformation is critical as more consumers and transit providers opt for EVs, presenting both system wide opportunities and challenges along the way," said Proterra CEO Ryan Popple. "We're grateful to partner with BGE, a utility that is thinking big about the future of electrification, and supporting BGE through this technological transition as well as optimizing around an interconnected, distributed energy future."

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - March 5, 2018 - SF Motors announced it has begun test driving autonomous technology on the streets of Silicon Valley after receiving a permit from California'sDepartment of Motor Vehicles to test autonomous vehicle technology on public roads. With two manufacturing plants and four R&D offices across three continents, SF Motors is aggressively pursuing state-of-the-art intelligent and connected vehicle technologies.

"On the heels of receiving our autonomous vehicle test permit in California, we believe this is the ideal time to begin putting our research to the test as we prepare to unveil our intelligent electric vehicles equipped with advanced autonomous and connectivity systems," says John Zhang, CEO of SF Motors. "To compete in the global EV market, we've placed a considerable investment in research and development and because our technology is at the core of our vehicles. We're humbled to see our technology be deployed in our backyard and see the future of our advanced systems as exceptionally bright."

SF Motors finalized a multi-year $2.5-million agreement with the University of Michigan in late 2016 to conduct proprietary joint research on advanced automated driving systems. This investment has led to ground-breaking progress in autonomous technologies such as heterogeneous sensor fusion, multi-object detection and tracking, and high-performance vehicle motion control. These technologies and breakthroughs are supporting new product development and extensive testing validation at SF Motors focused on delivering reliable, safe and affordable products to customers. Test drives are being conducted in California and Michigan, with further research expected to continue to advance the technologies.

"Looking ahead, SF Motors targets to achieve protected autonomy in 2020 through fast innovations and iterated developments in multiple technology areas, such as deep learning, sensor fusion, path planning, human machine interface, safety and redundancy, vehicle electronics, to name a few," says Yifan Tang, CTO of SF Motors. "We will utilize our strength in system integration as well as supplier partnerships to overcome the many challenges in bringing autonomous driving to the global markets."

SF Motors is also testing autonomous driving vehicles on the roads in China. The company plans to publicly announce and unveil its intelligent electric concept vehicle for global markets at an event scheduled for late March in Silicon Valley.

Collaboration Will Advance Application of EV Motorcycle Technology and Expand Electric Motorcycle Marketplace Combining Instant Torque and Quick Acceleration with Intuitive and Dynamic Motorcycle Design

MILWAUKEE - March 1, 2018 - Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HOG) announced today that it has made an equity investment in Alta Motors, a leader and innovator in lightweight electric vehicles, and that the two companies will collaborate on electric motorcycle technology and new product development.

"Earlier this year, as part of our 10-year strategy, we reiterated our commitment to build the next generation of Harley-Davidson riders, in part, by aggressively investing in electric vehicle (EV) technology," said Harley-Davidson President and CEO Matt Levatich. "Alta has demonstrated innovation and expertise in EV and their objectives align closely with ours. We each have strengths and capabilities that will be mutually beneficial as we work together to develop cutting-edge electric motorcycles."

Harley-Davidson has already announced the planned launch of its first electric motorcycle, informed by Project LiveWire™. That motorcycle is on track for release in 2019.

Since its inception, Alta Motors has designed and commercialized the world's most advanced electric motorcycles, enabling everyone from pro riders to new riders to experience "the future of fast."

"Riders are just beginning to understand the combined benefits of EV today, and our technology continues to progress," said Alta Motors Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder, Marc Fenigstein. "We believe electric motorcycles are the future, and that American companies have an opportunity to lead that future. It's incredibly exciting that Harley-Davidson, synonymous with motorcycle leadership, shares that vision and we're thrilled to collaborate with them."

As electric-drive innovation brings new levels of ease, accessibility and control, Harley-Davidson and Alta Motors aim to attract new audiences who are inspired by motorcycles and drawn to the "twist-and-go" ease and exhilaration of an electric motorcycle with no gears or clutch.

"We believe that EV is where global mobility is headed and holds great appeal for existing riders as well as opportunity to bring new riders into the sport," said Levatich. "We intend to be the world leader in the electrification of motorcycles and, at the same time, remain true to our gas and oil roots by continuing to produce a broad portfolio of motorcycles that appeal to all types of riders around the world."

Industry-leading batteries to power first flights of all-electric aircraft by the end of 2018, with anticipated further integration of Kokam's products into Eviation's Alice 9-passenger airplane

SINGAPORE - Feb. 6, 2018 - Eviation Aircraft, a global manufacturer of all-electric air mobility solutions, and Kokam, a leading battery manufacturer based in South Korea, today announced details for a battery supply deal worth over $1 million. These batteries will be used to power Eviation's Alice aircraft, set to fly by the end of this year. A mock-up of the Alice can be viewed at the Singapore Air Show in Booth A11.

With the goal of making clean regional air travel accessible for all, Eviation is tackling one of the world's dirtiest industries - aviation. Its zero-emissions solution, the Alice, which debuted at the 52nd Paris Air Show in June 2017, leverages an IP portfolio that includes thermal management and autonomous landing, as well as distributed electric propulsion, industry-leading battery technology provided by Kokam, and cutting-edge composite body frames capable of carrying up to 9 passengers on a single charge for 650 miles.

Beginning with its patented manufacturing process, Kokam's battery solutions feature a compact battery cell design, an industry-leading energy density of 260 Watt hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) and a long cycle life, making them optimized to achieve light, energy efficient solutions meeting the safety demands of an aircraft. While the company's battery solutions have been used in aerial, ground, surface, and underwater drone applications for military, commercial, and industrial purposes, this deal with Eviation marks the first time they will be used in manned aerial flights of regional commuter aircrafts.

"Eviation is taking the electric transportation revolution to its next logical level: the air," said Ike Hong, vice president of Kokam's Power Solutions Division. "While the aviation sector is behind those on the ground in electrifying, today's battery capabilities are both more compact and with higher energy density than earlier technology, already able to power flights of 500 miles or less, a distance encompassing half of the world's 4.5 billion flights annually."

Eviation is primed to make regional air travel emissions-free with a fully-electric aircraft design, built from the ground up to cut costs and improve efficiency on the busiest city-to-city transit routes, such as San Diego to Silicon Valley and Seoul to Beijing. Through 2019, Eviation will certify and commercialize its all-electric Alice aircraft, while partnering with leading industry suppliers, including Kokam, to bring its prototypes to scale and to the market.

"Kokam is known around the world for its exceptional lithium ion battery technology, which already powers everything from energy storage systems to unmanned aerial, surface, and underwater vehicles," said Omer Bar-Yohay, CEO of Eviation. "We're confident this is the best battery to usher in the age of electric aerial mobility, helping to save customers time and money, while being the most sustainable solution in the air."

The new MXR's more accessible price point targets new riders, while delivering increased torque and horsepower

SAN FRANCISCO, Cailf. - Feb. 1, 2018 - Alta Motors, the leader in global lightweight electric vehicles, today announced it has introduced the 2018 Redshift MXR, the next evolution of Alta's popular off-road MX model. With several notable performance improvements, including a lighter overall weight, 50 horsepower, 147 lb-ft of torque, and a recharge time of 1.5 hours, the MXR comes with a price tag of $11,995, a 16 percent drop in price as Alta scales operations and its global supply chain.

2017 marked the year that Alta and pro rider, Josh Hill, proved an all-electric bike could not only compete, but best gas-powered bikes at the Geneva Supercross, and 2018 promises new electric bike concepts, new performance standards and attractive entry point pricing.

"Alta's love for two wheels and a dirt road is evident in the design and performance of its Redshift MXR," said Christine Sullivan, the owner of Beverly Hills dealership. "Most new riders test-driving the Redshift are blown-away by how fast and light it handles, and how easy it is to acclimate to the four performance maps."

The Redshift Reaches Price Parity
Cost has been one of the biggest barriers to adoption for the electric lightweight vehicle sector, so reaching price parity with competing gas-powered vehicles represents a major milestone for Alta and the industry alike. Alta Motors designed the Redshift to compete head to head with gas-powered vehicles, while placing a premium on performance. Now, Alta's award-winning Redshift will be more accessible without compromising on performance.

• Redshift MX ($10,495): Designed as the electric equivalent of a modern 250, the Redshift MX is just as capable as a trail and woods bike as it is a MX2/Lites class motocrosser.
• Redshift EX ($12,995): An ideal ratio of motocross speed, single-track prowess, and urban capability, the Redshift EX offers drivers versatility.
• Redshift SM ($13,495): The ultimate urban commuter bike, the Redshift SM is Alta's lightest bike with 42 horsepower and 120-ft-lbs of torque.  

Over the lifetime of each Redshift vehicle, riders save thousands of dollars, because unlike gas bikes which need frequent service and consumables, the Redshift requires little to no regular maintenance other than taking a moment to adjust the chain and check tire pressure.

Capable of traveling up to 60 miles on a single charge, the Redshift meets the full daily mileage needs of the average U.S. commuter, which travels approximately 15 miles one way according the U.S. Department of Transportation. Each Redshift model has a 5.8 kilowatt-hour battery pack, which riders can also take off-road for 40 miles. The electric motor makes the bikes virtually silent, allowing riders to travel discreetly any hour of the day or night.  

"While the costs of combustion vehicles are essentially flat to purchasing power, electric is still moving down the cost curve and is now a clear contender in terms of performance," said Alta Motors Chief Product Officer, Marc Fenigstein. "Now that we've reached price parity and our vehicles outperform combustion in nearly every category, our plans are to bring electrics into the mainstream by making them more accessible to a more diverse set of riders and future motorcycle curious audiences."

Minnesota Valley Transit Authority Taps Proterra for Super Bowl LII

BURLINGAME, Calif. - Jan. 29, 2018 - Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA) will deploy a 40-foot Proterra Catalyst® E2 electric bus for Super Bowl LII. Zero-emission, battery electric buses represent an economic solution that supports the Twin Cities sustainability goals and commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement.

"As thousands of people flock to the Twin Cities for the Big Game, it's paramount that we deliver on our promise to provide reliable, high-performance transit to all of our riders," said MVTA Executive Director Luther Wynder. "By deploying the Proterra® battery-electric bus during the busiest week of the year, we will share this state-of-the-art technology with travelers from near and far."

The routes are scheduled to run during rush hour and weekend peak hours, shuttling customers from popular destinations such as the Mall of America, the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis, Cedar Grove and Burnsville Transit Stations. Beginning on Friday, January 26 through February 4 on Super Bowl Sunday, the Proterra bus will operate during freezing temperatures. The vehicle's performance remains reliable through extreme weather because its E2 battery system includes active thermal management which monitors battery cell temperature and voltage, with more than 70 sensors capturing 160 different diagnostic data streams from each battery pack. Unlike other electric bus technologies, the Proterra battery integrates liquid cooling and proprietary state of charge algorithms that enable long life, rapid charge times and operation in virtually any climate.  

MVTA chose the Proterra Catalyst E2 because of its proven transit performance in other similar climates such as Worcester Regional Transit Authority in Massachusetts and Park City Transit in Utah. The Catalyst E2 is ideal for MVTA driving conditions because of its purpose-built electric bus design, energy-dense batteries and efficient drivetrain. Proterra recently broke the world record for range, achieving 1,101.2 miles on a single charge utilizing E2 battery technology.

"With thousands of visitors coming to town, this was the perfect time to team up with MVTA and demonstrate the Catalyst E2 vehicle's unique cold-weather performance capabilities," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "To compete in the transit market, we've placed great emphasis on designing for durability, and we've created a drivetrain and battery system that completely outperforms conventional fossil-fuel powered drivetrains in every major performance category. We're excited to support MVTA and our transit partners as they redefine what it means to move the masses." 

The network will create a seamless customer experience and provide real-time analytics to support the operation of approximately 2,000 high-power fast chargers

RESTON, VA. - Jan. 23, 2018 - Electrify America announced today that it has selected Greenlots, a leading provider of grid-enabled electric vehicle (EV) smart charging solutions, to deliver the operating platform for its network of high-power fast chargers that will greatly expand highway and other EV charging capabilities across the United States.

As part of its $2 billion investment in EV infrastructure, Electrify America will install EV charging stations in major metropolitan areas and along major U.S. highways over the next 10 years. Electrify America is currently implementing Cycle 1 of its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) investment plan, an initial investment of $500 million, that calls for over 2,000 chargers in California and 38 states. With more charging sites anticipated as part of the total investment, EV drivers will have more freedom and flexibility than ever for both every day charging and to make long distance trips. Electrify America is also building the network with the aim of making it "future proof" to accommodate new technologies and charging speeds as the electric vehicle market grows.

"Our goal is to build the most advanced high-power charging network in the U.S. – one that demonstrates the future of alternative transportation," said Mark McNabb, CEO of Electrify America. "We chose Greenlots because their SKYTMNetwork Operating Platform is a scalable, flexible foundation to develop our own networking system that integrates dozens of new EV models, thousands of new EV chargers and other distributed energy resources with the grid."

The Electrify America IoT network enabled on Greenlots SKYTM Network Operating Platform will act as a "virtual command center" for Electrify America's network of EV charging stations being deployed throughout the country. Greenlots' technology will enable Electrify America to effectively build, operate and manage its high-power charging network by providing real-time charger health status, utilization data, dynamic pricing capabilities and predictive analytics to identify future maintenance and provide a seamless charging experience for the customers. For the millions of drivers expected to use the chargers over the next decade and beyond, the operating platform will make it easy for drivers to instantly locate the closest charger, receive notifications of their charging status and quickly make payments with their mobile device or through vehicle authentication.

"With Electrify America's massive investment in EV infrastructure and network operations, drivers will be able to find a user-friendly, high-power charging station whether they're traveling across town or across the country," said Brett Hauser, CEO of Greenlots. "This investment is essential to moving the industry forward, as we work together to redefine what a charging network can be and how it can best serve drivers."

Making history, Josh Hill wins at Geneva Supercross riding Alta's Redshift MX, representing the first electric motorcycle to compete and win a race in the Supercross format
 

Alta secures young racing talent, as Ty Tremaine eyes Endurocross championship on an electric

BRISBANE, Calif. - Dec. 19, 2017 - Alta Motors, the leader in global lightweight electric vehicles, made two-wheel history with Josh Hill on its Redshift MX electric motorcycle, and announced today that the company has secured Ty Tremaine to ride Alta's Redshift EX. On the heels of a banner sales year and notable national expansion, Alta is gearing up for a big year of racing and supporting its professional riders in 2018. Unlike Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsports, which has a designated electric-only race series, known as Formula E, Alta Motors, Josh Hill, and Ty Tremaine are proving that electrics can compete with gas-powered vehicles in the same race and still win.

At the Geneva Supercross, a world-renowned industry competition with one of the largest tracks in Europe, Josh Hillproved an all-electric bike could not only compete, but also win. In spite of a shipping hiccup, Josh was still able to locate a stock year-old Redshift MX in Europe from another Alta customer, swap in his own suspension, and race in an exhibition match against motocross-legend Ricky Carmichael, also known as the G.O.A.T—the Greatest Of All Time. Coming from behind with a borrowed bike, Josh swept both duel matches on Sunday, edging out Carmichael 3-2 overall. This event represents the first time an electric motorcycle has ever competed, let alone won, on a supercross track. It was also Alta's first appearance in Europe, ushering in the future of fast in electric racing.   

"After seeing pros like Josh Hill and Kurt Nicoll race Alta's bikes, I was intrigued but skeptical," said Ty Tremaine. "It wasn't until testing the bike that I became truly impressed with how well it handled and the potential for racing. Like many riders, I want to win, so the decision to sign with Alta was easy. Looking ahead to 2018, I'm excited to put the Redshift EX to the test."

Alta Motors secured Ty Tremaine, one of the top three professional riders in the Endurocross field. Raised in South Lake Tahoe, Ty grew up riding in high-speed desert races, and went on to claim two X Games Finals, in addition to being named the FIM Junior SuperEnduro World Champion in 2015 at the young age of 18. In a first for Tremaine, he will compete riding Alta's Redshift EX in the 2018 Endurocross series, the Kenda AMA Tennessee Knockout and a number of sprint enduro events across North America. Tremaine's early success signals how he will be a force to be reckoned with on the track this coming year, as he races the Redshift.

"We designed, manufactured and raced a bike we thought could challenge the best incumbents, and are so grateful to have Josh Hill as an early adopter make electric bike history and prove us right," said Alta Motors CEO, Marc Fenigstein. "We're also very excited to share the Redshift platform with Ty Tremaine to see what we can do together in 2018, competing for the Endurocross championship."

Greenlots will accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles with launch of hundreds of stations in 8 major U.S. cities, including New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Dec. 18, 2017 - Greenlots, a leading provider of e-mobility and smart charging solutions, announced today that it has been selected by Electrify America to support its nationwide community-based electric vehicle charging initiative, focusing on workplaces, apartment buildings, and condos. Greenlots will provide end-to-end deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for up to 900 stations in metropolitan areas including Boston, Seattle, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento and San Diego. Greenlots will work with businesses and facility owners to provide turnkey charging stations, making it easy for property owners to offer EV charging. Electrify America will fund this initiative as part of their $2B investment in charging infrastructure across the United States.

Greenlots was a natural choice for Electrify America as it builds its nationwide network of community-based chargers, due to the company's leadership in deploying turnkey charging infrastructure and its broad experience working with utilities, cities, and automakers. Greenlots' national reach, local expertise, experienced team and broad network of strategic partnerships will be key throughout this massive deployment. As Electrify America works to promote and support the increased adoption of EVs, Greenlots will provide a technically advanced, interoperable and customer-friendly charging network.

Electrify America's deployment is the latest milestone in the global expansion of charging infrastructure and EV availability. Global policy leaders from many countries, including China, France and the United Kingdom, are joining with global automakers, such as Volkswagen, in committing to an electric mobility future. This demand requires Greenlots' software and turnkey solutions that allow for grid flexibility and lowest total costs for charging networks to future-proof EV infrastructure assets including those deployed in this initiative. Electrify America's community-based charging stations will boost public access by using nonproprietary connectors and charging protocols.

"Electrify America's partnership with Greenlots ensures that this unprecedented investment supports a broader vision in which electricity is the fuel of the future," said Brett Hauser, CEO of Greenlots. "As we usher in a revolutionary convergence of the automotive and energy sectors, this nationwide infrastructure initiative to bring more chargers to workplaces and multi-unit dwellings is vital."

With continued growth of electric vehicles in the state, Greenlots' leading-edge technology will catalyze California's ambitious electric mobility goals

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Jan. 17, 2017 - Greenlots, a leading provider of grid-enabled EV smart charging solutions, announced today that it has been selected to participate in Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PG&E's) new EV Charge Network program as a technology and services provider. Greenlots will support a full suite of efforts within the program's scope, including site recruitment; installation, operation and maintenance of EV chargers; and delivery of its software and mobile app to site hosts and drivers. Through the program, PG&E will install 7,500 EV chargers at multi-unit dwellings and workplaces across Northern and Central California over the next three years.

With EV sales rapidly increasing across the globe, utilities are taking a larger role in building out the necessary charging infrastructure and integrating it with their existing systems and programs. On the heels of a major investment from the leading coalition of utilities –  Energy Impact Partners –  Greenlots is well-positioned to empower utilities to make this major market shift and meet this dynamic load growth sustainably.

The program will ensure that businesses including apartment buildings, condominiums and workplaces such as universities in PG&E's service area will get the charging infrastructure they need to support tenants, customers, and employees. Customer sites participating in the EV Charge Network program will be able to choose charging equipment from a list of pre-qualified vendors that meet quality and safety standards – including Greenlots.

Participating customers can choose to partner with Greenlots' holistic approach to delivering turnkey charging solutions. To ensure broad customer choice, the company will partner with 4 hardware providers offering a range of solutions: Delta, SemaConnect, AeroVironment and EVBox. This program launch comes at a time when Greenlots' network size and charger utilization rate continue to grow rapidly, especially in key EV markets including California. Over the past year, Greenlots' California footprint grew, on average, 16 percent per quarter, while the company's Californianetwork utilization grew at an average quarterly rate of 19 percent.

EV charging programs align with Governor Jerry Brown's 2012 Executive Order calling for 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on California's roads by 2025. The state legislature is currently considering a bill to mandate that 40 percent of all new car sales be electric by 2040, a milestone already within reach. EV adoption continues to grow in California; the next steps taken here to increase EV use and ownership will have significant market impacts and are likely to be used as a model nationwide.

"With over a quarter of U.S. EV drivers located in PG&E's service area, it is critical that we ensure charging infrastructure is both reliable and broadly accessible," said Brett Hauser, Greenlots CEO. "By participating in this program, Greenlots continues to chart a path towards a clean, electrified transportation future."

Bowen to Lead Key Water and Energy Risk Mitigation Services in the UK, Europe and Middle East

LONDON, UK - Dec. 13, 2017 - Today Aquam Corporation ("Aquam"), a global provider of risk mitigation technologies for water and energy transmission and distribution assets, announced that Tim Bowen, an internationally recognized expert in infrastructure and transportation, joins the company as Managing Director for the United Kingdom. Bowen brings decades of infrastructure project experience to Aquam at a key moment, as the company expands geographically with new technology solutions aimed at addressing the vital water and gas assets that lie under the United Kingdom's buildings and streets.

As the smart city concept rapidly becomes reality, decision makers must grapple with the age of key infrastructure – and the tremendous costs, in both money and time, involved with replacing water and gas pipes. Evidence of what can occur when mission-critical infrastructure begins to leak, decay -- or experiences total system failure -- is all around, from the billions of liters in water losses each year to the energy distribution network issues associated with devastating gas-related tragedies. A report released earlier this month by the Consumer Council for Water determined the water industry in England and Wales alone lost 3.1 billion liters of drinking water through day-to-day leakage from 2016-2017. Fully replacing this infrastructure is prohibitively expensive for cities everywhere.

Prior to joining Aquam, Bowen most recently served as the Executive Director of Corporate Development for the Costain Group, a UK-based technology-focused engineering company, where he was responsible for group strategy, mergers and acquisitions, work winning, corporate social responsibility, behavioral safety, marketing and innovation across sectors including water, power and energy, nuclear, oil and gas, rail and highways. His earlier work at Costain included growing the Highways Sector revenues from £60 million to over £200 million in just over 5 years. Bowen has also served as an advisor to both Her Majesty's Treasury and the Department for Transport on several strategic initiatives. While serving as an advisor, he successfully led several strategic initiatives, including on efficiencies in public procurement.

"Signs of our aging infrastructure are emerging daily, threatening the health and safety of our people and cities, and these are the societal issues that Aquam is addressing," said Tim Bowen, Managing Director for Aquam UK. "Aquam's global team is dedicated to designing and deploying novel technologies that solve some of the most challenging infrastructure problems safely, cost effectively, sustainably, and with minimum disruption to property and people."

Aquam's award-winning technology and services predict the likelihood of system leaks, decay and failures, swiftly resolving them when failures occur thereby enabling transmission and distribution network availability and reliability over the long term. Bowen will oversee the firm's ongoing growth throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East across its key businesses, including Nu Flow Technologies, a leader in small-diameter infrastructure lining technologies, Aquam Pipe Rehabilitation, an in-situ pipe remediation services provider, Aquam Water Services, a leading UK company that provides critical water usage data to utilities, and Aquam Pipe Diagnostics (formerly JD7), a global pipeline assessment and inspection specialist.

"The addition of Tim to the leadership team brings incredible experience and a wide network of potential partners to Aquam further positioning the company to lead the UK water and infrastructure market," said Dan Squiller, CEO, Aquam. "His strategic acumen informed by a deep knowledge of infrastructure will be a key asset as Aquam continues to grow, both in the United Kingdom and globally. His work on major projects including the M4 Hammersmith Flyover Refurbishment, Crossrail and the Thames Tideway Tunnel will be directly applicable to the infra-city infrastructure in which Aquam specializes."

Work brings decades of experience leading high-growth companies, and will be instrumental in building Alta's domestic and international dealership network

BRISBANE, Calif. - Nov. 30, 2017 - Today, Alta Motors, the leader in global lightweight electric vehicles, announced that Matthew Work has joined the company as Chief Revenue Officer. With more than twenty years working in high-growth software companies and a passion for riding motorcycles, Work brings a unique expertise to the company. Work will support Alta's next level of expansion by aligning its corporate strategy with all aspects of the business to increase and create new revenue growth opportunities. Already, Alta's bikes are being sold at more than 35 dealerships across the United States, and Work will play a significant role in enabling widespread adoption of Alta'sgrowing portfolio of lightweight vehicles.

"Having owned over 50 motorcycles and ridden bikes for the last three decades, I'm honored to join Alta and support the company's next phase of growth, while standing behind a product I know and love," said Alta Motors Chief Revenue Officer, Matthew Work. "Alta has already recorded an impressive year of growth, and I look forward to collaborating across teams so more riders can experience the thrill of riding Alta's Redshift in more markets."

After 18 months of advising Alta, Work has now officially joined the management team, and will help Alta expand its dealership footprint across the United States and abroad, driving new revenue growth. As someone who has dedicated his career to starting companies from the ground up, and taking these companies through significant growth while leading every aspect of the business, Work will provide exceptional management expertise to align Alta's market strategy across teams.

Prior to joining Alta, Work guided the software company Dice.com through a successful IPO. He also founded Discovery Mining, a software-as-a-service platform for corporate management, and scaled its operations across North America and Europe until the company was acquired by Interwoven in 2008. Additionally, Work founded Cohuman and sold it to MindJet in 2008. Beyond software, Work also founded Piston & Chain, a San Francisco based motorcycle club.

"Work's combined high-tech and motorcycle expertise will be a boon to Alta," said Alta Motors CEO, Marc Fenigstein." Having successfully navigated the complexities of founding and scaling multiple companies from scratch, I'm confident Work will be a major asset to our team for years to come."

"The timing is right to compete with lithium," say Barton and Gruenstern

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Oct. 24,  2017 - Gridtential Inc., an innovator in low-cost, high-performance energy storage technologies, announced today that it has appointed John Barton, former President of Global Asset Management for SunEdison, as Chief Executive Officer of Gridtential. The company also announced that Bob Gruenstern, former Johnson Controls Global Vice President for Product and Advanced Engineering, joined its Technical Advisory Board. Both Barton and Gruenstern bring decades of critical operations and product development expertise as Gridtential accelerates plans for the commercialization of its patented Silicon Joule® battery technology.

On the heels of its recent $11 million Series B financing round, coming from four strategic partners and 1955 Capital, Gridtential welcomes Barton as it eyes global energy storage market opportunities and new applications in 48-volt electric-hybrid vehicle applications. With over 20 years of operating and product development experience in both public corporations and startups, Barton will guide the company as it enters a phase of manufacturing, scaling and battery manufacturing partner support to meet growing global demand for advanced energy storage in the automotive, backup power, grid solutions, and mobility industries. Christiaan Beekhuis has stepped down as CEO to pursue other opportunities in the renewable energy and software space.

"John's track record and experience in the sustainable energy sector and across cost-sensitive global supply chains will be real assets to Gridtential, and his deep operations experience will help our battery manufacturing partners move to high volume manufacturing of our Silicon Joule technology," said Ray Kubis, Chairman of Gridtential. "I want to thank Chris for his leadership over the last five years in developing our team and advancing the potential of our technology. We wish him well in his next venture."

As Barton takes the helm as CEO, Bob Gruenstern will join Gridtential's Technology Advisory Board, providing valuable engineering and product innovation insights to the Gridtential team. A lifelong engineer at Johnson Controls, Gruenstern acted as Director of Engineering for 16 years before becoming global Vice President of Product and Advanced Engineering where he oversaw the research and development of JCI's core product innovations. Today, Bob is a leader at Interstate Batteries, the world's largest battery distributor, where he guides product assurance and technology.

"Bob is one of the most respected technology leaders in our industry, and we are thrilled to have him counsel our team. I'd like to thank Interstate Batteries for supporting Bob's appointment so he can aid the further development of one of the most promising technology platforms in our industry," continued Kubis.

Gruenstern emphasized: "Gridtential's architecture breakthrough leverages new material advances that simply didn't exist until now, and that positions it, along with its growing roster of lead battery manufacturers, to satisfy the market pull we're seeing for high voltage applications like electric-hybrid vehicles. These types of technology are a substantial extension of lead, giving it new capabilities to compete with lithium batteries on performance, while retaining key advantages in safety, recyclability and cost."

"After my two decades of product development, high-volume manufacturing and solar, I believe we're seeing the same intersection of technology advances, increases in performance, and cost reductions in energy storage that catapulted those industries to the next level," said John Barton, CEO of Gridtential. "This convergence is already transforming existing markets and enabling new ones, like the shift from 12-volt to 48-volt in hybrid cars, and with the leverage of an existing world-class global supply chain, Gridtential is setting new cost and performance standards for high voltage energy storage."

Heavy-duty electric transit pioneer working to improve air quality in our nation's most treasured parks

BURLINGAME, Calif. - Dec. 4, 2017 - Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that Yosemite National Park will add two Proterra Catalyst® buses to its fleet. Situated in California's iconic Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite represents the first U.S. National Park to permanently add zero-emission buses to its shuttle fleet, offering its visitors a modern, ecologically-friendly transportation option.

Last year, the National Park Service (NPS) recorded 331 million visits.  This August alone, the parks attracted 40 million people nationwide with 609,676 visitors at Yosemite. With millions of visitors coming to Yosemite each year from around the world, Yosemite has relied heavily on their shuttle program to encourage park visitors to park once and use a bus to circulate among lodges, waterfalls and trailheads.  

With more than five million visitors each year, Yosemite has seen its free shuttle service travel annually 436,000 miles with 3.8 million boardings.  In 2001, the park began replacing its diesel bus fleet with diesel-electric hybrid vehicles. Yosemite is now taking the next steps toward a state-of-the-art clean transportation system with the adoption of Proterra zero-emission, battery-electric buses. The new Catalyst buses are expected annually to reduce 887,000 lbs. of greenhouse gas emissions and save approximately $150,500 on maintenance and operating costs. They will begin service in late 2018 and will operate year-round, transporting up to 1,480 visitors per day through the park's Yosemite Valley.

"Our mission has always been to preserve our nation's natural and cultural heritage for future generations, and Proterra's zero-emission vehicle technology will be indispensable as we continue to work toward this goal," said Chip Jenkins, acting superintendent, Yosemite National Park. "Since its establishment in 1890, airborne pollutants have steadily degraded Yosemite's resources. Deploying Proterra's battery-electric buses will help with this ongoing challenge and will greatly improve local air quality."  

In addition, the U.S. General Services Administration has committed to greening the federal fleet, including our National Parks, working with businesses to make cleaner, quieter transportation readily available and affordable to partner agencies. Citing Proterra for its innovative technologies and best practices, the GSA added the Proterra Catalyst to federal fleet acquisition options. 

"Yosemite was the first wildland protected in the United States, by President Abraham Lincoln, over 150 years ago. Of Yosemite, John Muir once said, 'It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter,'" said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "The Proterra team is especially proud to directly contribute to the preservation of Yosemite National Park. We believe that upholding the environmental integrity of our nation's most precious resources is of paramount importance, and we are honored to partner with the National Park Service to provide clean, quiet transportation to the millions of visitors who love to visit our National Parks."

Large cargo-capacity drone poised to challenge incumbents on price and scale as it prepares for first flight test

RICHMOND, Calif. - November 13, 2017 - Today Natilus, a manufacturer of large aircraft drones, announced it has closed a second round of seed funding with investment from Starburst Ventures, Seraph Group, Gelt VC, Outpost Capital and Draper Associates. The funds will go toward the company's aggressive scaling strategy, with the first Federal Aviation Administration-approved flight for its 30-foot prototype scheduled for late 2017, and a commercial market launch in 2020.

Just as the long-haul freight sector has made huge strides in efficiency gains and cost reduction due to technology innovation, the $15.5 trillion global freight market is poised for disruption as it strives to offer customers more cost-effective delivery solutions beyond the decades-old vessels and aircraft which serve as its primary sources of transport. Natilus has identified the sweet spot between sea and air freight in the international freight market, offering a large cargo-capacity UAV that challenges current incumbents on price and speed of commercial-scale freight delivery.

"Two years ago, Natilus gave its pitch for the first time at our Los Angeles selection committee, and that exposure led to its initial seed round," said François Chopard, Founder and CEO of Starburst Ventures. "Today 47% of Starburst's portfolio companies have now closed Series A rounds at an average of $10 million. We were pleased to provide the technical and business due diligence, and now investment, to take Natilus to the next level. That's the perfect demonstration of our investment strategy in action."

"Today's freight sector is limited to just two choices when it comes to meeting customer demand – an expensive 14-hour route by air or a slow-going 21-day ocean trip. Why haven't there been more options?" said Tuff Yen, Founder and President of Seraph Group. "Natilus's value proposition, the ability to provide cost-effective cargo container-sized air options, creates a far-reaching impact on cost of goods, logistics, finance and commerce."

Astral Aviation, a leading air freight provider in Africa, is "excited for Natilus's progress in developing large cargo drones for the industry. Astral is looking to incorporate aerial vehicles such as Natilus into their African network to complement their current schedule and improve cargo connectivity in Africa," said Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO of Astral Aviation.

Outpost Capital is a believer in globalization. "Over the last 10 years we've seen a stable increase in demand for cross-border air delivery. In China, the logistic industry has been developing rapidly domestically, and will be getting ready for global expansion – Natilus is positioned to do just that," said Ryan Wang, Founding Partner of Outpost Capital.

Natilus's large-scale drones will be comprised of carbon fiber composites while using existing turbofan and turboprop engines, scaling to a long-term vision of 950,000-pound airplanes carrying 120 tons over trans-Pacific routes. Its next vehicle, a 12,000-pound drone capable of carrying 2 tons over 1000 nautical miles, will feature retractable landing gear and will be capable of taking off and landing at local regional airports.

"The foundation of our thesis is to align and support the outliers that are pushing the boundaries in frontier tech, and we see Natilus as a first mover that is poised to impact global freight in a positive and meaningful way," said Jake Chapman, Partner at Gelt VC. "With a high caliber team out of Boeing, Airbus and the drone sector, Natilus's ability to dramatically reduce the cost and time of transporting cargo bodes well for the sector."

"Natilus is well positioned to be the leader in fast inexpensive delivery of goods," said Tim Draper, Founding Partner of Draper Associates. "It turns out that a self-flying vehicle can be more reliable and less expensive than one with a human in it."

"Natilus's partnerships with this incredible group of investors is an important milestone in our continued growth," said Aleksey Matyushev, CEO of Natilus. "The new round of financing will allow us to scale the team to finish design of our 12,000-pound e-commerce drone, while at the same time growing our flight-testing operation for our 2200-pound, 30-foot prototype."

About Natilus
Founded in 2014 by a group of aircraft designers and military drone specialists, Natilus Inc. is a manufacturer of large unmanned cargo aircraft which introduce a more cost-effective way to transport goods worldwide. Natilus is the next generation cargo carrier, a large cargo capacity UAV that can be operated at 50% the cost of a Boeing 777 freighter, with delivery capacity 120 tons over trans-Pacific routes. Visit us at www.natilus.co.

About Starburst Ventures and Accelerator
Starburst Ventures is a venture fund dedicated to aerospace startups. Leaning on its portfolio of accelerated startups and a network of more than a 1000 aerospace-focused startups, Starburst Ventures fuels the most promising startups with capital.

Starburst Accelerator, the global aerospace and aviation incubator, provides support to start-ups seeking to commercialize their activities in the aeronautics, defense and space markets. The program acts as a catalyst, linking early-stage companies to a wide network of strategic industry players and potential partners to accelerate the adoption of breakthrough innovations. Through its dedicated venture capital network, Starburst has offices in Los Angeles, Munich, Paris, Singapore, Montreal and San Francisco. Please visit us at www.starburst.aero.

About Seraph Group
Seraph Group is a super angel fund that consists of 300+ successful individuals who share a passion for investing and supporting entrepreneurs. Opportunists join Seraph for a managed and curated portfolio of 20+ companies, for the ability to co-invest on a deal-by-deal basis, and for the opportunity to work with entrepreneurs. Visit us at www.seraphgroup.net

About Gelt VC
Gelt Venture Capital is a seed stage venture fund focused on companies pushing the frontier of technology ever forward. At Gelt we are technology optimists and believe that new technology has, on average, fundamentally improved the lives of people. We invest in companies that will continue this great trend into the future, helping humanity solve some of its largest problems. We are particularly interested in companies working on robotics, automation, mobility, space, the future of food and the future of work. Visit us at www.geltvc.com.

About Draper Associates
Draper Associates, founded in 1985, is a seed-stage venture capital firm that encourages entrepreneurs to drive their businesses to greatness, to transform industries with new technologies, and to build platforms for extraordinary growth, jobs, and wealth creation. Visit us at www.draper.vc.

About Outpost Capital
Outpost Capital is the first Silicon Valley based venture capital fund that focuses on VR/AR and frontier technology, while having a strong presence in China.  Outpost backs bold entrepreneurs who are willing to explore uncharted territory, and believe that rewards always come after great risk is taken. Entrepreneurs that we back believe in our prime thesis: "talk less and do more - survive together, thrive together". Please visit us at www.outpostvc.com.

About Astral Aerial Solutions
Astral Aviation has a strong presence in Africa and has been operating for more than 15 years. With its hub in Nairobi, Kenya. Astral has developed an intra-African network that encompasses 50 destinations with a varied fleet which includes the Fokker 27, DC9, B727, and B747F aircraft. Astral Aviation has been recognized for its network and stellar reputation by being awarded the "African All Cargo Carrier of the Year" for 4 years. Astral Aviation has embraced drone technology and is one of the first freight operators in the world to promote the use of large cargo and initiate testing and operation of these cargo drones to combat logistical challenges in Africa. Please visit us at www.astral-aerial.com.

Proterra® zero-emission electric buses will be pivotal in Los Angeles' goal of an all-electric bus fleet by 2030

BURLINGAME, Calif. - Dec. 21, 2017 - Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) will receive 25 35-foot Proterra Catalyst® electric buses in 2019, in response to a significant commitment by the City of Los Angeles to deploy an all-electric bus fleet by 2030. The procurement will be funded in part by Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low or No Emission Vehicle Deployment Grants (Low-No).

"Our goal is a 100 percent electric bus fleet - it's a quiet ride for our customers and cleaner air for our city," said Seleta Reynolds, LADOT's general manager. "We know we can't achieve our vision without partners like Proterra, and we can't wait to see these buses on the street!"

LADOT Transit provided 21,536,305 passenger trips in 2016 within Los Angeles, across 468 square miles. The agency has committed to electrifying all 359 fleet vehicles by 2030. Proterra battery-electric buses will replace CNG buses that emit more than 7.8 million lbs. of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions annually. In addition to the environmental and health benefits, the new buses will deliver anticipated cost savings of $11.2 million to LADOT Transit over a 12-year lifetime since they require less energy to operate and have reduced maintenance costs.  

This commitment from LADOT contributes to a larger precedent in Southern California set by neighboring transportation agencies, including Foothill Transit, The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) and Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) to go fully electric over the next 15 years. In 2016, Foothill Transit, a 361-bus fleet servicing passengers within the San Gabriel Valley, including express bus routes to Pasadena and Downtown Los Angeles, made a commitment to fully electrify its fleet by 2030. AVTA also made a commitment to convert its 85-bus fleet to battery-electric buses by 2018. This year, LA Metro, a 2,200 bus fleet, followed with a similar commitment to convert all its vehicles to battery-electric buses by 2030. This transition in Southern California will result in one of the heaviest concentrations of electric buses in North America.

The Low-No initiative is a direct result of Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act passed by Congress in 2015. Low-No funds support the development of transit buses and infrastructure that use advanced technologies. $27.5 million in grants were awarded to 29 public transit winners in 24 states to purchase or lease Proterra Catalyst® electric vehicles, battery systems and charging infrastructure.

"Los Angeles County is home to our manufacturing facility in the City of Industry, where we manufacture the Catalyst electric buses, so it is fitting that our buses will be deployed in nearby regions," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "We're proud to support transit agencies in meeting their climate action goals through the procurement of battery-electric buses. We applaud these agencies for their efforts to create an experience that supports healthy communities." 

As demand increases for global water infrastructure resiliency, Aquam is poised to expand its innovative distribution network technologies

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 6, 2017 -- Today Aquam Corporation ("Aquam"), a global provider of risk mitigation technologies for water and energy transmission and distribution assets, announced that it has secured $26 million in growth capital from the environmentally-focused private equity firm, NewWorld Capital Group, LLC, with participation from a Credit Suisse advised fund. The funding will go toward further product development and geographic expansion of the company's key businesses, including Nu Flow Technologies, a leader in small-diameter infrastructure lining technologies, Specialized Pipe Technologies ("SPT"), a pipe-lining installation provider, Aquam Water Services, a leading UK company that provides critical water usage data to utilities, and Aquam Pipe Diagnostics (formerly JD7), a global pipeline assessment and inspection specialist.

Amid news of natural disasters worldwide, municipal and commercial decision-makers are increasingly focused on making aging infrastructure more resilient. While municipalities rely on such infrastructure to deliver critical resources safely and reliably, evidence of infrastructure leaking, decaying and in many cases, failing, is increasing. Aquam's award-winning proprietary water and energy technologies assess and resolve aging infrastructure and water scarcity issues, enabling the maintenance, life extension, and full rehabilitation of network distribution infrastructure.

"Investing in Aquam is completely in line with NewWorld's investment thesis, given our interest in resource productivity and infrastructure obsolescence," said Bill Hallisey, Managing Partner, NewWorld Capital. "Aquam's global reach and compelling technological offerings fulfill both our economic and environmental qualifications for worthy investments."

The Aquam family of companies has grown rapidly in the past two years, with the acquisition of specialized infrastructure players including JD7, SPT, and Water Services, each of which brings decades of experience and novel technologies to the company as a whole. Aquam's innovations to solve the most challenging infrastructure issues has attracted many of the world's largest utilities and has won the firm several accolades, including the 2017 Water Industry Achievement Awards. This investment from NewWorld Capital and a Credit Suisse advised fund enables the firm to scale its product and service offerings providing its expertise to a growing number of municipal and commercial customers worldwide.

"From Flint, Michigan's ongoing lead contamination crisis, Houston's unprecedented flooding due to Hurricane Harvey, and the 22 percent of water lost daily via pipe leakage in the UK due to centuries-old infrastructure, our imperative is to modernize the delivery of two of the world's most critical resources - water and energy," said Dan Squiller, CEO of Aquam. "This investment enables us to remedy toxic lead levels in drinking water, rehabilitate natural gas and water lines, and expand to address other systemic issues emerging around the world."

"Expect more unicorns as the next generation of Elon Musks gains traction," says Starburst CEO Francois Chopard

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - September 28, 2017 - A new report released today from Starburst Insights, the investment briefing and report service from the leading global aerospace and aviation incubator, reveals that venture capital investments in aerospace, space, and defense start-ups equated to $551 million in the first quarter of 2017 alone, with 26 investments made. Notable trends highlighted in the report include the increasing diversity of deal origins and the shift from west to east, Starburst reveals, as a previously dominant U.S. investor base is joined by new capital and interest from countries like Israel, China, and Singapore. Additionally, the report finds that the increased number of investments, with smaller individual deals, signals a shift to less-capital intensive business opportunities, and reduced barriers for new entries. Starburst expects 2017 to meet or exceed 2015 levels, which topped out at $1.7B. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Starburst Accelerator site.

As investment shifts from west to east, start-ups target next level supply chain innovations

Following in the footsteps of high profile pioneers like Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, and Elon Musk's SpaceX, the next generation of aerospace start-ups is seeing as much as a 250 percent spike in venture capital investment over the last year, enabling new companies to build on the innovation spurred by governments and large corporate incumbents. But if the first wave of investment focused primarily on rockets, satellites and launchers, new investment is giving rise to an even wider range of innovators that will create and build not just the vehicles, but the foundational enabling technologies for this new era of aviation and aerospace, including new materials, distributed energy generation sources, autonomous technologies and increased levels of communication and control.

350% spike in Series B activity indicates start-ups are exceeding investor expectations

Notably in 1Q17, Series A rounds saw an average size of $10M and received a total investment of $97.2M. Series B funding, however, saw a 350 percent increase over 2016 at $325M and a median round of $20M indicating a sector-wide maturity, with aerospace now considered a strong business proposition for venture capital. Starburst expects 2017 to see a larger number of smaller deals, demonstrating lower entry barriers, a trend the firm forecasts will continue beyond this year, as the growing ease of accessing space continues to support modern economic needs.

This report, Industry Analysis and Trend Assessment of Early Stage Aerospace, Space, and Defense Investments, marks the second in an ongoing series of Starburst's regular research and analysis, examining key trends in relevant aerospace, aviation, and defense sectors and technologies. In addition to its wide-ranging expertise and thought leadership, the incubator works directly with 2000+ early stage Series A-B technology companies in its six offices worldwide, providing them with services including financial support, strategy consulting, and ecosystem synergies, bringing together key stakeholders to advance the future of the aerospace industry.

"While commercial entities like SpaceX are already capturing the public imagination, the next phase of the space race will be led by smaller private companies," said François Chopard, CEO and co-founder of Starburst Accelerator. "In the funding gap created by reduced government spending on NASA, start-ups are finding traction with an increasingly vast and global venture capital base. We expect that trend to continue, with government and traditional corporations racing to keep up with unicorns' innovations in mini launchers, drone control chips, plastics intended for space manufacturing, distributed energy generation for remote autonomous aviation recharging, and metals from asteroid mining, and much more."

Proterra's heavy-duty battery-electric bus beats all electric vehicle range achievements to date

BURLINGAME, Calif. - Sept. 19, 2017 - Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced it has set a world record for driving the longest distance ever traveled with an electric vehicle on a single charge at the Navistar Proving Grounds in New Carlisle, Indiana. Proterra's 40-foot Catalyst E2 max traveled 1,101.2 miles this month with 660 kWh of energy storage capacity. For the last three consecutive years, Proterra has demonstrated improved range and battery performance. Last September, Proterra drove 603 miles with 440kWh of energy storage, and in 2015, Proterra drove 258 miles with 257kWh of energy storage on a single charge. This year's world record range marks exceptional performance improvements over prior years, and underscores Proterra's commitment to innovation and accelerating the mass adoption of heavy-duty electric vehicles.

"For our heavy-duty electric bus to break the previous world record of 1,013.76 miles -- which was set by a light-duty passenger EV 46 times lighter than the Catalyst E2 max -- is a major feat," said Matt Horton, Proterra's chief commercial officer. "This record achievement is a testament to Proterra's purpose-built electric bus design, energy-dense batteries and efficient drivetrain."

Beyond meeting transit agencies' range requirements, the Catalyst E2 max is poised to make a significant impact on the transit market because of its low operational cost per mile compared to conventional fossil fuel powered buses. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, lithium-ion battery prices have dropped by roughly 72 percent since 2010, and the economics for batteries continue to improve. Between li-ion battery cost savings and improving vehicle efficiency, electric vehicles represent the most disruptive mode of transport today.

"Driven by the best cost savings-per-mile, we believe the business case for heavy-duty electric buses is superior to all other applications, and that the transit market will be the first to transition completely to battery-electric powered vehicles," said Ryan Popple, Proterra CEO. "Early electric bus adopters like our first customer, Foothill Transit, have paved the way for future heavy-duty applications, like motor coaches and commercial trucks. As we see incumbents and more companies enter the heavy-duty EV market, it has become very apparent that the future is all-electric, and the sun is setting on combustion engine technology."

New funds will help drive commercial opportunities for Silicon Joule® battery technology in hybrid vehicle, grid storage, and other global markets

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Sept. 7, 2017 - Gridtential Inc., an innovator in low-cost, high-performance energy storage technologies, announced today it has completed an $11 million Series B equity raise led by 1955 Capital, with participation from leading U.S. and Chinese battery manufacturers East Penn Manufacturing, Crown Battery Manufacturing, Leoch International and Power-Sonic Inc., and existing investors The Roda Group and battery industry leader and Chairman Ray Kubis. With the rechargeable battery market expected to exceed $100 billion by 2025, Gridtential will use this new capital to expand development and licensing agreements to meet growing global demand for advanced energy storage in the automotive, backup power, grid solutions, and mobility industries.

Andrew Chung, 1955 Capital founder and managing partner, will join Gridtential's board of directors and help propel the company into the rapidly expanding hybrid vehicle and electricity storage markets. As a key player in both the North American and Chinese clean energy and technology markets, Chung will be a major asset to Gridtential's board.

"Gridtential's breakthrough approach to energy storage addresses the booming demand for vehicle electrification and grid-scale storage in China and other emerging markets, which fits our investment model here at 1955," said Andrew Chung, managing partner at 1955 Capital. "Gridtential could achieve exceptional, market leading cost and performance with a capital-efficient commercialization path by effectively leveraging existing manufacturing infrastructure and a well-established materials supply chain.  It is rare to see so many leading battery producers cooperatively invest in a single company, which underscores the tremendous potential the industry sees in the Gridtential's Silicon Joule battery technology in the U.S., China, and beyond."

Gridtential has developed a new battery architecture called Silicon Joule® Technology that combines the advantages of lead-acid batteries – low cost, safety, recyclability, and a wide temperature operating range – with the advantages associated with lithium-ion: fast charging/discharging, high depth of discharge, and long cycle life.  The Gridtential technology breakthrough was the discovery that the battery's traditional lead grids could be replaced with plated silicon wafers similar to solar cells.  Target applications include back-up power, grid storage including micro grids, portable power equipment, mobility (wheelchairs, golf carts, forklifts), and hybrid cars.  In energy storage applications, Silicon Joule batteries will lower the levelized cost of energy (LCoE) by 75% or more.

Silicon Joule battery technology is designed to be compatible with the world's existing lead battery infrastructure. Gridtential's unique licensing model also enables lead battery manufacturers worldwide to produce compelling new 6-48V products by updating existing production lines and factories without giga-scale capital investments. Gridtential has provided hundreds of Silicon Joule batteries to its six partners. These pilot batteries showed an overall 2-5x cycle life improvement, dramatically higher power density and demonstrated a scalable assembly method. By bringing together the advances and scale of two decades-old industries, lead acid batteries and silicon, Gridtential has cracked the code on creating a scalable, cost-effective energy storage technology platform.

"We've made excellent progress with our licensing partners, and are in a strong position to accelerate Silicon Joule commercialization efforts to enable them to meet the mounting industry demand for 48V systems in addition to other diverse industrial applications, including back-up power and grid storage," said Ray Kubis, Gridtential Chairman. "It is also encouraging to see European automakers accelerate their push to 48V hybrid solutions in a concerted effort to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions in contrast to the previous focus on conventional diesel-based powertrains."

The 48V battery market for hybrid vehicles alone represents a $30 billion opportunity worldwide.  Gridtential's proprietary Silicon Joule Technology will significantly reduce the cost barrier to create these 48V battery systems, and will ensure that these high-performance hybrid vehicles achieve the best fuel economy possible in a safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly way.

"We're pleased to have Andrew Chung join our board, as his expertise and experience helping companies commercialize in Asia will be invaluable to Gridtential as the company expands its commercial footprint in China and beyond," said Christiaan Beekhuis, Gridtential CEO. "We're fortunate to be working closely with industry-leading strategic partners and investors to meet increasing global demand for low-cost, high-performance energy storage."

State-of-the-art facility underscores Proterra's commitment to local workforce development in LA County

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - July 26, 2017 - Today, joined by California Governor Jerry Brown, Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, officially commemorated opening its new Los Angeles manufacturing facility. With transit agencies across the country committing to zero-emission battery electric bus fleets, and Proterra leading this mass-market shift, 2017 will continue to be a critical year for ramping production to meet growing national demand. As the battery-electric bus market leader, Proterra is in a strong position to cement its manufacturing leadership in California, and support the state’s ambitious climate goals, help communities improve local air pollution, and create local high-tech manufacturing jobs.

“In order to achieve California’s climate goals, we need more electric cars, trucks and buses on the road. Manufacturing these electric buses in California creates good jobs and cleans up the air,” said California Governor Jerry Brown.

Between the Los Angeles Mobility 2035 Plan and Measure M, the successful ballot measure to fund transportation infrastructure developments and improvements, the greater Los Angeles Metropolitan region represents a massive opportunity to revitalize clean public transportation. Proterra selected metro Los Angeles as an optimal vehicle production location to serve West Cost transit agencies, adding to its existing battery manufacturing facility in Silicon Valley and its East Coast vehicle production facility in Greenville, South Carolina.

The new Los Angeles County facility will benefit local economically distressed communities throughout the San Gabriel Valley, providing strong, long-term jobs in southern California’s emerging center of high-tech manufacturing. Proterra expects to have over 60 employees working in this facility by the end of 2017 and close to 100 employees by the end of 2018, building upon its already diverse workforce. Partially funded by a grant from the California Energy Commission, the 100,000 square-foot facility has the capacity to manufacture 400 buses annually.

Proterra’s facility is also in close proximity to its first customer, Foothill Transit, which serves 22 cities from downtown L.A. to the east, and is currently operating 17 of Proterra’s electric buses, with 30 more Proterra Catalyst® E2 buses on the way. Foothill will be the first transit agency to receive the new Catalyst E2 buses that roll off the assembly line this summer.  Foothill Transit Executive Director, Doran Barnes commented: “We’ve committed to go 100 percent electric by 2030, and this goal has been made possible by our leadership’s confidence in the rapid evolution of the technology. A recent NREL study found our electric buses were eight times more energy efficient than CNG buses on the same route, which validates our commitment.”

To date, Proterra buses across the United States have completed over 3.5 million miles of revenue service, displacing more than 900,000 gallons of diesel, and eliminating over 13.7 million pounds of carbon emissions.

“As car culture wanes and more communities embrace 21st century, multi-modal transit, California has a unique opportunity to lead the country in this market transition,” said Proterra CEO Ryan Popple. “We are grateful for Governor Brown and the state’s support as we work to modernize and decarbonize transportation for all.”

Open charging leader receives Energy Impact Partners' first e-mobility investment, signaling global utility partner demand for an interoperable EV charging network

LOS ANGELES - July 25, 2017 - Today Greenlots, a global leader of open standards-based electric vehicle charging and energy management solutions, announced it has secured a significant investment from the world's leading coalition of utilities, Energy Impact Partners (EIP). Furthermore, two industry veterans will join the Greenlots Board of Directors: Kevin Fitzgerald, Chief Utility Officer at EIP, and Philip Jones, former Commissioner on the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC).

The move marks EIP's first e-mobility investment in this important growth segment. It positions Greenlots as the key enabling platform supporting the increasing commitment of the global utility industry to work collaboratively towards electrification of the transportation industry.

"Bringing utilities, car companies and other key stakeholders together is critical for a smart, efficient and secure roll-out of electric vehicles," said Hans Kobler, CEO and Managing Partner at EIP. "Greenlots' industry-leading open and truly interoperable platform, sector expertise and proven experience provide an ideal basis for making that happen." 

With more than three decades of combined experience leading utility modernization initiatives, Kevin Fitzgerald and Philip Jones will leverage their regulatory and management experience in this next phase of growth for both EIP and Greenlots.

Kevin Fitzgerald, Chief Utility Officer at EIP, will become Chairman of the Greenlots Board. At EIP Fitzgerald facilitates the sharing of best practices and technology among the firm's network of utilities. Prior to this, he served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Pepco Holdings (PHI), where he led the development and execution of PHI's award-winning blueprint for the Utility of the Future. Mr. Fitzgerald was also the Chairman of the EEI Innovation and Technology Committee.

Philip Jones, former Commissioner on the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC), will also join as a board member. Jones recently completed a 12-year tenure with the WUTC, during which he also served as President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). A leading voice in grid security and reliability, he will be a strong advocate for safely integrating electric vehicles into the smart grid. 

Greenlots' utility partners include North American transportation electrification leaders Avista Utilities, Southern Company, Southern California Edison, and BC Hydro. Helping utilities manage complex energy demands with its cloud-based SKY technology platform and truly hardware-agnostic software, Greenlots works to ensure that charging investments are strategic, equitable and future-proof to avoid stranded assets and to support electric vehicle growth. With world-class automotive electric vehicle fleet partners BMW, Ford, Nissan, and Kia Motors, Greenlots is uniquely positioned to scale electric vehicle charging networks to meet global demand.

"Utilities are in the best position to predict, manage, and balance electricity demand as electric vehicle adoption increases," said Brett Hauser, CEO of Greenlots. "With the support of our board and strategic investors, Greenlots is delivering on the promise of an electric mobility future."

To achieve its net-zero carbon footprint by 2022 goal, Park City Transit will deploy six Proterra buses throughout its world-renowned mountain community

Park City, Summit County, Utah – June 23, 2017 – Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that Park City Transit has deployed Utah’s first zero-emission, battery-electric mass transit fleet, which will include six Proterra Catalyst FC+ buses. Selected to serve the region’s renowned ski resort community, the Proterra fleet supports Park City’s and Summit County’s transition toward renewable energy and the reduction of its overall carbon footprint. With one of the nation’s most ambitious climate targets, Park City is laying a path for a net-zero carbon footprint for its municipal operations by 2022 and a Summit County area-wide net-zero carbon footprint by 2032 by implementing Proterra’s proven transit technology.

“Park City and Summit County have set some of the most ambitious carbon reduction and renewable energy targets in the country. Not only will our new battery-electric Proterra buses help us achieve these targets, they will provide our thousands of annual riders with a sustainable, state-of-the-art transit experience,” said Destry Pollard, Park City Transit operations team leader. “Protecting the environmental well-being of our mountain community is paramount, and Proterra will play an instrumental role in our ongoing conservation efforts.”

With its deployment of Proterra vehicles, the Park City region will become the first mountain resort community in the United States to operate a highly efficient, battery-electric transit service. Nicknamed the “Electric Xpress,” the free transit service will provide clean, quiet, and efficient transportation to residents and tourists throughout several neighborhoods, including Park City Resort, Canyons Village, Silver Springs, Silver Lake Village, Empire Pass and Park Meadows. To commemorate the deployment, Park City, Summit County, and Proterra will be hosting a launch event today at the Kimball Junction Transit Center (KJTC), where Proterra CEO Ryan Popple and members of both the Park City Council and the Summit County Council will gather to celebrate the community’s commitment to sustainability and clean transportation.

“We are proud to be leaders in the implementation of Utah’s first fully-electric mass transit fleet,” said Park City Mayor Jack Thomas. “The Electric Xpress service supports our ambitious climate goals, and marks the first phase of the City and County’s Transportation Demand Management Program, which will provide enhanced transit service and reduce traffic congestion throughout the greater Park City community.”

“The introduction of the Electric Xpress transit service is a milestone in Summit County’s commitment to environmentally responsible transportation,” County Council Chairman Chris Robinson, said. “This initiative immediately improves transit services in the greater Park City area and will serve as a model as we work to expand public transit throughout Summit County.”

The Park City region deployment not only marks the first battery-electric transit fleet for Utah and the nationwide mountain resort industry, it also represents the first implementation of Proterra’s innovative battery-lease financing model. To address some of the cost barriers that have previously deterred transit agencies from transitioning to battery-electric vehicles, this new financing model enables agencies to purchase electric buses at approximately the same price or less than fossil fuel-based alternatives. Park City Transit received financing for the six Proterra buses through an extremely competitive Low-No Emissions Grant with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

“While Proterra buses are operating in innovative cities throughout the country, it’s especially exciting to see our battery-electric transit technology improving the air quality and overall rider experience in an iconic mountain community like Park City,” said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Park City and Summit County in the coming months and encourage other resort communities to follow its lead by implementing battery-electric, zero-emission transit systems.”

Starburst, with Partners SIAE and GIFAS, to debut the largest set of new technologies and innovators in five decades of aviation

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. and LE BOURGET, France - June 19, 2017 - Paris Air Show – Tomorrow, in a first for the Paris Air Show, Starburst Accelerator, the global aerospace and aviation incubator, alongside partners SIAE (International Exhibition of Aeronautics and Space) and GIFAS (Groupement of French Aeronautics and Space Industries), will bring 100 of its most promising early stage portfolio companies to present in a select pitch event for the largest names in the defense, transportation, aviation and aerospace sectors, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Lufthansa Technik, GE Aviation, Rolls Royce and Raytheon.

Held in the unique Paris Air Lab, the promising young "Ones to Watch" will reveal the new technologies at the forefront of flight ranging from electric jets and passenger experience to Earth monitoring, aerial drones, 3D manufacturing and space exploration. Paris Air Show attendees are invited to join Starburst on Tuesday, June 20th from 4:00-6:00 PM in the Main Hall at the Hall Concorde to see the innovations first hand.

"The Paris Air Lab is a gateway to the future, embodying a new space entirely dedicated to the aerospace sector and, more broadly, on the world of tomorrow," said Anne Bondiou-Clergerie, Director of GIFAS R & D, Space and Environment. "In support of this vision, we will host the innovators tackling the greatest challenges facing humanity head on alongside the leading scientists, sociologists, pilots, and astronauts to offer a vision for the future of aerospace and aviation."

Aeronautics, space, digital: a view of the world of tomorrow
In addition to the novel pitch event, an additional 100 young pioneers will meet with major aviation groups, space agencies and the foremost European research programs to showcase their concepts, projects and prototypes throughout the duration of the event. The 100 start-ups, hand-picked by Starburst, represent the heart of a space dedicated to industrial innovation and will be divided into exhibition blocks along a crossroads around the major players in the aeronautics and digital sectors. On each day of the event, 10 to 15 of these innovators will present technologies related to the major themes:

• Vehicles of the Future
• Drones, Sensors and Energy Sources
• Passenger Experience
• Space Conquest
• Artificial Intelligence and Big Data
• Environmental Monitoring, Innovative Manufacturing
• Factory 4.0

"Today, industrial start-ups are at the forefront of flight, radically reimagining the aeronautics and aerospace industries, and we're honored to have been chosen to bring this new generation of leaders to this year's Paris Air Show," said François Chopard, CEO and Founder of Starburst Accelerator. "As we create innovation hubs around the world to identify, foster and fund the most promising innovators in the sector, the Paris Air Show continues to be a great gathering of exchange and emulation of ever more daring ideas for the future of the sector."

Requiring no new certification, all-electric aircraft will fly 6 to 9 passengers plus 2 crew, across distances of up to 600 miles

KADIMA, Israel and LE BOURGET - France, June 19, 2017 - Paris Air Show 2017 -- Eviation Aircraft, a global manufacturer of all-electric air mobility solutions, today unveiled the prototype of its all-electric, light aircraft on the tarmac of the 52nd International Paris Air Show. This public debut of the Eviation aircraft signifies the current shift in regional air travel that is redefining the traditional aviation industry at the show. The prototype can be viewed at the show in Static Display A8.

Eviation is ushering in the next wave of aviation innovation with a design that is fully-electric from the outset. This holistic approach has led to a re-envisioning of core component designs, including the airframe, propeller and motor, placing an emphasis on maximizing flight efficiency and energy usage. With an IP portfolio that includes thermal management and autonomous landing, Eviation's craft faces zero regulatory hurdles, as it is compliant with today's certification requirements, and is in talks with a growing number of regional flight operators.

"We are witnessing a new age in aviation as advances in energy storage and aircraft design bring electric, on-demand air transit within reach," said Mark Moore, Uber Engineering Director of Aviation. "Our focus at Uber is in galvanizing the ecosystem necessary for urban VTOL electric vehicles to thrive for 20-60 mile trips that can provide massive time savings over ground transportation for long trips in cities. In parallel, we are encouraged to see bold new players like Eviation tackling challenges in different sectors using electric aviation; these players will help catalyze demand for new battery and rapid recharging technologies that are crucial to enable electric flight."

Just as shared, electric, and autonomous vehicles are disrupting ground transportation, air mobility presents an opportunity to reshape where we choose to live, work, play and explore. Though regional transit functions as the backbone of transportation systems, local operators can spend up to 7 percent of their operating costs in maintenance and ensuring planes are at the right place at the right time. Offering passengers the comfort and stability of a jetliner, at a cost that rivals any existing form of transit today, Eviation's electric aircrafts are flying proof of concept missions, and will move into certification and commercialization in 2018. The company expects to perform the first commercial flights as early as 2021.

"At a time when we are more connected than ever, our mobility options must adapt to reflect this new, efficient future," said Omer Bar-Yohay, CEO of Eviation Aircraft. "Whether it is a zero emissions, low-cost trip from Silicon Valley to San Diego, or Seoul to Beijing, our all-electric aircraft represents a chance for people to move with the speed and impact our global economy now demands."

Investor appetite grows as Proterra hits key deployment and technology innovation milestones

Burlingame, Calif. – June 13, 2017 – Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that it has closed a $55 million Series 6 round, on the heels of an oversubscribed $140 million Series 5 in January. Generation Investment Management LLP, a long-term, sustainability-focused investment firm led the round, which was joined by BMW i Ventures, the corporate venture capital team founded by BMW Group in 2011. As Proterra continues to build upon its 60 percent market share in the North American electric transit market, this investment will support the company’s East and West coast production capabilities and its commitment to ongoing technology innovation.

Former U.S. Vice President and Generation Investment Management Chairman Al Gore said, “More than ever before, cities are looking for sustainable transportation solutions that can reduce pollution efficiently and effectively. Proterra is incredibly well positioned to help accelerate the growth of sustainable cities and continue our transition to a clean energy economy.”

Proterra will utilize the $55 million to increase production at its manufacturing facilities in South Carolina and Los Angeles, while also bolstering research and development efforts at the company’s headquarters in Silicon Valley. Currently, the company has sold more than 400 vehicles to some of the country’s most innovative cities and communities, including Seattle, Dallas, Nashville, San Jose, Philadelphia and Reno. In addition to its commitment to nationwide growth, Proterra remains focused on attracting the best engineering, design and electric vehicle technology talent from across the country. This dedication to workforce development has helped the company achieve multiple innovation firsts, including its recent launch of the industry’s first autonomous bus development program with the University of Nevada, Reno.

The investments from Generation Investment Management and BMW i Ventures represent important milestones for both groups. With a commitment to embedding sustainability into mainstream capital markets, Generation Growth Equity has a long history of investing in mobility, covering a range of sustainable solutions from electric vehicles to bike sharing to fleet management technology. With Generation establishing a presence in San Francisco this year, this is a critical investment to add to their growing portfolio on the West Coast. For BMW i Ventures, this represents its first investment in heavy-duty electric vehicle manufacturing underscoring the transition to electric mass transit. United by a shared belief in responsible citizenship and sustainable transportation technology, Proterra will work closely with Generation and BMW i Ventures to help communities transition to zero-emission mobility fleets.

“BMW i Ventures invests in companies that will transform mobility and transportation, and Proterra is pushing the mass transit industry forward with the most innovative heavy-duty electric bus,” said Zach Barasz, partner at BMW i Ventures. “Due to Proterra’s efforts, electric mass transit is overtaking fossil-fuel buses as the new standard.”

“This is an extremely exciting time at Proterra as our customers, supporters and investors—new and old alike—rally behind our vision for a clean, electric transportation ecosystem,” said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. “We’re incredibly grateful to our new investors, and are proud to call them partners as we strive to eliminate fossil fuel dependence throughout the transit industry.”

Colin Le Duc, co-head of Generation Growth Equity, and based in San Francisco, said, “Our approach is to find innovative businesses that will help drive the transition to a sustainable, low carbon economy. Proterra is the perfect example of a successful, sustainable business with a long runway for future growth. We have known and admired Proterra for some time, and are delighted to be able to support a top-class management team, led by Ryan Popple.”

Global investor appetite grows for Alta's expanding suite of transportation technologies as the company breaks new energy density thresholds

BRISBANE, Calif. - June 7, 2017 - Today Alta Motors, the leader in global lightweight electric vehicles, announced it has closed a total of $27 million of preferred stock in its latest rounds of financing led by Grassy Creek Ventures, who is joined in the latest round by Mountain Nazca and motorcycle industry legend, Bob Fox, among others. In addition to supporting the expansion of its existing manufacturing and R&D facility in Brisbane, CA, the funds will enable the company to further refine its lightweight vehicle technology and solidify its leadership in the growing $125B+ global lightweight vehicle market (LWV). New board members include Travis Bradford, Professor of Practice and Director of the Energy and Environment graduate program at Columbia University, and Hector Sepulveda, Managing Partner at Mountain Nazca.

As global transportation undergoes a massive shift from combustion engines towards electrification, innovations in energy storage, powertrain design and vehicle architecture are radically transforming the heavy and medium duty fleet markets. Founded in stealth in 2010, Alta has set its sights on tapping into one of the largest and fastest growing global markets: lightweight transportation. Over the last five years, it has developed a holistic mobility platform capable of servicing multiple sectors within the fast-growing transportation economy. It now leads the industry with a complete portfolio of proprietary battery and drivetrain components, an existing fleet of lightweight vehicles manufactured at its world-class Brisbane facility and a full customer backlog.

"Alta has taken a Trojan horse approach to this market since its inception, delivering a robust and exciting motorcycle into the performance off-road segment. But underneath, Alta has quietly achieved amazing success in advanced core vehicle technologies including the highest energy density of any commercialized pack in transportation, even Tesla's," said Bradford. "It now holds a portfolio of patents for its proprietary battery pack, drivetrain, and chassis technologies. The fundamental advantage of this IP is that it gives Alta both performance/cost and performance/weight ratios that put it years ahead of the rest of the industry, and all of this technology is now commercialized and vetted in the most demanding environment a vehicle can face. Pretty impressive stuff."

After establishing an early dominance in the electric motorcycle sector, Alta is now continuing to push the industry forward by offering the highest energy density in the lightweight EV mobility market today. Currently, Alta's commercialized battery pack is capable of 185Wh/kg and the company plans to achieve 225Wh/kg in commercial production by 2020. Its technology has transformative implications for the entirety of the $125B high-growth LWV Market, which includes mopeds, scooters, motorcycles, tuk-tuks, side-by-sides, urban autonomous vehicles, and delivery drones.

"Not since Soichiro Honda took on the American and British marques in the 60s and 70s has the industry seen this level of disruption, and Alta is leading that charge," said Bob Fox, Founder of FOX Racing Shox Inc. "In just a few short years, it's accomplished what has taken others decades to execute on, from breaking ground on a high-tech, vertically-integrated manufacturing facility to the launch and serial production of its groundbreaking Redshift electric vehicle platform."

"After demonstrating our drivetrain and battery solutions in demanding off-road conditions, we now have an electric mobility platform that offers broad applicability to other product classes, from urban transport to utility vehicles," said Marc Fenigstein, CEO and Co-Founder of Alta Motors. "As traditional automotive loses its transportation crown, this is a pivotal moment for us and for the industry; we are breaking barriers in storage, powertrain and vehicle design. With the support of our incredible set of investors and our world-class team, our sights are set on becoming the de facto platform for the new frontier of lightweight electric transportation."

Honored as one of the National Diversity Council’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology, Covington brings over 20 years of legal consultation and management expertise to Proterra            

Burlingame, Calif. – May 31, 2017 – Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that JoAnn Covington has joined the management team as chief legal officer and head of government relations. With an extensive background in intellectual property law, strategic policy development, and high-tech legal consultation, Covington has a proven track record for advising both public and private companies through rapid periods of growth. At Proterra, she will play an instrumental role in devising new, innovative business models that will enable the widespread adoption of heavy-duty electric transit vehicles throughout North America.

As Proterra continues to cement its position at the forefront of the electric transportation renaissance, Covington will facilitate the company’s industry-leading pursuit of innovation at the nexus of EV (Electric Vehicle) and AV (Autonomous Vehicle) development. Additionally, she will help Proterra enhance its novel commercial leasing program for battery-electric transit vehicles, which was first introduced alongside JLL’s corporate fleet of Proterra buses.

“Proterra is one of the most progressive companies in the transit sector today, due in large part to the corporate culture that equally values technological innovation and cultural diversity,” said Proterra Chief Legal Officer JoAnn Covington. “I look forward to building on that strong foundation with the legal and government relations teams and pursuing new avenues that advance the company’s objective of establishing a clean, sustainable transportation future.”

Prior to Proterra, Covington served as senior vice president and general counsel at Rocket Fuel Inc., a leading provider of artificial intelligence (AI) advertising and marketing solutions for global agencies and brands, where she led the legal, policy, and business affairs teams. During her tenure at Rocket Fuel, she guided the company through its 2013 IPO and rapid growth, leading to a designation as the fastest growing technology company on that year’s Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list. Before Rocket Fuel, she acted as division counsel for Electronic Arts’ Maxis Label division, where she managed a diverse array of legal issues, including management of intellectual property assets, contractual rights and obligations, and advertising and promotions. Covington has accrued a wide variety of industry awards over the years. In 2015, she was recognized as the winner of the Silicon Valley Business Journal and San Francisco Business Times’ Corporate Counsel Award for General Counsel for a Public Company (under $1B in revenue), and in 2016, she received further recognition from the National Diversity Council when she was named as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology.

“Not only has JoAnn supported some of the most innovative companies in Silicon Valley, forging innovative new solutions across a broad range of regulatory, business and legal fronts, but she is a widely respected advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace,” said Proterra CEO Ryan Popple. “As Proterra continues to build a dynamic team of engineers, designers, clean energy evangelists, and transit innovators, she will help us achieve our vision of assembling one of the most talented, forward-looking teams in the transportation industry.” 

Report identifies key technologies, investment trends, and Starburst's Ones to Watch

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- June 1, 2017 -- Starburst Accelerator, the global aerospace and aviation incubator, today released its first comprehensive report focused on the emerging urban air mobility sector: "The Next Wave of Startup Unicorns Emerging from the Aerospace Renaissance." Based on its proprietary methodology, the Starburst report assesses the global market drivers, salient technology trends, key players, and Ones to Watch in each of its seven categories: foldable wings cars, multicopters, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircrafts, paragliding cars, jetpacks, personal hover vehicles, and miscellaneous projects. To read the full report, please visit: http://starburst.aero/trends/.

Just as shared, electric, and autonomous vehicles are redefining ground transportation, urban air mobility is poised for massive disruption over the next five years, as a wide range of new aviation and aerospace crafts rapidly move from prototype to flight testing to commercialization. The report identifies the new technological developments and over $200 million in known investments that will enable this disruption and prime VTOLs for commercial deployment.

"For years, we've seen institutions like NASA developing and successfully applying distributed electric technologies to VTOL aircraft," said Mark Moore, Uber Engineering Director of Aviation. "Based on those successes and the incredible innovation from both incumbents and early-stage players, we believe that VTOLs, and eVTOLs in particular, have the potential to well exceed the current commercial aviation market and could fundamentally change transportation as we know it."

Starburst's Ones to Watch

Spotlighting 50 of the fastest growing air mobility companies today, Starburst evaluated players based on price points, pre-registrations, and production numbers, and predicts these nine companies will be the Ones to Watch in 2017:

• Aeromobil, Slovakia: commercialization phase of a foldable wings car
• Aurora Flight Sciences, United States: successful test flight of an eVTOL aircraft in April 2017
• Ehang, China: first flight of an electric multicopter in March 2017, operational in Dubai in July 2017
• Flike, Hungary: first flight of an electric hovercraft in March 2015
• Flyboard, France: hovering world record for a jet hovercraft in March 2017
• KittyHawk, United States: successful test flight of an electric hovercraft in April 2017
• Lilium, Germany: successful test flight of an eVTOL aircraft in April 2017
• Urban Aero, Israel: commercialization phase of a fuel multicopter
• Volocopter, Germany: commercialization phase of an electric multicopter

"Right now, we are reaching an inflection point where technology has matured sufficiently to create urban flight vehicles that are primed for mass adoption," said François Chopard, Starburst Accelerator founder and CEO. "We anticipate that these new modes of transportation will reduce commute times, supplant existing modes of mobility, facilitate continued economic progress and social satisfaction, and provide the backbone for the next generation of smart cities."

Ard brings a wealth of expertise in creating strong finance strategies, leading both private and public companies through significant growth

Burlingame, Calif. – May 31, 2017 – Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that Amy Ard has joined the management team as chief financial officer. With more than twenty years of experience in finance and various manufacturing industries, Ard brings a rare combination of expertise leading both large public companies and private companies through significant stages of growth. At Proterra, she will support the company’s next level of expansion by aligning corporate finance with all aspects of the business, from engineering and manufacturing to sales and marketing and operations.

Ard’s experience at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) defined her career and passion for manufacturing early on. Before joining Proterra, Ard was CFO at AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group (AMG), a publicly held global specialty metals and engineering company. During her tenure as CFO, net debt was driven down by over $200 million and AMG’s share price improved by over 30 percent, despite a significant downturn in the commodity sector. Ard also took AMG through a $275 million IPO, refinanced a $320 million debt facility, led the integration of two key acquisitions with purchase prices in excess of $25 million and implemented a global cash and risk management system. Over the course of her career, Ard has accrued multifaceted corporate finance experience and has proven her unique ability to build talented teams, create operational excellence, and manage cash flows for capital-intensive projects, while accurately forecasting quarterly financial earnings.

“With impressive year-over-year growth, Proterra has reached a critical point in the transit market. I’m very excited to join at this time, and help the company achieve its vision of a 100 percent clean transit future for all,” said Proterra Chief Financial Officer Amy Ard. “I look forward to working with such a diverse and dynamic team, as we venture to bring affordable, zero-emission buses to North America’s masses.”

On the heels of an oversubscribed $140 million Series 5 funding round in January, exceptional sales growth in the 1H2017 with Seattle’s King County Metro committing to a 100 percent zero-emission fleet by 2030, and national expansion, Ard joins Proterra at a time of rapid growth. In 2016 alone, Proterra more than double sales growth, and the company has increased its workforce across its three facilities by more than 50 percent in Greenville, S.C., as well as Burlingame and City of Industry, Calif.

“We are honored to have such a seasoned corporate finance leader join the Proterra management team,” said Proterra CEO Ryan Popple. “Having successfully navigated the complexities of limited supply chains, volatile commodity pricing and the public markets, I’m confident Amy will be a major asset to Proterra.”

Wrightspeed and AxleTech International combine world-class components with award-winning electric vehicle technology

ALAMEDA, Calif. and TROY, Mich. -- May 10, 2017 -- Wrightspeed Inc., the leading manufacturer of heavy-duty Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (REV) powertrains, announced today that it has partnered with AxleTech International, the leading manufacturer of heavy-duty specialty drivetrain systems. The partnership integrates decades of axle engineering experience into Wrightspeed's electrification technology to meet growing demand from the company's world-class customers and partners, including Mack Trucks and New Zealand Bus (NZB).

With the challenge of providing low-emission transportation, Wrightspeed has solved the problem of reducing emissions in heavy transportation with their first-in-kind innovation, the Route™ REV powertrain. Wrightspeed's complete powertrain system, featuring regenerative braking and a range-extending turbine generator, the Fulcrum™, enable heavy-duty electric vehicles to operate as efficiently as possible. Recently recognized as a 2016 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, Wrightspeed will now leverage AxleTech's exceptional expertise in engineering and manufacturing to accelerate commercial deployment of its multimodal REV Route powertrain. Wrightspeed's GTD™ (Geared Traction Drive) pairs with a custom axle from AxleTech International, designed to accommodate Wrightspeed's super duty final drive gear. The custom axle-outfitted GTD unit will be featured in the Mack Trucks booth no. 2526 at the WasteExpo conference.

"Together AxleTech and Wrightspeed are providing spectacular technology to the market, and our partnership plays to our respective strengths," says Jason Gies, Business Development Manager at AxleTech.

The announcement comes as Wrightspeed rapidly expands its supply chain team, bringing on experts with experience at Tesla Motors, Ford, Cummins, and others to meet strong demand for new powertrain technology. Wrightspeed is scaling its operations to meet international interest, including from the largest operator of urban bus services in New Zealand, NZB, as well as continuing its work with Sonoma County recycling leader, The Ratto Group.

"Our strategy at Wrightspeed leverages world-class suppliers for components that we've designed and specified for our integrated powertrain technology," said Ian Wright, CEO and founder of Wrightspeed. "AxleTech is a proven leader in developing axles for vehicles with the most challenging drive cycles in the world, and, in partnering with them, we get proven quality components and manufacturing expertise, while keeping our team focused on innovation."

Leading industry innovation with Living Lab Coalition partners, Proterra expands safety research

Burlingame, Calif. – May 2, 2017 – Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced the company is initiating the industry’s first autonomous bus program with the University of Nevada, Reno and its Living Lab Coalition partners that includes the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTC), the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, the Nevada Governor’s Office for Economic Development, Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI, and the cities of Reno, Sparks and Carson City, Nev. This program represents Proterra and the partners’ commitment to technology leadership and to establishing safer mobility solutions that will help build public confidence in the safety of eventual autonomous mass transit.

Unlike other programs to date, this autonomous vehicle pilot will deal with real road conditions from the perspective of public transit systems, and emphasize the most challenging aspects related to mass transportation, which include dense and dynamic environments, degraded conditions, and a need for swift emergency response. The pilot will also explore a new set of robotic perception algorithms that are required to address these conditions, and focus on tight cues from multi-modal sensors and new multi-modal localization and mapping. Rather than solely detect traffic, the Living Lab will focus on predicting traffic flows and plans to enhance safety. The University’s current work focuses on the problems of vehicle perception, navigation control, path planning and vehicle-to-vehicle as well as vehicle-to-infrastructure research.

“Autonomy is key for safety, efficiency and reliable transportation systems at scale. Our shared vision is to have robust, long-term autonomy to enable safer modes of transit,” said Carlos Cardillo, PhD Director of the Nevada Center for Applied Research at the University of Nevada, Reno. “In the pilot, we plan to research and develop a robust set of algorithms for localization and mapping, object detection in the domains of multi-modal fusion and recognition of intent to ultimately advance robotic perception and move systems closer to our simultaneous goal of enhancing safety. The project involves University researchers in advanced-autonomous systems, computer sciences, synchronized mobility, robotics and civil engineering.”

The Living Lab program will include three main phases of research and development. Phase 1 focuses on data collection, vehicle instrumentation and intelligent transportation system assessment; Phase 2 on data mining, communications and algorithms development; and Phase 3 on licensing and commercialization. In the first phase, RTC’s state-of-the-art electric bus, manufactured by Proterra, will operate on specific city routes to sense and gather data, which will inform technology and systems development. The pilot is supported by the Knowledge Fund, an innovative funding mechanism developed by the State of Nevada to spur research, knowledge-intensive and innovation-driven economic development, and Research & Innovation at the University of Nevada, Reno.

“As more and more communities take steps to integrate autonomous vehicles, we will continue to advance mobility solutions that best meet those evolving needs, while embracing the highest safety standards on the market,” said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. “We see the Living Lab pilot as a way to support ongoing safety improvements, encourage technology develop in autonomous vehicles, and better understand complex road dynamics.”

A leading voice for American jobs and manufacturing, Granholm will leverage her policy, industry and economic development expertise to support Proterra’s next phase of strategic growth

Burlingame, Calif. – March 30, 2017 – Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric bus transportation, announced that Jennifer Granholm, former attorney general and two-term governor of Michigan, has joined its board of directors. A leading voice for American jobs and manufacturing, Granholm has an esteemed track record for producing a high-quality clean energy and transportation workforce in the Midwest. Most notably, Granholm has been a defining voice and leader in the economic revitalization of industrial communities.  As Proterra moves into its next phase of strategic growth and national deployment, her wealth of expertise in policy, clean energy and manufacturing will serve as a major asset to Proterra’s leadership team.

“The transition to an all-electric, energy efficient transit system is well underway, so it’s critical that America seize this moment to innovate, lead and cement local, high-skilled manufacturing jobs,” said Jennifer Granholm. “I’m proud to support Proterra as it continues to bring more jobs, more dollars and more opportunities to the domestic transportation sector.”

As the governor of Michigan, Granholm played a leading role in Michigan’s economic recovery by diversifying local industry and creating a clean energy hub for the state. Granholm’s novel approach to creating middle-class jobs and incentivizing supply chains to co-locate in Michigan attracted leading manufacturers in energy storage, solar, wind and bio-energy. Her plan focused on fostering critical partnerships among industry, government and researchers, which catalyzed investment totaling $9.4 billion and created more than 89,000 clean energy jobs.

More Demand, More Deployments: Proterra’s ramps up manufacturing  
Already, more than 75 percent of the materials used to manufacture Proterra’s high-performance Catalyst®buses are American-made, exemplifying Granholm’s vision for an infrastructure model that prioritizes domestic job growth and economic empowerment. With U.S. suppliers, manufacturing facilities in South Carolina and California, and a base of its battery-electric buses sold into 36 cities across the country, Proterra continues to demonstrate its commitment to both the U.S. transit market and domestic manufacturing sector that serves it. In 2016, Proterra achieved more than 225 percent sales growth and expects to triple overall production in 2017.

“We believe that American market demand can be met by American supply, so it’s a major win to have former governor and American manufacturing advocate Jennifer Granholm join the Proterra board as we ramp production,” said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. “Her policy leadership and industry success in growing high-end manufacturing will be invaluable to the company and the mass transit market, which we expect to transition to all-electric buses by 2030.”

With the Farmers Edge Precision Solutions™ platform, Allied is now a one-stop shop for growers seeking to optimize their profitability, productivity, and sustainability

Winnipeg, MANITOBA and Adams, WISCONSIN — April 20, 2017 — Farmers Edge™, a global leader in decision agriculture, announced today it has partnered with Allied Cooperative, a leading provider of agronomy, feed, grain, and equipment services to growers across 700,000 acres in central and western Wisconsin. Now, with the all-in-one Farmers Edge Precision Solutions™ platform, Allied’s more than 2,200 customers have access to the wide range of products and services that separate Farmers Edge growers from their peers. These products and services include, but are not limited to, field-centric data collection, “boots on the ground” support, access to one of the fastest growing networks of on-farm weather stations, integrated farm management software, and a wide variety of advanced decision support tools, including Corn Manager™ – the most comprehensive corn management system on the market today.

With grower partners spanning from Adams to La Crosse, Allied Cooperative has a long and proud history of serving producers throughout the state, with roots dating back to 1917. Committed to partnering with innovation leaders, Allied, together with Farmers Edge, is growing with the needs of its customers, equipping them with cutting-edge technologies and services. Through this partnership, corn, soybean, potato, grain, and all other types of growers in the state will now be able to make better, real-time decisions and address the critical crop issues that impact overall profitability on the farm.

“At Allied, we work everyday in the fields with Wisconsin growers, and one of the things that we consistently hear from our customers is that they’re looking for one, comprehensive, integrated precision agriculture platform that will address all their needs. Farmers Edge offers that platform,” said Rob Shields, Precision Ag Manager at Allied Cooperative. “As we move into the next busy growing season, we’re excited to work with Farmers Edge to ensure that growers throughout central and western Wisconsin have access to the data and decision agriculture services that will boost their yields and bolster their bottom lines.”

Today, all Allied growers will have access to the cost-effective, market-leading Farmers Edge Precision Solutions platform. Easily integrated with growers’ existing equipment and programs, Precision Solutions is a comprehensive turnkey system that includes: Variable Rate Technology, soil sampling and analysis, on-farm weather stations, in-field telematics and data transfer devices, high-resolution satellite imagery, field-centric data analytics, and a network of highly experienced, trusted advisors. This platform also includes the company’s Next-Gen FarmCommand™ software, a fully-integrated farm management platform designed to manage multiple data streams in a single system.

“The U.S. Midwest is one of the most vital agricultural regions, not just in North America, but in the world, so we’re proud to partner with Allied Cooperative to equip Wisconsin growers with the data-driven tools they need to optimize inputs, reduce costs, and ultimately make better decisions,” said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. “We share Allied’s belief that the farmer comes first, so our agronomists and customer support team will be there every step of the way to ensure that our growers are producing the most profitable crops possible.”

With more than 60 percent of the North American battery-electric transit market, Proterra continues to lead the industry in sales, deployments and repeat orders

Burlingame, Calif. – April 13, 2017 – Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that it delivered its 100th battery-electric bus, destined for San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) in Stockton, Calif. This record deployment marks Proterra’s continued leadership in the North American electric mass transit market, in sales, deliveries and repeat orders. The company is leading the industry with over 60 percent of sales since the industry’s inception. With 36 different municipal, university and commercial transit agency customers in 20 states from coast to coast, Proterra has now deployed its best-in-market, zero-emission buses in some of the nation’s most innovative cities and communities. Many of the transit agencies serving these communities have also completed third and fourth orders for Proterra® buses including San Joaquin RTD, King County Metro in Seattle and Foothill Transit in Pomona, Calif.

Serving more than 687,744 people in San Joaquin County, RTD has added ten more Proterra Catalyst® battery-electric buses to its expanding fleet, bringing their total number of Proterra buses to 12. As the first agency in Northern California to operate all-electric technology, San Joaquin RTD exemplifies the growing trend among transit organizations to transition to zero-emission buses as the cost and performance benefits become clearer.

“Proterra has helped us save funds, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide clean, quiet, electric transit service to residents throughout the San Joaquin Valley, so we couldn’t be prouder to share this milestone with them,” said Donna DeMartino, CEO of San Joaquin Regional Transit District. “At San Joaquin RTD, we see Proterra as an indispensable partner as we seek to improve air quality conditions in the Valley and to ensure that our riders have access to one of the most efficient, reliable mass transportation systems in the country.”

To date, Proterra buses have completed over 3,100,000 miles in revenue service, which equates to ~ 6,000 tons of GHG emissions reduced and over $2M saved in fuel and maintenance costs. On a total cost of ownership basis, these vehicles can save transit agencies up to $459,000 per bus over diesel-hybrid vehicles and up to $448,000 vs. diesel vehicles over their lifetime. Combined with the environmental benefits of a more efficient technology at 21 MPGe, vs. 4 MPG for diesel, and zero tailpipe emissions, this dollars-and-cents argument for transit electrification has attracted sizeable orders from customers like Seattle’s King County Metro, which placed the largest order of battery-electric buses to date by committing to 73 Proterra vehicles.

“We’re no longer at the dawn of the electric mass transportation revolution, we’re in the midst of it, and this milestone delivery to RTD proves that Proterra continues to lead the way as the industry charges forward,” said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. “As we deliver more buses, forge new partnerships and follow through on more repeat orders, we will continue to do our part as the North American market leader and will champion innovation throughout the electric mobility ecosystem.”

Leading industry innovation with Living Lab Coalition partners, Proterra expands safety research

BURLINGAME, Calif., May 2, 2017 -- Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced the company is initiating the industry's first autonomous bus program with the University of Nevada, Reno and its Living Lab Coalition partners that includes the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTC), the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, the Nevada Governor's Office for Economic Development, Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI, and the cities of Reno, Sparks and Carson City, Nev. This program represents Proterra and the partners' commitment to technology leadership and to establishing safer mobility solutions that will help build public confidence in the safety of eventual autonomous mass transit.

Unlike other programs to date, this autonomous vehicle pilot will deal with real road conditions from the perspective of public transit systems, and emphasize the most challenging aspects related to mass transportation, which include dense and dynamic environments, degraded conditions, and a need for swift emergency response. The pilot will also explore a new set of robotic perception algorithms that are required to address these conditions, and focus on tight cues from multi-modal sensors and new multi-modal localization and mapping. Rather than solely detect traffic, the Living Lab will focus on predicting traffic flows and plans to enhance safety. The University's current work focuses on the problems of vehicle perception, navigation control, path planning and vehicle-to-vehicle as well as vehicle-to-infrastructure research.

"Autonomy is key for safety, efficiency and reliable transportation systems at scale. Our shared vision is to have robust, long-term autonomy to enable safer modes of transit," said Carlos Cardillo, PhD Director of the Nevada Center for Applied Research at the University of Nevada, Reno. "In the pilot, we plan to research and develop a robust set of algorithms for localization and mapping, object detection in the domains of multi-modal fusion and recognition of intent to ultimately advance robotic perception and move systems closer to our simultaneous goal of enhancing safety. The project involves University researchers in advanced-autonomous systems, computer sciences, synchronized mobility, robotics and civil engineering."

The Living Lab program will include three main phases of research and development. Phase 1 focuses on data collection, vehicle instrumentation and intelligent transportation system assessment; Phase 2 on data mining, communications and algorithms development; and Phase 3 on licensing and commercialization. In the first phase, RTC's state-of-the-art electric bus, manufactured by Proterra, will operate on specific city routes to sense and gather data, which will inform technology and systems development. The pilot is supported by the Knowledge Fund, an innovative funding mechanism developed by the State of Nevada to spur research, knowledge-intensive and innovation-driven economic development, and Research & Innovation at the University of Nevada, Reno.

"As more and more communities take steps to integrate autonomous vehicles, we will continue to advance mobility solutions that best meet those evolving needs, while embracing the highest safety standards on the market," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "We see the Living Lab pilot as a way to support ongoing safety improvements, encourage technology develop in autonomous vehicles, and better understand complex road dynamics."

About Proterra: 

Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to eliminate the dependency on fossil fuels and to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 380 vehicles to 36 different municipal, university, and commercial transit agencies in 20 states across the USA. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley, South Carolina, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit: http://www.proterra.com and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

C-level strength to focus on market growth and maintenance of industry's most robust oversight standards

SANTA ROSA, Calif., March 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ygrene Energy Fund, the nation's second-largest administrator of PACE (property assessed clean energy) financing announced today that Stephen Tich has joined the company as its Chief Operating Officer. Tich has held a number of senior leadership roles within the financial services industry, spending most of his career at HSBC and GE Capital.  Mike Cary, who previously held this position, has moved to the newly-created role of Ygrene's Chief Revenue Officer.

Due to the tremendous interest shown in this emerging form of environmentally-oriented financing, Ygrene's PACE program experienced growth of over 200% in 2016. The addition of Tich will enable Ygrene to accommodate this ongoing growth, while continuing to provide industry-leading consumer protection practices in the 328 communities currently served by the Ygrene program.

"Maintaining consumer confidence is essential for PACE administrators, such as Ygrene, since our primary mission is to deliver financing options to consumers that go beyond those available through traditional financing sources," said Stephen Tich, Chief Operating Officer of Ygrene. "I'm pleased to have joined Ygrene to build on the strong foundation that has already been created."

Both Tich and Cary will report to Rocco Fabiano, Ygrene's President and CEO, who added that, "We are extremely pleased to have the benefit of these two seasoned financial services executives, as we support local governments in their mission to add jobs, promote micro-infrastructure investments and provide a cleaner environment."

Urban Transit Pioneer, Scoot Networks, Unveils Blueprint for Shared Electric Mobility to Solve Traffic Congestion and Emission Challenges in World's Largest Cities

SAN FRANCISCO, March 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Scoot Networks, Inc., the leading provider of shared, light electric vehicle (LEV) services, today announced its international expansion with the unveiling of the Scoot Mobility Operating System (Scoot MOS), a platform for shared LEV services in densely populated cities. In partnering with the top manufacturers in the LEV space, including Renault-Nissan and Mahindra GenZe, Scoot will bring its proven model to new cities throughout Europe, Latin America and Asia to help new LEV services achieve - and exceed - Scoot's own success in the U.S.

"As consumers move towards cleaner, more efficient transportation options, demand is swelling for our fully-electric scooters, particularly in traffic-stressed cities," said Tom Valasek, Chief Marketing Officer at Mahindra GenZe. "That's the market opportunity that we're seizing with Scoot. Scoot MOS provides our fleet customers with a swift, seamless model to grow their business in the biggest metros around the world."

Launched in 2012 in one of the most competitive transit markets in the world, San Francisco, Scoot created the first shared LEV service, serving thousands of riders in San Francisco with over 800 vehicles. Scoot riders have logged more than 3 million kilometers on Scoot's clean, electric fleet, eliminating 783 metric tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. Now, with the debut of Scoot MOS, Scoot is bringing this highly successful solution to urban traffic congestion to cities around the world in partnership with leading local partners. These companies benefit from Scoot's extensive operating experience and from the Scoot MOS platform, while also gaining access to world-class LEVs including: the Renault Twizy electric quadracycle, the Mahindra GenZe 2.0 electric scooter, the GOVECS T Series cargo scooter, and the emco electric scooter. Scoot and its partners will make shared LEVs a cornerstone of transportation in cities around the world.

"Today, city residents want the flexibility afforded by cars, but are foregoing personal ownership in favor of shared electric scooters, which have become our fastest growing market segment," said Raymon Pouwels, Commercial Advisor, Emco-Elektroroller. "In partnering with Scoot, we're able to meet this demand while bringing our customers what they require: efficient, cost-effective, clean transportation options."

Introducing Scoot MOS: The platform for shared light electric vehicles

Designed by and for mobility service providers, Scoot MOS offers a complete management platform for any LEV service, including e-scooters, e-bikes, and three- and four-wheelers. With proprietary, LEV-specific, in-vehicle electronics, an intuitive rider app, and comprehensive vehicle, customer, parking, and charging software, Scoot MOS is the complete package electric mobility services need to succeed in a complex business. To learn more, please visit https://scoot.co/partners

"Over the last five years, we've seen a surge in adoption of transportation innovations, from car sharing to ride sharing and bike sharing. But, a huge gap exists between bikes, buses and trains – which are too slow – and ride sharing and car ownership, which are too expensive and problematic in the city," said Michael Keating, Scoot Founder & CEO. "As demand grows for capital-light, immediate urban transit solutions, we're working with world-class partners to deploy the new transit future: fast, affordable, shared electric vehicles."

Berkeley property owners join 23M+ other Californians with access to millions in financing for safe, affordable clean energy and climate resiliency upgrades

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Feb. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkeley welcomed Ygrene Energy Fund's award-winning YgreneWorks™ PACE (property assessed clean energy) program to help home and business owners finance a broad range of energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation upgrades. To date, Ygrene has been selected by 320+ cities and counties across California and Florida, making it the nation's leading multi-state residential and commercial PACE provider.

YgreneWorks for Berkeley

Berkeley joins 46 fellow Bay Area cities in adopting Ygrene's PACE program and, in doing so, continues Ygrene's rapid expansion in the region and state, owing to its strong commitment to customer protections and service excellence. With nearly $26M in completed projects throughout cities in the Bay Area, YgreneWorks is enabling property owners in the region to install eligible upgrades such as solar systems, energy efficient windows and doors, heating and air conditioning, cool roofs, and more.

"By bringing this program to Berkeley, we look forward to increasing access to residential and commercial energy efficiency and renewable energy projects," said Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington. "Ygrene's PACE program continues our city's long history of promoting sustainability, with the added benefit of saving property owners money, and increasing the value of their properties."

Reliable, Accessible Financing for 23M+ Californians

Ygrene is a leader when it comes to safe, transparent PACE financing with a high level of commitment to customer protections. From application through approval, construction, project completion and funding, Ygrene's customer protection policies ensure California's consumers are supported every step of the way through their contractor training and certification process, underwriting criteria, consumer disclosures, data security and senior protection policies. For more information, view or download Ygrene's Customer Assurance and Protections.

"As the nation's highest-rated PACE program, YgreneWorks has now opened access to critical property upgrades to over 23 million residents of the Golden State," said Rocco Fabiano, President and CEO of Ygrene Energy Fund. "We are proud to have Berkeley join nearby service areas throughout the Bay Area, as well as 224 other California communities of home and small business owners benefitting from Ygrene's innovative clean energy financing."

Horton will lead the end-to-end customer lifecycle as Proterra triples production and initiates large-scale deployments across North America

BURLINGAME, Calif., Feb. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, announced that Matt Horton has been named the chief commercial officer. In his new role, Horton will oversee the end-to-end customer lifecycle for the rapidly growing number of municipal, university and commercial transit agencies deploying Proterra's zero-emission, battery-electric buses throughout North America. Expanding upon his former role as senior vice president of sales and marketing, Horton will manage the overall customer experience, facilitate product development needs, drive sales and fleet deployments, spearhead marketing initiatives and ensure that Proterra's customers from coast to coast achieve the maximum benefits of clean, quiet, battery-electric transit.

"As the world wakes up to the economic, environmental and performance benefits of battery-electric transportation, I couldn't be prouder to represent a company like Proterra that has cemented its place at the forefront of heavy-duty EV innovation," said Matt Horton, chief commercial officer at Proterra. "On the heels of a truly exceptional 2016, I'm looking forward to connecting with new customers and supporting existing customers like Seattle's King County Metro, Southern California's Foothill Transit and others as they achieve their 100 percent zero-emission fleet goals."

Since joining Proterra in 2014, Horton has helped establish the company as the leading innovator in the electric mass transportation industry. In 2016 alone, Horton helped Proterra achieve more than 225 percent sales growth, a number that is expected to continue to grow in 2017 as the company expands in different infrastructure categories like airports, universities, corporate enterprises, national parks and ski resorts. Prior to joining Proterra, Matt was the CEO of Propel Fuels, one of the leading distributors of alternative fuels, which provided him with a wealth of experience and expertise in energy technology that he has applied to Proterra's strategy since day one.

"Thanks in large part to Matt's efforts, Proterra has emerged as an integrated, customer-focused organization dedicated to helping transit agencies, commercial enterprises and other institutions across North America transition successfully to clean, quiet, electric transit solutions," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "As we continue to build momentum toward a future of zero-emission transit technology, Matt will play an indispensable role in supporting our customers, driving additional growth and ensuring the procurement process continues to move seamlessly from sales to deployment."

A clean energy evangelist, Venza has dedicated her career to helping innovators attract capital, customers, and mind share

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, at its annual awards ceremony in New York City, PR News announced that Caroline Venza, founder and CEO of MissionCTRL Communications (mc²), has been selected as one of its Top Women in PR. Honorees were judged by a blue-chip panel of corporate, agency, nonprofit, and academic executives and evaluated on creativity, innovation, and proven success that aligns with end goals. This year counted one of the highest submissions to date.

Over the last two decades, Caroline Venza's work as a clean energy evangelist has played an integral part in advancing the growing energy ecosystem. She has steered clients through successful IPOs, M&As, fund raises, product launches, pilot programs, branding efforts and all stages in between. After leading cleantech communication programs for more than 15 years, Venza founded mc², a strategic shop for early-and mid-stage companies, in 2013. She is a frequent speaker and moderator on energy issues and serves on the advisory boards of The Center for Carbon Removal and SXSW Eco.

"Whether it's innovation in food tech, autonomous mobility, machine learning or fintech, I usually find that Caroline and her team are at the center of the action," said Brook Porter, Senior Partner, Kleiner Perkins' Green Growth Fund. "As we support young companies leading new markets in sustainable ways, that ability and agility has made Caroline a trusted ally."

"One of the biggest challenges we face at Proterra is changing long-held perceptions that slow our transition to a clean transportation future, and Caroline and the mc² team have been instrumental in helping us make that vision a reality," said Ryan Popple, CEO, Proterra.

Operating at the intersection of science and technology, mc² is a strategic communications firm focused on the incredible innovations happening in energy, finance, materials and mobility. In 2016, its portfolio clients won prestigious accolades including the World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneer and the Edison Awards, graced the pages of Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes, New York Times, and closed $500+ million in new capital.

"I've been very lucky in my career to work with some of the most talented and inspiring minds in the world," said Venza. "Thank you, PR News, for this award and to all the clients, journalists and teammates working together to create a stronger, more resilient future."

Accelerates Silicon Joule™ commercialization for advanced high power battery designs

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Gridtential Inc., an innovator in low-cost, high-performance energy storage technologies, today announced it has completed a $6 million fundraise with strategic investors from some of the world's largest battery suppliers and distributors. New investors include East Penn Manufacturing, the world's largest single-site, lead-acid battery facility; Crown Battery Manufacturing, a leader in deep-cycle applications; Leoch International, the largest lead acid battery exporter in China, and Power-Sonic Inc., a global specialty battery distributor.

Gridtential's Silicon Joule™ technology is a novel breakthrough that replaces the lead grid inside a traditional lead battery with a plated silicon wafer similar to a solar cell. This approach translates to performance levels that match or exceed lithium-ion battery performance in many high power, medium energy and deep cycling applications, with significant cost, safety and recycling advantages. Gridtential is licensing the technology and building out its drop-in specialty Silicon wafer supply, enabling manufacturing partners to easily adapt their existing highly productive factories to provide high performing 12V to 48V batteries to their customers, without gigascale capital investments. The added funds will support further cost reductions and scaling of manufacturing processes to deliver 12 to 48V batteries, which can be one-third lighter than existing advanced lead batteries with performance up to 5x in power density.

With combined 2016 revenues exceeding $4 billion, this innovative group of battery industry manufacturers has been working jointly with Gridtential for four years to validate the potential of Silicon-Joule batteries. In that time, Gridtential has eclipsed its performance targets, providing demonstrations of the Silicon Joule technology with 6 partners in over 250 batteries. The results of those pilots showed an overall 2-5x cycle life improvement and demonstrated a scalable assembly method.

"East Penn continues to explore advanced battery technologies, and the company strongly believes that lead-based solutions will play a significant role in powering future needs," said Kevin Smith, East Penn's VP of Technology. "The remarkable strides that Gridtential has made in demonstrating advancements from a traditional lead-battery design, help prove that East Penn's lead battery beliefs are well founded. The company is excited to explore Silicon Joule technology, along with our other technology partners, in order to further support our customers and the industry's growth in vehicle electrification and grid storage optimization."

"Lead-acid batteries are the most cost-effective, safest form of energy storage -- and they're more recyclable than an aluminum can," said Hal Hawk, President and CEO of Crown Battery Manufacturing. "Now, they're even better, because Gridtential's new technology combines the safety, recyclability, and ROI of lead-acid batteries with up to 5X greater power density, lighter weight, and more than double the lifespan."

"We are very excited about the potential for the Gridtential technology, and the advantages it can provide our customers. It will take lead acid battery performance and life up to the next level," said Shawn Peng, Leoch International's VP of Technology.

Gridtential is focused on applications ranging from 48V automotive hybrid and grid storage to back-up power for cloud computing, material handling equipment and many others. The 48V battery market for hybrid vehicles alone represents a $30 billion opportunity worldwide. While 12V electrical systems are straining to supply the power demanded by amenities and mechanical operations in contemporary car and truck models, 48V systems provide more than enough energy to support a variety of hybrid automotive features, such as stop-start energy regeneration and engine shut-off at higher speeds. Gridtential's proprietary Silicon Joule battery technology will not only significantly reduce the cost barrier to create these systems, it will ensure that these high-performance hybrid vehicles achieve the best fuel economy possible.

"An investment like this from such a highly respected group of global battery producers is significant in two respects. First, it underscores our investors' confidence that our licensable silicon-based bi-polar technology can change the game for advanced lead battery makers, giving them a competitive edge in the highest growth markets," said Ray Kubis, Gridtential Chairman. "Second, it is an efficient contrast to the large capital sums going into lithium. Rather than spending our time and efforts on continuous fund raising, we've chosen a capital-light path with an existing global network of suppliers that will swiftly exceed gigascale production of advanced lead-based batteries to meet rapidly growing application demand."

"This new influx of funding will allow Gridtential to expand support for its manufacturing partners and bolster R&D as we continue to identify new, industry-changing applications for our Silicon Joule technology," said Christiaan Beekhuis, Gridtential CEO. "With help from our new strategic partners, we'll now focus on refining our advanced, high-power designs, scaling up the silicon supply chain without driving up costs, and automating the assembly process to rival speeds familiar to high-volume producers of advanced lead-based batteries."

Partnering with J.P. Morgan and securing new and diverse investment interest

BURLINGAME, Calif., Jan. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, today announced that it has raised $140 million in a Series 5 round. Proterra partnered with J.P. Morgan to close the equity funding, which was led by $40 million from an undisclosed investor, an additional $60 million from several new investors, and joined by existing board level investors Tao Capital Partners, Kleiner Perkins, GM Ventures, Constellation Technology Ventures, 88 Green Ventures, Edison Energy, Inc. and others. This growth equity financing signals an accelerated manufacturing phase for Proterra, as the company doubles production to meet growing customer demand across the United States.

The investment and increased valuation reflect the recent accomplishments of the Proterra team and its goal to set the gold standard for industry firsts in innovation. In September 2016, its engineering team unveiled what is now the world's most efficient battery system for heavy-duty transportation, offering a 350-mile nominal range in the new Catalyst E2 Series, capable of executing any typical U.S. mass transit route on a single charge. In addition, the company's 2016 sales awards more than doubled from 2015.

"2016 was an exceptional year for Proterra, and the future growth of this company looks just as promising as it hits a tipping point with transit agencies who are embracing the pivot from diesel- and CNG-powered buses to zero emission mass transit," said Rob Johnson, chairman of the Proterra board of directors and a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. "Proterra's new Catalyst E2 Series represents the first direct replacement for fossil-fueled buses. It is more cost-effective, offers positive public health and environmental benefits and simply outperforms diesel." 

With $140 million of new capital, Proterra will dramatically accelerate production capacity on both coasts, while continuing to develop its next generation of heavy-duty electric vehicle products. Proterra aims to increase production in its East Coast facility, located in Greenville, South Carolina, by 300 percent and initiate production in its City of Industry facility in Los Angeles County. Combined, the facilities will more efficiently serve customers around the U.S. Proterra will hire key personnel in Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, and Greenville to support production growth, as well as implement new manufacturing equipment and systems.

"The size of the round and the diversity of our investors reflects what we're seeing around the world as institutions and businesses divest from fossil fuels," said Ryan Popple, Proterra CEO. "We thank our existing investors for their support and welcome our new investors as we continue to deliver on the promise of a cleaner future for all communities."

List Recognizes the Top Private Companies in Clean Technology

WINNIPEG, Manitoba & SHAKOPEE, Minnesota--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, today announced it was named in the prestigious 2017 Global Cleantech 100, produced by CTG (Cleantech Group), whose work keeps its audiences and clients in touch with emerging trends, leading innovation companies and all key players in sustainable innovation.

The Global Cleantech 100 represents the most innovative and promising ideas impacting the future of a wide-range of industries. Featuring companies that are best positioned to solve tomorrow’s clean technology challenges, the Global Cleantech 100 is a comprehensive list of private companies with the highest potential to make significant market impact within a 5-10 year timeframe.

"We are honored to be recognized on the Global Cleantech 100 list as we continue to set the standard for sustainable technology innovation in agriculture,” said Wade Barnes, President & CEO of Farmers Edge. “Our growers across Brazil, Eastern Europe, Australia, the U.S. and Canada are now seeing the same increase in outputs, profits and efficiency that digitization strategies have yielded in other industries, and we’re proud to be playing a driving role in the creation of these thriving, global ecosystems.”

This list is collated by combining proprietary CTG research data, with weighted qualitative judgments from hundreds of nominations, and specific inputs from a global 86-person Expert Panel. To qualify for the list, companies must be independent, for-profit, cleantech companies that are not listed on any major stock exchange.

This year, a record number of nominations were received: 9,900 distinct companies from 77 countries. These companies were weighted and scored to create a short list of 325 companies. Short-listed nominees were reviewed by CTG’s Expert Panel, resulting in a finalized list of 100 companies from 17 countries.

The 86-member expert panel was drawn equally from leading financial investors and representatives of multi-national corporations and industrials active in technology and innovation scouting across Asia, Europe, and North America. The composition of the expert panel broadly represents the global cleantech community, from pioneers and leaders to veterans and new entrants. The diversity of panelists results in a list of companies that command an expansive base of respect and support from many important players within the global cleantech innovation ecosystem.

“From day one, the purpose of the Global Cleantech 100 program was to act as our barometric read on how the many facets that contribute to the emergence and maturing of an innovation theme like cleantech (the “doing of more with less”) are changing year on year,” said Richard Youngman, CEO, CTG (Cleantech Group). “Now in its 8th year, we see more signals this year of the ongoing mainstreaming of clean technologies, sustainability, and resource efficiency on its journey towards the point where this is just the normal way business is done.”

The complete list of 100 companies was revealed on January 23rd at the 15th annual Cleantech Forum San Francisco: https://i3connect.com/gct100/the-list
For complete information on the Farmers Edge leadership within the cleantech space, access i3 by visiting i3connect.com—CTG’s leading market intelligence platform—and search for Farmers Edge.
The list is accompanied by a full report with commentary and insight on the 2017 Global Cleantech 100—authored by CTG, powered by data from i3, and sponsored by Chubb. Download the report at: http://info.cleantech.com/GlobalCleantech100Report2017_GCT100Report2017Submit.html
The complete list of Global Cleantech 100 Expert Panel members is available at https://i3connect.com/gct100/panelist

In an industry first, Lagunitas installs Cambrian’s onsite EcoVolt® solution at no upfront cost

Boston, MA and Azusa, CA – December 7, 2016 – Cambrian Innovation, a commercial provider of distributed wastewater treatment and resource recovery solutions for industrial facilities, today announced that one of the nation’s fastest growing craft breweries, Lagunitas Brewing Company, will be the first to use Cambrian’s novel water-energy purchase agreement (WEPA). Under the WEPA, a first for the industrial wastewater treatment industry, Cambrian will leverage its award-winning EcoVolt® product suite to bring Lagunitas onsite wastewater treatment and renewable energy generation as a service. At zero money down, and with Cambrian monetizing all environmental benefits, the WEPA will save the brewery a projected $22.5 million over its lifecycle.

Since 2014, Lagunitas has utilized an EcoVolt solution to perform onsite wastewater treatment, water reuse, and clean energy recovery at its facility in Petaluma, CA. Now, leveraging Cambrian’s novel WEPA and EcoVolt technology, Lagunitas’s newest Azusa brewery, slated to open in early 2018, will be capable of producing an estimated 300,000 gallons of recycled water per day, over 2,300,000 kWh per year of gross renewable electricity, and 130,000 therms per year of gross renewable heat, for a simple monthly fee. As the brewery increases production at the Azusa facility to over one million barrels per year, it will look to Cambrian to treat increased wastewater flows through the installation of additional EcoVolt modules.

“We are in an exciting time at Lagunitas. The new brewery at Azusa, and the addition of an EcoVolt solution, will allow us to expand our production capacity and keep up with demand,” said Lagunitas CFO, Leon Sharyon. “With the WEPA, we’re able to maintain our high level of commitment to sustainable water and energy use, while decreasing our utility costs. Cambrian will be our partner in managing wastewater treatment, allowing us to focus all of our time and energy on what we love most – brewing beer.”

To date, the craft beer and wine industries have treated 15,000,000 gallons of wastewater and reclaimed 3,000,000 gallons of recycled water while producing renewable energy for onsite use with Cambrian’s EcoVolt solutions, dramatically reducing CO2 emissions. As the drought becomes more acute in key markets, the WEPA will help industrial water users stabilize monthly operational costs amidst growing water market volatility. The WEPA deal offers Lagunitas immediate savings and represents a powerful model for the food and beverage industry to continue to scale while becoming more resilient to uncertain water market conditions in the future.

“We’re delighted to have the opportunity to work with Lagunitas on this exciting project. With the WEPA, we make it our business to convert their wastewater streams into clean energy and clean water, leveraging the unique capabilities of our modular EcoVolt product suite,” said Cambrian Innovation

Founder and CEO, Matthew Silver. “One of the most instrumental aspects of solar energy’s widespread adoption was the introduction of renewable power as a service, which allows customers to purchase solar electricity rather than solar panels. The WEPA is akin to solar’s power purchase agreement (PPA), helping industrial producers generate renewable resources from their wastewater streams with zero money down and zero ownership and operational risk. The WEPA will help Cambrian Innovation reach more customers and provide higher benefits, in support of our vision to reshape the industrial water infrastructure in the 21st century.”

68% of respondents cite increased responsibility for their buildings' energy consumption, compared to 2015

OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MACH Energy, a leading provider of energy and water management software services and solutions, today announced the results of its annual research survey on best practices in building management in commercial real estate (CRE). Nearly 700 building professionals responded this year, providing input on a range of topics including: the significance of factors like tenant comfort, benchmarking requirements and ENERGY STAR in their overall decisions, as well as increasing pressures and concerns in 2017. The full results of this year's survey can be viewed here: http://contact.machenergy.com/industry-report-2016/

"Each year we conduct one of the largest annual surveys of building professionals to determine how energy management solutions (EMS) translate in the overall operation of buildings and what trends are emerging," said Wei-En Tan, VP of Research at MACH Energy. "It's our goal not only to gauge if we're seeing a shift from legacy building management systems (BMS) towards lighter footprint EMS solutions, but to provide the industry with more information and transparency on the current state of energy management implementation."

To obtain specific insight into operations and best practices, including frequency, diversity of methods, and tactics employed to run commercial buildings, MACH Energy targeted segments with buildings of 50,000+ square feet, in the commercial multi and single tenant offices, corporate facilities, government, retail and residential sectors. 

Key takeaways include:

• 27% increase in overall industry awareness of the benefits of EMS
• 47% of respondents picked energy costs as their main reason for utilizing EMS
• 35% cited management and ownership pressure to focus on operational optimization and cost reduction of existing buildings
• 45% reported an interest in tenant billing, a 16% increase from 2015
• 67% cited "intuitive to use" when asked to note their favorite features of EMS, which was followed by "reducing energy" and "real time monitoring," each at 59%

ENERGY STAR supplanted LEED as a top priority, likely due to possible changes in the former that may result in lower building scores once implemented "Last year we saw widespread confusion in the industry, with over 70% of respondents indicating that they did not understand the difference between BMS and EMS," said Jon Moeller, President and CEO of MACH Energy. "Given the vast nature of energy consumption in CRE, we're encouraged to see an increased awareness this year in energy efficiency and in the potential savings associated with reduced consumption from solutions like EMS."

SHAKOPEE, Manitoba and ALBERT, Kan, December 6, 2016–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, announced today it has partnered with Great Plains Precision Ag, Inc. (GPPA), one of the foremost precision agriculture service providers in the Central Great Plains region of the United States. With customers spanning across 250,000 acres in Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, GPPA has cultivated its reputation as a trusted agricultural advisor by equipping Great Plains growers with leading precision technologies. Now, through this partnership, GPPA growers will have access to Farmers Edge Precision Solutions™ , an integrated platform that combines hardware, software, Variable Rate Technology and “boots on the ground” support to ensure the most productive and profitable farming possible.

The topographical variability of the U.S. Great Plains has already prompted many regional growers to adopt Variable Rate Technology, but other critical precision tools – such as zone soil sampling, on-farm weather stations, and highly accurate agronomic recommendations – have been largely underutilized. Working with Farmers Edge, GPPA will introduce their customer base to a wide array of these innovative technologies. By creating localized production zones and Precision Profit Maps™, GPPA growers will have access to the right data to support farm management decisions on a zone-by-zone basis and will be able to benchmark performance from season to season, a crucial benefit amid a global agriculture market afflicted by low commodity prices.

“GPPA has been providing first-rate, data-enabled agronomic solutions since our inception, but this new partnership with Farmers Edge will ensure that we’re a ‘one-stop shop’ for growers seeking to maximize their yields through precision ag services,” said Michael Bahr, President of GPPA. “Our customers manage some of the most economically vital farmland in the United States, and Farmers Edge will allow them to achieve peak productivity while optimizing resource inputs and cutting costs.”

Today, the Farmers Edge Precision Solutions™ platform will be available to GPPA’s entire customer base. Easily integrated with growers’ existing equipment and programs, Precision Solutions is a comprehensive turnkey system that includes: Variable Rate Technology, soil sampling and analysis, field-centric weather, in-field telematics and data transfer, high-resolution satellite imagery, field-centric data analytics, access to FarmCommand™ – an integrated farm management system – and a network of highly experienced, trusted advisors.

“As demand spikes for precision ag services throughout the U.S., we’re proud to join forces with GPPA to bring the most cost-effective, easy-to-use, and innovative agricultural technologies to growers throughout the Central Great Plains,” said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. “Fundamentally, our vision is to bring a whole-farm precision network to as many growers as possible at the lowest price possible, and GPPA will be an instrumental partner for us as we continue to bring our services to growers in the U.S.”

MissionCTRL Communications (mc²) Congratulates Lauren Burke

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 6, 2016 -- Today, at its annual awards ceremony in Washington D.C., PR News announced that Lauren Burke, mc² senior director, has been selected as one of its 30 and Under Rising PR Stars. Honorees were judged by a blue-chip panel of corporate, agency, nonprofit and academic executives, and evaluated on creativity, innovation, and proven success that aligns with end goals. This year counted one of the highest submissions to date.

For the last several years, Burke has been advocating for sustainable businesses and designing campaigns to drive market change. A graduate of UC Berkeley, former Peace Corps volunteer and contributor to publications like Huffington Post, she plays a vital role at mc². In an industry ripe with world-class innovators and competitors, Burke is a standout, communicating complex and emerging business models and winning accolades and credibility for mc² portfolio clients. 

"The environmental problems the world faces are awesome in scope, but I am grateful to work alongside a talented team and inspiring clients that share an ambition to forge a more sustainable path," said Lauren Burke. "I believe one of the greatest aspects of working at mc² is collaborating with individuals who are motivated to solve big infrastructure problems in energy, water, and transportation."

mc² is a specialty communications firm operating at the intersection of energy, finance, materials and mobility. In the last 12 months, its portfolio clients have won prestigious accolades including the World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneer and Edison awards, graced the pages of Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes, New York Times and closed close to $300 million in funding.

"You are such an important and valued part of our team, Lauren, and we're so very proud of you," said mc² CEO, Caroline Venza. "Thank you, PR News, for acknowledging Lauren's incredible body of work in what we believe is one of the most important sectors today."

Electrification Project aims to boost local air quality and demonstrate benefits of Proterra's zero-emission battery-electric buses

BURLINGAME, Calif., Nov. 16, 2016 -- Today, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) awarded funding to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) to deploy 15 Proterra Catalyst® buses, 11 Proterra depot-chargers, and 4 Proterra fast-chargers in order to improve local air quality and public health in disadvantaged communities throughout the San Joaquin Valley.

Proterra will deploy its buses and charging stations throughout the Valley, including the City of Visalia Transit Division, Fresno County Rural Transit Agency, California State University Fresno, San Joaquin Regional Transit District and City of Modesto Transit Services – helping to significantly reduce harmful emissions and clean the air in the San Joaquin Valley.

• Matt Rodriquez, California Secretary for Environmental Protection: "This project demonstrates how California's leadership in clean-vehicle innovation is benefiting all Californians. These zero-emission buses will be built in California and driven in California, cleaning the air and serving the public transit needs of disadvantaged communities up and down the San Joaquin Valley."                
• Samir Sheikh, Deputy Air Pollution Control Officer of the SJVAPCD: "In the last 22 years, we have implemented voluntary incentive programs that have resulted in more than 134,000 tons of emission reductions. We are particularly proud of projects like this one with Proterra as they accelerate the deployment of zero-emission heavy-duty technologies, which reduces emissions from mobile sources, the biggest air quality challenge facing the Valley. We expect this program will eliminate 1.592 tons per year of weighted criteria pollutants."                                                        
• Mary D. Nichols, CARB Chair: "The state's investment of proceeds from the cap-and-trade program for made-in-California electric buses is a smart move. It generates new clean tech jobs right here in our state and helps replace dirty buses – that generate high levels of pollution – with buses that have no tailpipe emissions at all. This investment supports the market for larger zero-emission vehicles, cuts greenhouse gases, and delivers cleaner air where it is most needed: disadvantaged communities throughout the San Joaquin Valley."

CARB's investment from the highly competitive Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Pilot Program will create advanced technology hubs and provide direct economic, environmental and public health benefits to disadvantaged Valley communities while serving as a regional model that supports economies of scale in manufacturing, training, maintenance, and vehicle-to-grid integration. The Valley-wide electrification project will further help drive down vehicle costs and offer immediate opportunities for shared infrastructure, spare parts, and workforce training. Opportunities for technology transfer will also help drive additional deployments of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle technologies throughout California and North America.

Proterra will manufacture the buses and charging infrastructure at its newest facility in Southern California, which was partially funded by the California Energy Commission. Proterra's City of Industry manufacturing facility was built to meet the growing demand for zero-emission buses throughout the Western United States, and will ensure close collaboration and ease of maintenance for San Joaquin Valley communities during the 12-year vehicle lifespan. 

"Faced with climbing populations and increased socioeconomic stratification, urban ecosystems are being pressured to renovate their transportation networks to meet the needs of all residents – marginalizing none and prioritizing all," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "We are pleased to be working with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District on democratizing electric mobility, bringing state-of-the-art technology to the residents of the Central Valley."

Expanded contractor network and affordable financing is democratizing solar

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Nov. 16, 2016 --  Ygrene Energy Fund, Inc., the leading provider of residential, multifamily and commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing and Soligent, the largest pure play solar distributor in the U.S., today announced a strategic agreement to expand services and increase access to affordable materials and solar financing. The partnership provides participating contractors access to Soligent's Tier 1 pricing and credit lines, enabling them to offer property owners quality solar equipment with industry beating prices and no money down, 100% financing through the YgreneWorksTM PACE program.

"Even with today's competitive solar pricing, most people are still unable to afford the up-front, out-of-pocket cost of solar, so increasing access to affordable financing is critical to market growth," said Jonathan Doochin, Soligent CEO. "Our partnership with Ygrene expands financing and credit access to thousands of installers, dramatically expanding the options that many Americans will have to own affordable, clean energy, starting now."

Ygrene provides 100% financing for property owners to deploy solar, energy efficiency, water conservation and climate resiliency upgrades to their buildings through their award winning YgreneWorks PACE program. A competitive alternative to credit-based financing with typically lower payments, PACE financing can be paid over a longer period of time—up to 30 years on Solar Panels and Solar PV Systems in many areas. Serving 319 cities and counties in California and Florida, Ygrene has completed contracts for over $612 million in climate resilient property upgrades, resulting in an estimated 38.3 megawatts of solar installed, $1.5 billion in economic stimulus, 9,185 new jobs created and sustained, and over 734K metric tons of CO2 reduced. 

"As the United States continues its transition to clean energy, we are proud to offer innovative financial solutions and leverage partnerships that accelerate this transformation by creating the best value for property owners," said Mark Colby, Ygrene's General Manager of Solar & Storage. "This partnership with Soligent helps Ygrene take a leading position with contractors, enabling them to provide the most compelling solar solutions for their customers."

Ygrene's securitization offers geographic and property diversification, including residential and commercial PACE assets in California and Florida

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Nov. 15, 2016 -- In tandem with the close of a $145 million private securitization, Ygrene Energy Fund, Inc., the leading national provider of residential, multifamily and commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, today announced a $184 million public securitization with the industry's first AAA rated PACE assets. Designated Green Bond-1 by Moody's Investor Services, the deal included $179.482 million in class A notes and $4.995 million in class B notes, with the A and B notes rated AAA and A by Morningstar and AA and BBB by Kroll, respectively. The collateral pool was comprised of residential and commercial assets from over 6,000 California properties and over 1,500 Florida properties, demonstrating the first public securitization to encompass multiple states as well as property types.

"We saw exceptional demand for this deal, with both A and B notes being oversubscribed," said Rasool Alizadeh, Ygrene's Senior Director of Capital Markets & Asset Backed Securities. "The diversity of our product offering and geographies helped attract a broad range of investors that we look forward to working with as we expand this asset class."

The two-tranche deal, Ygrene's first public securitization and third overall, achieved a noteworthy 99.7% advance rate, adding to Ygrene's capital liquidity as the company plans to launch in at least two new states next year. The ABS was structured in conjunction with Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. and syndicated out to a broad group of investors comprised of asset managers and large insurance companies.

"PACE has gained critical traction over the past few years, and we're pleased to work with industry leaders like Ygrene to advance this valuable asset class," said Kevin Tanzer, Managing Director at Deutsche Bank.

"Achieving the first AAA rating speaks to Ygrene's novel product offering, and the propitious future of PACE assets," said Michael Chan, CFO of Ygrene Energy Fund. "The structure of this deal can serve as a model for the PACE industry as it matures."

Approved by local municipalities, Ygrene provides 100% financing for property owners to deploy energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and climate resiliency upgrades to their buildings through their award winning YgreneWorksTM PACE program. This securitization will fund approximately 7,500 energy and water conservation projects, providing home and business owners with over $360 million in estimated savings on energy and water bills, and eliminating over 216K metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.

"This deal is not just an industry first, but an important achievement for all the communities PACE serves," said Stacey Lawson, CEO of Ygrene Energy Fund. "As we expand the YgreneWorks program to meet mounting market demand, we're pleased to help bring down financial barriers, and provide an affordable solution that benefits all homeowners."

Ygrene's securitization offers geographic and property diversification, including residential and commercial PACE assets in California and Florida

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Nov. 15, 2016 -- Ygrene Energy Fund, Inc., the leading provider of residential, multifamily and commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, today announced the completion of a $145 million private securitization transaction with strategic insurance partner, Global Atlantic Financial Group, by issuing privately rated Class A notes. The transaction is the company's second securitization to combine both residential and commercial assets in multiple states, including California and Florida.

Authorized by local municipalities, Ygrene provides 100% financing for property owners to deploy energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and climate resiliency upgrades to their buildings through their award winning YgreneWorksTM PACE program. Currently approved in over 319 cities and counties across California, Florida, Georgia, and Missouri, Ygrene offers the only PACE program with repayment terms of up to 30 years, resulting in lower monthly payments and potentially making even the most expensive upgrades affordable.

This securitization funds approximately 6,041 energy and water conservation projects, providing home and business owners with over $290 million in estimated savings on energy and water bills, and eliminating over 174,000 metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.

"We are excited to complete our second private PACE securitization with Global Atlantic," said Ygrene CEO, Stacey Lawson. "By combining residential and commercial assets in multiple states, we are able to offer a powerful tool that will help property owners across the country save energy and money, communities meet their environment goals and create local jobs, and ensure a high quality return for investors."

Since Ygrene's inception in 2010, thousands of home and business owners have utilized this simple and affordable PACE financing mechanism to improve the value of their properties and to save on their energy and water bills. Ygrene has approved over $2.07 billion in water conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resiliency improvements, and has completed projects representing an estimated 8,679 local jobs and $1.4 billion in annual economic stimulus for local communities.

"The successful closing of this securitization, along with the high rating and advance rate, reinforces the growing understanding by ratings agencies and investors of the strength and security of the PACE asset class," said Michael Chan, Ygrene CFO. "It's a very exciting time for Ygrene and the PACE industry as a whole. I expect this trend to continue as we build strong, long term relationships with strategic investors."

Ygrene's PACE program has won a number of national and international awards including the 2012 Edison Award for Best Clean Energy Finance Model, the Climate Change Business Journal Innovation Award, and a Business Excellence Award from Richard Branson's Carbon War Room presented at Rio+20. Ygrene has also been selected as a "financial ally" by the Better Buildings Challenge, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Mezzanine facility is ideal vehicle for expanding PACE origination and achieving 2017 growth projections

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Nov. 10, 2016 -- Ygrene Energy Fund, the leading national provider of residential, commercial and multifamily property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing announced today it has secured a $30 million financing facility from the New Energy Capital Infrastructure Credit Fund and related funds which are managed and advised by New Energy Capital Partners, a leading investor in clean infrastructure real assets. This capital will be instrumental in achieving 2017 growth projections and brings the company's PACE asset financing capacity to $280 million.

"This financing will support the growth of Ygrene's PACE programs nationally," said Ian Marcus, Principal at New Energy Capital Partners. "We are very happy to be working with Ygrene on this financing and are pleased to begin what we see as a long-term relationship."

"It's great to be working with such a thoughtful and experienced partner like New Energy Capital, which has deep expertise in the renewable asset class," said Michael Chan, Ygrene CFO. "As we look to meet and exceed our growth targets over the next 12 months, we look forward to expanding and deepening our relationship with the New Energy Capital team."

To date, Ygrene has been approved by 319 cities and counties across California, Florida, Georgia, and Missouri, and completed projects across multiple states for over $612 million in property upgrades, representing an estimated $1.5 billion in economic stimulus and 9,186 new jobs created and sustained for local communities.

"With the support of New Energy Capital, we've created an ideal vehicle, combined with our syndicated warehouse facility, for scaling our origination of PACE projects," said Stacey Lawson, Ygrene CEO. "This financing is a critical component of our growth strategy as we expand into additional markets this coming year."

Patrick Fox, Partner at New Energy Capital Partners said, "We are thrilled to be working with Ygrene, they have an outstanding management team with an extensive track record of success.  We're pleased to have the opportunity to support them."

About New Energy Capital Partners
New Energy Capital Partners is a private equity firm that invests in projects and companies in the renewable power, alternative fuels, energy efficiency and renewable resource markets, focusing on the deployment of proven technologies in highly structured transactions. NECP manages the New Energy Capital Cleantech Infrastructure Fund and the New Energy Capital Infrastructure Credit Fund. NECP is based in Hanover, New Hampshire and has offices in Boston, Massachusetts and Denver, Colorado.

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading provider of residential, multifamily and commercial property assessed clean energy financing. The award-winning, privately funded YgreneWorks program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront payments for energy efficiency, renewables, water conservation, and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for property owners to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs and invest billions of dollars into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Coming to a neighborhood near you: A recycled truck that recycles the waste

SONOMA COUNTY, Calif., Nov. 2, 2016 -- Today, at a press conference held in Sonoma County, Wrightspeed, the leading manufacturer of range-extended electric vehicle (REV) powertrains for heavy-duty applications, and The Ratto Group, a Santa Rosa-based refuse, yard waste and recycling collection and processing company, unveiled a new era for the global refuse and transportation industries: the first commercial application of a range-extended electric refuse truck.

With the support of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, communities in Sonoma and surrounding counties will be serviced by a fleet of clean, quiet trucks from The Ratto Group, powered by Wrightspeed's award-winning, range-extended powertrain, The Route™. Designed to deliver economic, environmental and performance benefits in both OEM-installed new vehicles and existing fleet retrofits, The Route is a scalable solution that has been recognized by The State of California for its ability to help meet progressive climate and air quality mandates. Wrightspeed was awarded $7M in grants by the California Energy Commission to further develop the technology for broad-based adoption.

After brief comments from Sonoma County Chairman of the Board, Efren Carrillo, Chief Operating Officer of The Ratto Group, Lou Ratto, and Founder and CEO of Wrightspeed, Ian Wright, attendees had the opportunity to see Sonoma County's elected officials ride & drive in the first Wrightspeed-retrofitted, commercial vehicle, a Freightliner Condor, Class 8 refuse truck.

"Today is a milestone for Sonoma County in terms of improving local air quality and upholding environmental standards," said the Sonoma County Chairman of the Board, Efren Carrillo. "As a government entity, we have led with innovative programs to reduce greenhouse gases, from the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program, to Sonoma Clean Power and Evergreen, to a nationally recognized Green Fleet, and the Water Agency's Carbon Free Water program, and our Regional Climate Protection Authority. Sonoma County citizens have shown their high interest and support for innovative solutions that benefit our greenhouse gas reduction goals. We applaud Wrightspeed and The Ratto Group for their commitment to innovation and for blazing a path for the future of solid and compostable waste, as well as recycling in Sonoma County and beyond."

The Ratto Group's fleet of refuse, recycling and compostable yard waste trucks services over 140,000 customers in Sonoma County, Mariposa County, the City of Novato, and West Marin. After today's unveiling, Ratto and Wrightspeed will roll out more than 15 Route-equipped trucks over the next 12 months to meet community needs.

"In a business that puts a premium on re-use, this represents the ultimate in recycling. We're literally recycling the recycling truck," said Lou Ratto, Chief Operating Officer of The Ratto Group. "By integrating Wrightspeed's powertrains into our existing commercial fleet, we're initiating a progressive solid waste and recyclables collection strategy that will maximize the life of our vehicles, cut fuel consumption and emissions, and have a positive environmental impact on our service areas."

"As an early adopter of our powertrain technology, Lou Ratto has solidified Sonoma County as a leader in pioneering new technologies that will improve and preserve the region for future generations," said Ian Wright, Founder and CEO of Wrightspeed. "We're proud to collaborate with Lou and his team and to establish our powertrain technology as the economical and environmental choice for cleaner, quieter and more efficient communities."

About The Ratto Group

The Ratto Group is a family of companies based in Santa Rosa, California. The Ratto Group is owned by the James Ratto family which resides in Santa Rosa. James Ratto, founder, worked his way up in the refuse business beginning as a garbage loader in San Franciscoduring his teen years after immigrating from Italy.

Currently, the company employs over 300 people serving communities in several counties in Northern California. Being in the refuse and recycling business carries over to a company-wide commitment to the environment. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is recognized as an important company goal as well as a communitywide goal and benefit. Sonoma County has a population devoted to sound environmental principles and practices. The Ratto Group strives to reflect this important community value. Teaming with Wrightspeed in the electric truck venture is a real-world effort to take a major step toward reducing emissions which contribute to climate change.

About Wrightspeed Inc.

Wrightspeed Inc. is the leading manufacturer of range-extended electric vehicle powertrains for heavy-duty applications. Built on a tradition of quality systems engineering, Wrightspeed's powertrains are the next step in the evolution of vehicle propulsion. Its flagship product, the Route™ was designed to transcend commercial truck efficiency and performance, providing unlimited range and dramatically reduced fuel costs. Located in Silicon Valley, Wrightspeed was founded by Ian Wright, co-founder of Tesla Motors. For more information about Wrightspeed visit: http://wrightspeed.com/ and follow us on Twitter at @GOWrightspeed.

Comprehensive partnership helps growers to improve profitability and sustainability

WINNIPEG, Manitoba & LANIGAN, Saskatchewan--Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, announced today that it has partnered with Blair’s Family of Companies, a regional provider of innovative crop and livestock solutions. The partnership provides Blair's customers with access to an integrated platform that builds on the company’s agronomy expertise and leverages advanced, field-centric data solutions from Farmers Edge to increase productivity and yields.

Growers throughout the Canadian Prairies faced a wet harvest season this year, which caused an increase in crop disease, flooding, and poor ground conditions that drove up operation costs and risk. Now, by utilizing high-resolution imagery and data from Farmers Edge, growers can gain a highly accurate view of where moisture collects and the impact it’s had in their fields. By combining this zone-specific data with information from field-centric weather stations, which are deployed every 2,500 acres by Farmers Edge, growers can make critical, real-time decisions as they encounter challenging harvest situations, enabling more productive and profitable agriculture across the region as a whole.

“At Blair’s, ensuring lucrative and sustainable agriculture for our growers is a core tenet of our business, and Farmers Edge has become a multinational force in agribusiness by championing the same values,” said Amy Grindheim, Director of AgIntelligence at Blair’s Family of Companies. “By offering this comprehensive precision agriculture platform from Farmers Edge, we are enabling our customers to become more productive, helping them increase yields, better allocate their resources, and ultimately make their operations more sustainable.”

With the largest soil lab and real-time weather-monitoring network in the Canadian Prairies, including nearly 1,300 automated field-centric weather stations, Farmers Edge is already delivering the highest quality data to growers in one of the nation’s most important agricultural regions. Working closely with the Farmers Edge and Blair’s agronomy teams, Blair’s customers will have access to tailored prescription maps that identify production zones within the field and optimize crop inputs. Easily integrated with growers’ existing equipment and programs, the Farmers Edge Precision Solutions™ platform provides a comprehensive turnkey system that includes: Variable Rate Technology, soil sampling and analysis, field-centric weather, in-field telematics and data transfer, high-resolution satellite imagery, field-centric data analytics, access to FarmCommand™ – an integrated farm management system– and a network of highly experienced, trusted advisors.

“At a time when weather conditions like heavy rain and early snowfall assail Western Canada, decision-support data represents a particularly compelling opportunity, since it can help growers preemptively plan for these changing conditions, identify the causes of dropping yields, and maintain the highest possible margins,” said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. “In partnering with an innovative company like Blair’s, we’re supporting Canadian growers as they lead in advanced technology adoption, further solidifying the nation’s role as an agricultural powerhouse.”

About Blair’s Family of Companies

Blair’s Family of Companies is an integrated agricultural retail company with a proud tradition of providing leading edge crop nutrition, crop protection, agronomy and livestock solutions for our customers. Started near Drake, Saskatchewan in 1948, Blair’s is a fourth generation family company owned by Kevin Blair and Darren Blair. Our agriculture retail locations are currently located in the communities of Lanigan, Nokomis, Watrous, Liberty, McLean, Lipton, Strongfield and now Rosthern. Blair's is currently constructing a crop nutrients terminal and logistics facility located near Hanley, Saskatchewan.

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge™ is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm since 2005, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information about Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedge.ca

Veterans can save on YgreneWorks-eligible projects, during November

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Nov. 1, 2016 -- To honor veterans for their service this month, Ygrene Energy Fund today announced a special promotion to support veterans by financing a broad range of energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and climate resiliency upgrades to their homes. Throughout November, veterans who apply for financing through the award-winning YgreneWorks™ program will have all origination fees waived, which could result in hundreds of dollars in savings. For American veterans interested in applying, please call 855.901.3999.

"As a veteran and contractor, I'm pleased to offer the YgreneWorks program to other men and women of uniform for their valued service this month," said Nate Tomshack of 1st Light Energy in Bakersfield, CA, and a U.S. Army veteran. "The YgreneWorks program has personally enabled me to grow my business, and help customers upgrade their homes at an affordable rate."

Serving thousands of veterans across 319 cities and counties in California and Florida, Ygrene is the leading national residential, multifamily and commercial PACE provider. To date, YgreneWorks has completed contracts throughout the nation for over $578 million in property upgrades, resulting in $1.4 billion in economic stimulus and 8,675 new jobs created and sustained.

Ygrene is a leader when it comes to safe, transparent PACE financing with a high level of commitment to customer protections. Working alongside the California Mortgage Bankers Association and other PACE industry providers, Ygrene paved the way for the passing of California Assembly Bill 2693 on August 30, 2016—establishing uniform disclosures for consumers of PACE programs.  From application through approval, construction, project completion and funding, Ygrene's customer protection policies ensure consumers are supported every step of the way with its complete set of contractor certification, underwriting, consumer disclosure, data security and senior protection policies. For more information, view or download Ygrene's Customer Assurance and Protections.

"As the daughter and grand-daughter of U.S. military veterans, I couldn't be more pleased to extend this special offer to veterans as a heartfelt thank you for their service to our country," said Ygrene CEO Stacey Lawson. "Providing easier access to safer, healthier, and more comfortable homes for our veterans and their families is but a small token of our appreciation." 

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading provider of residential, multifamily and commercial property assessed clean energy financing. The award-winning, privately funded YgreneWorks program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront payments for energy efficiency, renewables, water conservation, and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for property owners to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs and invest billions of dollars into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Over 3,000 Florida properties have been retrofitted with hurricane preparedness improvements financed by the YgreneWorks PACE program

MIAMI, Oct. 20, 2016 -- With South Florida most at risk to climate-related property threats, Florida has become a pioneer in adopting preventative measures to create more resilient communities and, Ygrene Energy Fund's award winning YgreneWorks™ PACE (property assessed clean energy) program has been instrumental in that strategy. In the wake of Hurricanes Matthew and Hermine, Ygrene today announced that it has saved Florida property owners more than $13 million in hurricane-related insurance claims and premiums by financing $75 million in upgrades such as roofs and impact resistant windows and doors. In the last eight months, Ygrene has more than tripled its financing for hurricane protection measures, funding nearly $46 million in 2016 alone.

Before Hurricane Matthew came barreling up the coast, Florida residents were already bearing the brunt of property damage delivered by Hermine a month earlier. In fact, the number of water-related claims following Hermine prompted the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation to approve a range of rate increases; Miami-Dade and Broward county residents will see insurance rate increases between 9.1 and 9.9 percent. As Florida residents continue to face the threats to property associated with extreme weather and sea level rise, YgreneWorks will continue to help by providing accessible financing for the installation of seawalls as a medium of protection against storm surge, in addition to foundation strengthening measures, enabling properties to become more resilient.

YgreneWorks for Hurricane Prevention: Florida Homeowners Speak Out

Sharon Mulberry (Gainesville homeowner): "Without Ygrene's financing, I wouldn't have been able to afford a new roof before Hurricane Hermine. Upgrading my 50-year old roof right before the hurricane hit was what saved my property."  

Rasha Cameau (Miami Shores homeowner): "I am so grateful for the YgreneWorks program. Insurance rates are already acutely high in South Florida, but I was able to decrease my annual property insurance by $3,700 as a result of using the YgreneWorks program to finance a new roof and impact resistant doors and windows."    

Hermine and Matthew were wake-up calls to many Sunshine State homeowners who are turning to YgreneWorks to prepare for the next big one. Unlike traditional, credit-based financing, YgreneWorks PACE financing can offer lower payments and can be paid over a longer period of time, with terms of up to 20 years.

"As the need to protect properties from hurricane and climate related damage continues to grow, access to fast and affordable financing is essential," said Stacey Lawson, CEO of Ygrene Energy Fund. "We're here to help Florida communities address serious concerns around extreme weather in order to keep families and homes safe."

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading provider of residential, multifamily and commercial property assessed clean energy financing. The award-winning, privately funded YgreneWorks program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront payments for energy efficiency, renewables, water conservation, and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for property owners to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs and invest billions of dollars into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Ygrene is a leader when it comes to safe, transparent PACE financing with a high level of commitment to customer protections. From application through approval, construction, project completion and funding, Ygrene's customer protection policies ensure Florida's consumers are supported every step of the way with its complete set of contractor certification, underwriting, consumer disclosure, data security and senior protection policies. For more information, view or download Ygrene's Customer Assurance and Protections.

"Advanced lead batteries, especially higher voltage silicon-lead bi-polar batteries can compete with lithium batteries, and of course they are safer and fully recyclable," says Kubis

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 13, 2016 - Gridtential Inc., an innovator in low-cost, high-performance energy storage technologies, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Ray Kubis as Chairman, effective October 4th. Kubis, a 35-year veteran of the battery industry who joined the Gridtential Board in 2015, has spent his tenure assisting the Company in the commercialization and licensing of its patented Silicon Joule™ advanced battery technology. In his new role, Kubis will focus on the next phase of growth for Gridtential, as the company supports its battery manufacturing partners to rapidly expand into existing and new markets including telecom, 48V hybrid vehicles, and uninterruptible power systems (UPS).

"Ray has provided invaluable leadership to our Board and we are fortunate to be able to leverage his expertise and network as Gridtential moves into its next stage of development," said former Chairman, Roger Strauch.

"Working closely with our manufacturing partners, we've made great strides in validating the performance and life of Silicon Joule and are ready to accelerate commercialization efforts through our partners' existing supply chains," said Kubis. "Our silicon-lead bi-polar technology is well positioned to rival lithium battery performance in many existing and emerging applications."

Leveraging two mature industries – lead and silicon from the solar industry – Gridtential is able to target low costs for its 24V and 48V lead-based batteries and is licensing its Silicon Joule technology to existing battery manufacturers around the world. It is that ability to access and leverage the $40 billion lead-based battery industry, which well exceeds the manufacturing capacity of competitors like Tesla, that gives Gridtential and its growing partner base the competitive edge. Capable of being produced in existing battery factories with only moderate changes to the production lines, Silicon Joule now has a "stack and seal" manufacturing approach that will lower the cost of producing batteries even further.

"Automakers are voicing increased demand for advanced lead solutions now, so time is of the essence as we work to access the multiple market opportunities that exist today," said Gridtential CEO, Christiaan Beekhuis. "If the lead industry does not push forward faster, lithium, despite its well-publicized safety, cost and recycling challenges, may dominate those markets. Silicon Joule is a solid alternative to lithium in these applications and Gridtential is in a confident position to help our lead-based partners seize these lucrative markets."

A “factory builder” with 42 facilities under his belt, Ensign will scale production on both coasts

 Burlingame, Calif. – October 12, 2016 – Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation announced today that Josh Ensign has joined its management team as chief operating officer. A military veteran and former executive of Honeywell International and Tesla Motors, Ensign’s track record includes leading global operations for 42 factories in 15 countries and managing the supporting supply chains. Ensign will support Proterra’s next phase of strategic growth by scaling existing operations at Proterra’s Greenville, S.C. facility and bringing its Los Angeles County facility and battery manufacturing operations online in early 2017. Under Ensign’s leadership, Proterra expects to triple production in its East Coast facility and initiate production in Southern California in 2017.

“Mass transit in North America represents a $3 billion market opportunity, and my top priority will be to help Proterra establish a competitive U.S. manufacturing presence to meet market demand and to support the industry’s transition to an all-electric future,” said Josh Ensign, Chief Operating Officer at Proterra.

As vice president of manufacturing at Tesla Motors, Ensign was responsible for all manufacturing activities at the Fremont, California production site. This included the installation of the current Model S high volume production line, the launch of both the dual-motor platform and the Model X, and the establishment of Tesla’s new seat manufacturing facility. Before Tesla, Ensign led global operations in Honeywell International’s automotive and aerospace businesses. Ensign has extensive functional experience in supply chain, logistics, purchasing, and manufacturing and has lived and operated abroad in Germany, Mexico, China and Switzerland.

“Keeping pace with mounting customer demand is a tall order, but we are confident in Ensign’s ability to lead Proterra’s operations through this high-growth period. We are very pleased to have him at the helm of Catalyst vehicle production,” said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. “His operational expertise is exactly what Proterra needs to bring the Catalyst mainstream and to maintain our pursuit of a clean, diesel-free future.”

About Proterra:

Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to eliminate the dependency on fossil fuels and to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 312 vehicles to 35 different municipal, university, and commercial transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra’s configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley, South Carolina, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit: http://www.proterra.com and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

Canadian growers will now have the field-centric information and support needed to bolster productivity and sustainability on the farm

WINNIPEG, Manitoba--Parrish and Heimbecker Limited (P&H) announced today it has partnered with Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, to offer world-class agronomic support and precision agriculture solutions for Canadian farm producers. P&H has been moving grain to market for Canadian producers for more than a century and now, in joining with Farmers Edge, they are at the leading edge of advancements in agribusiness practices. Through this partnership, P&H customers will not only be provided with hybrid seed, fertilizer and other crop inputs, but will also have access to the Farmers Edge Precision Solutions™ platform to help them harness the power of big data and increase yields on the farm.

“What we’re hearing from growers is that they have plenty of relevant, field-centric information, but they need help putting the data pieces together to support informed decision-making on the farm,” said Justin Watson, National Director of Crop Nutrients for P&H. “In partnering with Farmers Edge, we are giving our customers access to multiple tools and software with strong support in the field, to help them collect the right data for their operation so they can grow more profitable crops. At the end of the day, we’re collaborating with Farmers Edge because they’re scalable, which makes the technology affordable. They’re also a global player and specialists in collecting the right kinds of data, so we’re excited to work with them to help accelerate Canada’s transition into a data-driven, agricultural future.”

The Farmers Edge Precision Solutions™ platform provides a comprehensive turnkey system that includes: Variable Rate Technology (VRT), soil sampling and analysis, field-centric weather, in-field telematics and data transfer, high-resolution satellite imagery, field-centric data analytics, access to FarmCommand™—an integrated farm management platform—and a network of highly experienced, trusted advisors.

“P&H has long been at the forefront of agribusiness innovation, so we’re proud to call them a partner as we introduce our Precision Solutions™ to more growers throughout Canada and around the globe,” said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. "This partnership provides P&H customers with an opportunity to increase their farm's profitability while maintaining an environmentally sustainable approach by leveraging advanced precision tools and big data analytics."

About Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited

Parrish and Heimbecker is a Canadian, family-owned company with more than 100 years of experience in agriculture. P&H has grown into a diversified, vertically integrated company, committed to agribusiness that is at the forefront of evolving an innovative agricultural practice. For more information about P&H, please visit: http://www.parrishandheimbecker.com

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge™ is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm since 2005, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information about Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedge.ca

Innovative program will replace diesel vehicles in commuter program for JLL-managed buildings in downtown Chicago

CHICAGO, IL, Oct. 27, 2016 --  Proterra, the world's leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, and JLL (NYSE: JLL), the leading professional services firm specializing in real estate, today announced the first commercial agreement to provide commuter shuttle services via a fleet of electric buses. The service will operate between Chicago's commuter train stations and two of the city's tallest buildings, the iconic Prudential Plaza and Aon Center, both of which are managed by JLL. The lease of 10 Proterra Catalyst shuttle buses represents two important industry firsts: The shuttle service will be the first in the country to operate a 100 percent zero-emission electric bus fleet as well as one of the first commercial customers to lease electric buses. This zero-emission, corporate fleet also marks a notable step toward Chicago achieving its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

"Creating greener transportation options and cleaner air for all Chicagoans are key pillars of the City of Chicago's sustainability goals," Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld said. "This zero-emission fleet is exactly the type of progress we intend to create through Drive Clean Chicago. We look forward to seeing how other fleets respond to the precedent this sets."

Funded in part by Drive Clean Chicago, JLL will lease the Proterra buses for its shuttle service for Prudential Plaza and Aon Center tenants commuting to and from the Ogilvie, Union and LaSalle Street commuter rail stations. Each building will lease five Proterra buses, demonstrating a new way for commercial customers to procure zero-emission transit solutions. The program will begin in December 2016.

"At Proterra, we are dedicated to ensuring every transit provider can seamlessly transition to a zero-emission fleet," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "By leasing the buses, Proterra customers can electrify their fleets with no out-of-pocket cost and total annual payments and costs equivalent to the total operating costs of a leased diesel bus. With this flexible financing solution, we're better able to scale our technology, serve new markets and further our goal of providing clean, quiet transportation to all."

The Proterra shuttle bus program demonstrates JLL's commitment to sustainability both in its managed buildings, such as Aon Center and Prudential Plaza, and its own operations. In 2015, JLL helped clients reduce their collective greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 12 million metric tons. Since 2007, it has helped clients save $3.3 billion in cumulative energy costs. JLL has also set targets to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in its own offices, setting ambitious goals to reduce building related greenhouse gas emissions per corporate office employee, building-related energy consumption per corporate office and rented area per corporate office employee by 2017.

"Increasingly, we're seeing tenants request more transit options to ease their commutes," said Bryan Oyster, Senior Vice President at JLL and General Manager of Prudential Plaza. "With Proterra's leasing option, we are able to provide a top-of-the-line shuttle service that meets tenants' commuting needs and Chicago's clean vehicle goals, while staying true to our own sustainability goals."

Aon Center, the fifth tallest building in the U.S., and Prudential Plaza are located in Chicago's East Loop and are home to prestigious tenant rosters, including KPMG, Microsoft and United Health Group. They are in close proximity to many of Chicago's premier cultural institutions including Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Goodman Theatre and Chicago Symphony Center.

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to eliminate the dependency on fossil fuels and to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 312 vehicles to 35 different municipal, university, and commercial transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley, South Carolina, and Los Angeles. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

About JLL
JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a professional services and investment management firm offering specialized real estate services to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying and investing in real estate. A Fortune 500 company with annual fee revenue of $5.2 billion and gross revenue of $6.0 billion, JLL has more than 280 corporate offices, operates in more than 80 countries and has a global workforce of more than 60,000. On behalf of its clients, the firm provides management and real estate outsourcing services for a property portfolio of 4.0 billion square feet, or 372 million square meters, and completed $138 billion in sales, acquisitions and finance transactions in 2015. Its investment management business, LaSalle Investment Management, has $59.1 billion of real estate assets under management. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit www.jll.com.

Political and industry leaders expand access to seismic retrofit upgrades through Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Oct. 3, 2016 -- In a pivotal win for consumers and the PACE industry, Ygrene Energy Fund Inc. today announced Governor Brown has signed state bill AB 2618, to usher in statewide seismic retrofit financing. The bill, sponsored by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-Van Nuys), will expand access to seismic retrofit financing under California's foremost climate and energy financing mechanism and will go into effect January 1, 2017.

"The tragedy we have witnessed in Italy from earthquake-vulnerable buildings is an urgent reminder that we must do everything possible to seismically protect property and save lives," stated Assemblymember Nazarian. "AB 2618 will bring parity to all types of PACE programs and provide Californians with a greater number of options to affordably finance life-saving seismic safety improvements to their homes."

Already at the forefront of energy efficiency and water conservation financing, Ygrene is committed to providing critical resiliency retrofits for Californians. Through AB 2618, seismic strengthening improvements such as external post-tensioning, base isolation, and supplementary dampers will be covered under California's principal PACE enabling legislation, SB 555. For at-risk homes and communities, this legislation will unlock millions in financing to support California's sustainability against seismic threats.

PACE in Action
To date, the award-winning YgreneWorks program has been approved in 305 communities and has completed more than $633 million in contracts nationally, producing more than $1.3 billion in economic stimulus, 8,150 jobs and 34MW of solar installed. Together these projects have saved 2.3 billion gallons of water and enough energy to power 537,036 homes for a full year, while also keeping 652K metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

Ygrene is a leader when it comes to safe, transparent PACE financing with a high level of commitment to customer protections. Working alongside the California Association of Realtors, the California Mortgage Bankers Association, and other PACE industry providers, Ygrene paved the way for the passing of California Assembly Bill 2693 on August 30, 2016, establishing uniform disclosures for consumers of PACE programs.  From application through approval, construction, project completion and funding, Ygrene's customer protection policies ensure consumers are supported every step of the way with its complete set of contractor certification, underwriting, consumer disclosure, data security and senior protection policies. For more information, view or download Ygrene's Customer Assurance and Protections.

"Providing property owners greater choice and access to affordable financing for seismic retrofits is a landmark victory for the PACE industry and for California. We'd like to extend our deepest thanks to everyone who collaborated on AB 2618 which will enable our communities to be safer and more resilient," said Stacey Lawson, President and CEO of Ygrene Energy Fund.

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading provider of residential, multifamily, and commercial property assessed clean energy financing. The award-winning, privately funded YgreneWorks program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront payments for energy efficiency, renewables, and, in certain areas, water conservation, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for property owners to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest billions of dollars into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

“New funds will help the precision ag pioneer reduce fertilizer, water and pesticide use in agriculture”

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, September 20, 2016--Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, announced today that it will receive $6,107,563 million CAD from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) with an additional $12.2 million from internal sources and contributions from consortium partners. Farmers Edge will direct the funding to developing the next generation of its hardware, software and agronomic decision support systems, with an explicit focus on developing the environmental sustainability aspects of the system.

“Sustainable Development Technology Canada is proud to support the commercialization of innovative technology from Farmers Edge,” said Leah Lawrence, SDTC President and Chief Executive Officer. “This project will create green jobs for the local economy, increase efficiency in the agricultural sector and provide economic and environmental benefits for all Canadians.”

With the SDTC investment, Farmers Edge, alongside its partners, will develop a comprehensive precision data management platform with the ability to capture, visualize and analyze zone-specific information that incorporates multiple variables that impact crop performance, including: weather, soil processes, disease and pest impacts, as well as the constantly shifting interplay of crop prices with input and equipment costs. With this level of data specificity, Farmers Edge is aiming to reduce nitrous oxide emissions by 10%, improve water use by 20%, and significantly cut phosphorous and nitrogen levels in critical water resources.

2016 has been a pivotal year for Farmers Edge as it expanded its global presence into new states in the U.S. and entered the Brazilian and Australian agriculture markets. The company was recently named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum as well as Canada’s Disruptor Innovator of the Year by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

“At Farmers Edge, we believe that sustainability in agriculture plays an essential role in improving the bottom line and spurring economic growth, while safeguarding future soil, water, and climate health,” said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. “Working alongside our world-class partners, we’re bringing innovative solutions that will assist in addressing global food security, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and support Climate Smart Agriculture to the benefit of the world's large and small holder farmers. We’re proud to have a role in such a meaningful goal and give SDTC our sincere thanks for their support.”

About SDTC

Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is an arm's-length foundation created by the Government of Canada to support innovative and entrepreneurial clean technology projects. Our portfolio of companies develop and demonstrate new technologies that address issues related to climate change, air quality, clean water and soil.

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge™ is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm since 2005, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedge.ca

Millions in capital for climate and energy related upgrades spur job creation in the Inland Empire

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Sept. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ygrene Energy Fund announced today that the City of Riverside is the most recent Inland Empire community to approve the award-winning YgreneWorks™ PACE (property assessed clean energy) program to help property owners finance a broad range of energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation upgrades. To date, Ygrene has been selected by 294 cities and counties across California and Florida, making it the leading national residential, multifamily and commercial PACE provider. 

YgreneWorks for Riverside
YgreneWorks was selected by Riverside city officials to provide greater choice in PACE financing options as drought continues to challenge the city's water supply. To date, YgreneWorks has completed contracts across Riverside County for over $41 million in residential, commercial and multifamily upgrades, resulting in 179 thousand gallons of water saved and 622 new jobs created and sustained.

Rusty Bailey, Mayor of Riverside: "Bringing Ygrene and CSCDA programs to the City of Riverside really expands our PACE portfolio, which makes low-cost energy efficiency financing available to a broader range of property owners. Opening the PACE program up to more providers creates competition in the marketplace, which is good for consumers and creates more job opportunities for our local building contractors." 

Gary Robinson, Blue Star Energy: "I've worked in the solar industry for over a decade and recently started my own company to help meet the growing demand for renewables in Southern California. Ygrene's flexible and seamless financing process has really helped to get my business off the ground."

Ygrene's people-first approach to financing gives businesses and homeowners the most accessible and affordable way to pay for energy efficiency and climate resiliency upgrades. Rather than paying the high up-front costs and monthly payments often associated with credit-based financing, YgreneWorks allows property owners to pay off improvements with terms of up to 30 years through their property tax bill. Property owners can access YgreneWorks' list of certified contractors who will work with them to select and install eligible upgrades such as solar systems, energy efficient windows and doors, heating and air conditioning, cool roofs and more.

Ygrene is a leader when it comes to safe, transparent PACE financing with a high level of commitment to customer protections. Working alongside the California Mortgage Bankers Association and other PACE industry providers, Ygrene paved the way for the passing of California Assembly Bill 2693 on August 30, 2016—establishing uniform disclosures for consumers of PACE programs.  From application through approval, construction, project completion and funding, Ygrene's customer protection policies ensure Riverside consumers are supported every step of the way with its complete set of contractor certification, underwriting, consumer disclosure, data security and senior protection policies. For more information, view or download Ygrene's Customer Assurance and Protections.

With $1.75 billion in approved applications for more than 29,000 buildings, and more than $795 million in committed capital, the YgreneWorks program is helping communities across the nation meet their clean energy and climate resiliency goals.

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading provider of residential, multifamily and commercial property assessed clean energy financing. The award-winning, privately funded YgreneWorks program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront payments for energy efficiency, renewables, water conservation and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for property owners to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs and invest billions of dollars into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—September 15, 2016 — Renmatix, the leader in affordable cellulosic sugars, today announced a $14M investment, led by Bill Gates.

Industry demand for competitive alternatives to petro-derived molecules is gaining traction, despite recent market pressures. In the interest of expanding that supply, the Plantrose® process provides an enabling technology for profitable biorefineries. This investment in commercializing Plantrose will help drive towards the first wave of Renmatix licensees building Plantrose-enabled biorefineries in diverse global markets like Canada, India, Malaysia, the U.S. and elsewhere. In parallel, that activity will facilitate further market development in downstream bioproduct applications.

According to Gates, "To effectively address climate change, we need to develop an energy infrastructure that doesn't emit greenhouse gas and is cost competitive. A critical component in this effort must be to decarbonize the industrial sector. Another is the possibility of cost competitive biofuels. Renmatix provides an innovative process that is an exciting pathway to pursue."

Gates is joined in the round by Total (NYSE: TOT), the global energy major which, after an initial investment in 2015, has expanded its investment and has additionally signed a licensing agreement with Renmatix for 1M tons of annual cellulosic sugar production capacity, at Total's discretion to build corresponding facilities. The license represents significant revenue potential for Renmatix, extending over the lifetime of the agreement.

"At Total, our ambition is to become the responsible energy major. We want to make low-carbon businesses a profitable growth driver accounting for 20% of our portfolio in 20 years' time. Meeting these goals is what has led to setting-up and expanding our collaboration with Renmatix," said Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of Total.

The patented Plantrose process uses supercritical water to reduce costs in conversion of biomass to cellulosic sugars, the critical intermediary for second-generation biochemicals and biofuels. With faster reactions and virtually no associated consumable-expenses, Renmatix's supercritical hydrolysis economically enables a multitude of renewable process technologies to access the market for ‘high volume, low cost, broadly sourced' cellulosic sugars that is compounding today. From this well established foundation in industrial sugars, the company continues to expand its product portfolio by valorizing additional bio building block intermediates, including Omno® polymers and crystalline cellulose.

"This continued progress marks the pronounced acceleration of a new, sugar based, chemistry regime. One that can go beyond conventional oil based products for cleaner, more sustainable solutions," said Renmatix CEO, Mike Hamilton. "While we're working with partners to capitalize on the vast opportunity for biobased transformation in markets as diverse as the U.S. and India, this investment from Gates and Total together – shows recognition of our technological achievements, and magnifies our commercial momentum. That acknowledgment and Total's signing of the million-ton license, are compelling indicators of our Plantrose technology's maturation towards biorefinery scale."

About Renmatix

Renmatix is the leading technology licensor for the conversion of biomass into cellulosic sugar, an enabling feedstock for petroleum alternatives used in the global biochemical and biofuels markets. The company's proprietary Plantrose process challenges conventional sugar economics by cheaply converting cellulosic biomass – from wood waste to agricultural residue – into useful, cost-effective Plantro® sugars and additional bio building blocks. Plantrose supercritical hydrolysis technology deconstructs non-food biomass an order of magnitude faster than other processes, and enhances its cost advantage by using no significant consumables. Renmatix is privately held, with a world-class technical center in Pennsylvania, a Feedstock Processing Facility (FPF) in New York, and production operations at the Integrated Plantrose Complex (IPC) in Georgia.

Highest-performing bus on the road can serve toughest bus routes on a single charge

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 12, 2016 -- APTA 2016 -- Today at the American Public Transit Association (APTA) Annual Meeting, Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, unveiled the newest addition to its fleet of zero-emission vehicles: the Catalyst E2 series, named for its unprecedented Efficient Energy (E2) storage capacity of 440 - 660 kWh.  Last month, an E2 series vehicle achieved a new milestone at Michelin's Laurens Proving Grounds where it logged more than 600 miles on a single charge under test conditions. Its nominal range of 194 - 350 miles means the Catalyst E2 series is capable of serving the full daily mileage needs of nearly every U.S. mass transit route on a single charge and offers the transit industry the first direct replacement for fossil-fueled transit vehicles.  The high-mileage Catalyst E2 series joins the existing Catalyst FC and XR series vehicles, designed for circulator and intermediate-mileage routes, respectively.

The Future of Transit Arrives: Proterra Customers Across the U.S. Praise Electrified Transport
Compelled by a total cost of ownership significantly lower than fossil fuel-based alternatives, transit agencies across the U.S. agree that diesel's dominance is waning, giving way to the economic and environmental benefits of battery-electric mass transportation:

J. Barry Barker, Executive Director, Transit Authority of River City: "TARC now has largest deployment of Proterra battery-electric buses east of the Mississippi. Providing both environmental benefits and cost savings, these buses are a symbol of Louisville's sustainability efforts.  We are proud of these positive impacts and to call Proterra a partner, as they pass this key milestone in their journey as the foremost transport innovator in the world."

Doran Barnes, Executive Director at Foothill Transit: "We just surpassed one million miles of revenue service with our battery-electric Proterra fleet, and we're looking forward to many more miles to come. Since our first EV bus procurement with Proterra in 2010, we knew that zero-emission buses were the future of mass transit. Now, with the new Catalyst E2, this vision is a reality.  We're excited by the possibilities of an all-electric future."

Jonathan Church, Administrator at Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA):"More and more, we're witnessing our neighbor agencies consider all-electric buses, as they see how well our Proterra buses have weathered some of the ugliest Northeast snow storms. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Proterra as their technology continues to expand within North America."

2.6 Million Miles and Counting

With annual sales already 220% higher than 2015, Proterra is experiencing a breakthrough year in the mass transit sector and expects the debut of the Catalyst E2 series to only further magnify this success. Doubling production in 2017 to serve unprecedented customer demand, Proterra will have both of its manufacturing lines in full operation in Greenville, S.C. and the City of Industry, Calif. To date, Proterra buses across the United States have completed over 2.5 million miles of revenue service, displacing 540,000 gallons of diesel, and eliminating over 10 million pounds of carbon emissions.

"Proterra's primary goal has always been to create a purpose-built, high-performance electric vehicle that can serve every single transit route in the United States. Today, with the unveiling of the Catalyst E2 Series, that goal has been achieved," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "The question is no longer who will be an early adopter of this technology, but rather who will be the last to commit to a future of clean, efficient, and sustainable mobility. With the Catalyst E2 offering a no-compromise replacement for all fossil fuel buses, battery-electric vehicles have now broken down the final barrier to widespread market adoption."

About Proterra:
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to eliminate the dependency on fossil fuels and to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 312 vehicles to 35 different municipal, university, and commercial transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley, South Carolina, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit: http://www.proterra.comand follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc. 

Annual San Francisco Bay Area awards program to recognize outstanding financial achievements in expanding national access to clean energy and climate resiliency property financing

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Aug. 31, 2016 -- Ygrene Energy Fund Inc., the nation's leading provider of residential, multifamily, and commercial property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, today announced that Chief Financial Officer Michael Chan has been selected as an honoree in the North Bay Business Journal's 2016 CFO Recognition Awards. The annual award recognizes the most outstanding CFOs of the San Francisco North Bay region.

A 25-year veteran of financial, accounting and capital markets, Chan leads Ygrene Energy Fund's financial team in raising and securitizing capital, and plays a central role in the company's relationships with banks, investors, and rating agencies. In his first year with the organization, Mr. Chan successfully spearheaded the establishment of Ygrene's multi-million-dollar credit facility setting the stage for continued success in the near term and beyond.

"As demand surges for affordable financing to upgrade properties for energy efficiency and climate resiliency, Ygrene is uniquely positioned to offer a flexible set of products and solutions to a broad range of customers," said Ygrene Energy Fund CFO Michael Chan. "With capital providers becoming more interested and knowledgeable in PACE, we've successfully positioned Ygrene as a leading national brand trusted by consumers, businesses and investors alike. We expect Ygrene to become synonymous with PACE as a mainstream financing option to make climate and energy goals a reality."

To date, Ygrene has raised over $795M in committed capital and funded over $506M in energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and climate resiliency upgrades, resulting in an estimated $1.2B in economic stimulus, 7,500 new jobs created and sustained, 2.1B gallons of water saved and $1B in utility bill savings – an amount equal to providing one year of power to more than 500,000 homes.

"Michael is central to the executive leadership at Ygrene and has played an instrumental role as we grow to meet demand for our clean energy financing," said Stacey Lawson, President and CEO of Ygrene. "We are delighted that Michael has been recognized by the North Bay Business Journal as one of the Bay Area's most outstanding chief financial officers." 

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading provider of residential, multifamily, and commercial property assessed clean energy financing. The award-winning, privately funded YgreneWorks program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront payments for energy efficiency, renewables, and, in certain areas, water conservation, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for property owners to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest billions of dollars into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Delivery of energy data in standard formats is key to unlocking conservation and bill saving

OAKLAND, CA, August 29, 2016 – MACH Energy, a leading provider of energy and water management software services and solutions, today announced the company has joined Mission:data Coalition, an advocacy coalition of technology companies dedicated to promoting and facilitating customer access to their energy usage information to enable increased energy savings in homes and businesses.

Standards and protocols for exchanging energy data are available and implemented in a few large states accounting for about half of U.S. investor-owned utility advanced meter deployments, but many states still lag in providing consumers with access to their usage data, depriving consumers of important opportunities to conserve energy and save money.

To date, billions of dollars have been spent on smart meters nation-wide. The data from these meters can be used to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions, but most end-user benefits cannot be realized until utilities implement common standards for data transfer. Once customers can simply and electronically authorize companies to see their usage data – as is now possible in the state of California – bill analysis and cost management tools like MACH Energy’s can be accessible to all commercial energy users.

“As energy management becomes an increasingly ubiquitous practice, accessible data is crucial to customers getting the most out of their technologies,” said Jon Moeller, President and CEO of MACH Energy. “We applaud the work the Mission:data Coalition has done to further this initiative and are excited to join them in fostering consumer-friendly data access practices to advance energy efficiency in the commercial real estate sector.”

“By bringing together industry leaders like MACH in energy and data management, we are advocating for policies that will help to spur innovation in energy management services,” said Michael Murray, Chief Technology Strategist of Mission:data. “We’re looking forward to working with MACH and leveraging the company’s deep experience in CRETech to inform best practices for the utility industry.”

About MACH

MACH Energy is a leading cloud-based and mobile provider of CRETech energy and water management solutions for commercial real estate property managers, operators, engineers, and owners. With some of the nation’s most iconic buildings under management, MACH counts hundreds of commercial, REIT, hotel and corporate building owners as customers encompassing hundreds of millions of square feet of properties across the country.

The Illinois Quad Cities' MetroLINK will deploy two Catalyst buses with the option to purchase additional Proterra XR and FC buses through 2020

MOLINE, Ill., Aug. 26, 2016 -- Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, today announced that the Illinois Quad Cities' MetroLINK transit organization, is going forward with the purchase of two 40-foot Proterra XR electric buses this fall, with the potential to significantly expand their zero emission vehicle (ZEV) fleet over the next four years. With 312 zero-emission buses sold to 35 different municipal, university and commercial customers across the country, Proterra continues to solidify its status as the premier North American provider of clean, quiet, emission-free mass transit vehicles. This new procurement represents a joint effort by MetroLINK and Proterra to minimize emissions, reduce traffic congestion and accelerate sustainable infrastructure development throughout the Illinois Quad Cities.

"At MetroLINK, we offer our riders the opportunity to make sustainable choices through public transit. These new battery-electric Proterra buses will not only provide an environmentally friendly service to our customers, they'll also exemplify MetroLINK's longstanding commitment to eco-conscious infrastructure adoption," said Jeff Nelson, general manager at MetroLINK. "Sustainability is at the core of every decision we make at MetroLINK, and we're more than excited to officially deploy our new electric buses in 2017."

With an annual total ridership of 3.5 million, MetroLINK provides mass transit services to Illinois citizens throughout the Illinois Quad Cities region, including Rock Island, Milan and Moline school children and Augustana, Black Hawk College and Western Illinois University students. Now, with access to Proterra's battery-electric buses, all of these riders will be able to enjoy the myriad of benefits of zero-emission mass transit technology, including improved community air quality and a modern, quiet rider experience.

"The Illinois Department of Transportation is proud to be a partner in sustainable transit options throughout the Quad Cities. We look forward to growing service throughout Illinois to improve the quality of life and make our state even better place to raise a family, work and do business," Beth McCluskey, director, Office of Intermodal Project Implementation, Illinois Department of Transportation.

MetroLink's announcement also coincides with the Illinois Public Transit Association (IPTA) Fall Conference, which is taking place Aug. 24-26 in Moline, Ill. and feature presentations on how next-gen mass transit solutions are bettering communities nationwide.

"Increasingly, transit agencies, commercial organizations and communities throughout Illinois and the Midwest are turning to electric infrastructure solutions that cut back on emission levels and lay the foundation for sustainable urban ecosystems," saidLaura Calderon, executive director of the Illinois Public Transit Association. "We hope that sustainability will play a key role in the discussion at our Fall Conference next week, and that it will continue to influence transit operators' decision-making in the future."

"MetroLINK and the Illinois Quad Cities already have an outstanding reputation for pursuing and implementing forward-looking transportation technologies.  We're proud to help them further solidify this reputation by providing them with our battery-electric transit vehicles," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "With MetroLINK and other progressive agencies serving as models, the Midwest is quickly pivoting away from diesel and committing to sustainable mobility solutions that simply make economic and environmental sense, and Proterra is excited to help this region—and the country as a whole—speed into a clean energy future."

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to eliminate the dependency on fossil fuels and to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 312 vehicles to 35 different municipal, university, and commercial transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley, South Carolina, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit: http://www.proterra.com and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc. 

About MetroLINK:
MetroLINK is the Illinois public transit provider offering the "Metro" fixed route bus service, the "Channel Cat Water Taxi", and ADA Paratransit. The 3.5 million rides a year taken on MetroLINK services provide a vital connection to jobs, education, healthcare, and retail, supporting our local economy and creating a vibrant quality of life. Find out more about your commuting options at gogreenmetro.com.

Incoming talent brings deep structured finance and asset-backed securities expertise

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ygrene Energy Fund, the leading national provider of residential, commercial and multifamily property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, announced today it has appointed three finance veterans to manage growth, issue securitizations and support capital raises as the company expands to meet demand from institutional markets. To date, Ygrene has attracted $795M in capital. All three will report to Ygrene CFO, Michael Chan.

"Over the last 24 months we've seen increasing demand from investors and agencies who see the exceptional credit quality of PACE and are eager to forge partnerships that can help them tap into these new market opportunities," said Ygrene CFO, Michael Chan. "Gleiser, Gennaro and Alizadeh bring the kind of structured finance experience and existing relationships that will help us scale as the market for PACE continues to ramp."

Ilan Gleiser, Chief Risk Officer. Responsible for managing the market and tail risk of $5B in 20 multi asset class funds in his previous role as Chief Risk Officer at Plural Bank, Gleiser also was responsible for opening and leading Morgan Stanley's offices in Brazil and will lead operational risk at Ygrene.

Giancarlo Gennaro, Senior Director of Finance. Most recently at Cronos Group, Gennaro was responsible for the global cash management function, maintaining working relationships with banks and investors, and managing liquidity through the origination and structuring of ABS term notes and various debt facilities. His previous roles included time at CSX Corporation and KPMG LLP, where he specialized in technical accounting and financial reporting.

Rasool E. Alizadeh, Director of Capital Markets and Asset Backed Securities ("ABS"). With deep background and contacts at rating agencies, banks, and investors both in debt and equity and 12 years of structured finance experience, ranging from restructuring, investor relations, deal structuring and execution, rating agency processes, and portfolio management, Alizadeh will focus on Ygrene's funding and liquidity needs. Previously at SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. Alizadeh was the senior banker responsible for the term ABS initiative focused on new issue origination in both on-the-run and off-the-run assets. Earlier roles include primary analyst at Standard & Poor's ABS rating services group focused on RMBS and esoteric mortgage related ratings, as well as five years at RBC Capital Markets, where he was an originator for both warehouse and balance sheet lending and term issuer/investor relationships.

"One of our key opportunities is helping investors and agencies understand the benefits of PACE and navigate through this dynamic market," said Stacey Lawson, CEO & President of Ygrene. "Ilan, Giancarlo and Rasool strengthen our core finance DNA, which has been, and continues to be, a prime differentiator as investors look to align with like-minded partners."

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading provider of residential, multifamily and commercial property assessed clean energy financing. The award-winning, privately funded YgreneWorks program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront payments for energy efficiency, renewables, water conservation, and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for property owners to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs and invest billions of dollars into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

In-field access to drone imagery bolsters drainage and crop-health scouting capabilities

WINNIPEG, Manitoba & SHAKOPEE, Minn. -- Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, announced today it has partnered with Green Aero Tech, Canada’s leading drone systems and data provider, to integrate next-generation drone imagery into FarmCommand™ for direct-to-cab data. Now, Farmers Edge growers will have access to drone imagery and actionable data, providing yet another layer of field-centric data for growers making critical decisions for improved crop yields.

“This technology will fast become commonplace, because it saves time, effort, and money, while generating the most accurate information possible.”

As growers seek deeper and broader data to inform a wide range of decisions – from crop mapping to field drainage to visual analysis – drone imagery provides sharp images, fast processing times and close to real-time access to critical data when weather conditions and cloud cover prevent the use of satellite imagery.

“In combining Farmers Edge Precision Solutions™ with Green Aero Tech’s imagery capabilities, reporting, and growing fleet of drones, it means that growers are able to make better land management decisions than ever before,” explains Scott Hiebert, CEO of Green Aero Tech. “This technology will fast become commonplace, because it saves time, effort, and money, while generating the most accurate information possible.”

Powered with its Real Time Kinematics (RTK) survey-grade equipment, Green Aero Tech will provide Farmers Edge growers with detailed elevation reports within ±5cm vertical accuracy. This premium service can be integrated alongside the Farmers Edge Precision Solutions platform, which provides a comprehensive, whole farm turnkey system for growers that also includes: Variable Rate Technology, soil sampling and analysis, field-centric weather, in-field telematics and data transfer, high-resolution satellite imagery, field-centric data analytics and access to FarmCommand, the integrated farm management platform.

“Globally, growers have long led the industry in leveraging advanced technology to sustainably improve yields,” said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. “In partnering with Green Aero Tech, we’re providing growers with data and imaging capabilities that our competitors haven’t been able to deliver, ensuring that our customer-base continues to be pioneers in precision agriculture."

About Green Aero Tech: Revolutionizing how people gather and use land data

At Green Aero Tech we support farmers, engineers, civil administration, construction workers, and other land users, by giving them access to the information they need to make key decisions. Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV/drone) technology, we provide accurate information that can help determine the best use of resources to save both time and money. We passionately invest in research, development, and technology to provide our clients with accurate information displayed in an easy to understand format they can action with confidence: greenaerotech.com.

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge™ is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm since 2005, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedge.ca.

Leadership and team growth will foster agtech’s rapid proliferation in Australia’s broad-acre and winter crop markets

 WINNIPEG, MB and SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES — August 10, 2016 — Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, announced today the appointment of Scott McKinnon as General Manager of Australian Operations. A former Syngenta executive and 20+ year veteran of global agriculture technologies, McKinnon will lead the market development and expansion of Farmers Edge beyond its current base in New South Wales (NSW) to meet the demand for integrated precision agriculture solutions across Australia.
The Australian agriculture economy is expected to surpass $60 billion this year creating strong demand for innovative precision agriculture tools that will enable growers to capitalize on the growing market opportunity. In increasing its Australian presence, Farmers Edge will expand access to the data-driven, decision support platform needed to sustainably optimize yields and profits for the country’s broad-acre and winter cereal growers.

With variable cropping conditions throughout the country, we’re seeing strong demand for agtech from Australia’s growers to assist with their decision making and profitability,” said Scott McKinnon, General Manager, Australia at Farmers Edge. “Farmers Edge brings an integrated solution that allows all Australian growers to derive value in the country’s thriving agricultural sector. Now, as we bolster our team on the ground, we can continue to meet the needs of our customers and expand into new markets.”

Easily integrated with growers’ existing equipment and programs, the Farmers Edge Precision Solutions platform provides a comprehensive turnkey system that includes: Variable Rate Technology, soil sampling and analysis, field-centric weather, in-field telematics and data transfer, high-resolution satellite imagery, field-centric data analytics, and access to FarmCommand™ – an integrated farm management platform.

“For Farmers Edge, Australia represents a significant growth market for data-driven, precision agriculture to flourish,” said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. “As we continue to rapidly grow and address new crops in Australia, Scott’s expertise in market development and expansion is critical for us to scale operations and meet the strong demand for our integrated precision agriculture platform.”

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge™ is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm since 2005, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedge.ca

Proterra extends market leadership with the most EV buses on the road today

BURLINGAME, Calif., July 27, 2016 -- Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, today announced that eight new and existing customers have won Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low or No Emission Vehicle Deployment Grants. The 2016 Low-No grant winners will use their funds, a total of $22.8 million, to purchase 35 Catalyst® buses, bringing Proterra's total number of firm orders to 287 vehicles from 38 cities across the United States. With more than 2.4 million miles of revenue service, Proterra has more battery-electric buses on the road today in North America than any other manufacturer.

For Low-No grant recipients like Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), this represents a new era of mobility as the Silicon Valley's transit agency expects to roll out five 40' Catalyst XR buses as a pilot program to support their innovation strategy, which aims to improve the transit customer experience, offer better transportation choices, and optimize VTA vehicles, roadways and other mobility infrastructure. VTA serves nearly two million residents with an average weekday ridership of 104,583, and is incubating a number of technologies to optimize the transit customer experience.

"As the transit agency serving Silicon Valley, the most emblematic innovation hub in the world, it is our role to provide our communities with the most forward-thinking mobility solutions on the market," said Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority General Manager and CEO Nuria Fernandez. "Integrating Proterra's zero emission buses into our system is a top priority as we continue to redefine our transit systems. We're pleased to embark on this partnership with Proterra, as the company helps us achieve our innovation and sustainability goals."

From Delaware to Washington to Louisiana, electric bus adoption is growing amongst a diverse group of transit agencies from coast-to-coast. Other innovative transit agencies that have embraced the economic and environmental benefits of Proterra's zero-emission electric bus and that also received Low-No grants include:

• Delaware Transit Corporation (Wilmington, DE) will receive six 35' Catalyst XR buses
• Everett Transit (Everett, WA) will receive four 40' Catalyst XR buses
• Lextran (Lexington, KY) will receive one 40' Catalyst FC bus
• Park City Transit (Park City, UT) will receive six 40' Catalyst FC buses
• Pierce Transit (Pierce County, WA) will receive two 40' Catalyst FC buses
• Port Arthur Transit (Port Arthur, TX) will receive six 35' Catalyst FC buses
• SporTran (Shreveport, LA) will receive five 35' Catalyst FC buses

"For so long transit agencies had little choice when it came to mass transit solutions, so we take great pride in in the fact that we are enabling the national shift from fossil fuel to electric," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "This additional wave of orders underscores our nation's commitment to democratize and decarbonize transit, which is a key enabler of prosperity, job security and improved air quality."

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to eliminate the dependency on fossil fuels and to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 287 vehicles to 38 different municipal, university, and commercial transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley, South Carolina, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit: http://www.proterra.com and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc. 

Applications for financing double as Obama administration endorses PACE and home and business owners prepare for hurricane and climate change threats

SANTA ROSA, Calif., July 27, 2016 -- Ygrene Energy Fund Inc., the nation's leading multi-state provider of residential, commercial and multifamily property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, today announced that the number of Florida projects funded through its award-winning YgreneWorks™ program have tripled over the past year, with nearly 50 percent focused on hurricane preparedness. To satisfy the increase of property owners and certified contractors entering the program, Ygrene is establishing a state-of-the-art call center in Florida that will provide over 5 million property owners across 56 Florida municipalities access to its affordable financing.

On July 19, President Obama endorsed PACE as the cornerstone of the administration's Clean Energy Savings for All Initiative, a partnership between the Departments of Energy (DOE), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Agriculture (USDA), Health and Human Services (HHS), Veteran's Affairs (VA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase access to solar energy and promote energy efficiency across the United States and, in particular, in low- and moderate- income communities.

Faces of PACE: Floridians On Building Resilient Communities with YgreneWorks

Across Florida, Ygrene partners with elected officials, property owners, and a vast network of certified contractors to address the specific needs of communities, grow local businesses, and ensure equal and easy access to PACE financing. From application through approval, construction, project completion and funding, Ygrene's Consumer Protection policies ensure consumers are supported every step of the way through its complete set of contractor certification, underwriting, consumer disclosure, data security and senior protection processes:

• Tomas Regalado (Mayor of the City of Miami): "Ygrene's program makes it possible for property owners to access funds to upgrade buildings for hurricane protection and energy efficiency. With insurance and utility costs rising, I am proud that we are able to offer this critical service to our community."
• Carol Lopez-Bethel (Miami homeowner and satisfied YgreneWorks customer): "My husband and I are both retired, so we look forward to having as little financial strain as possible. With Ygrene, we were able to install solar and decrease our energy bills from $200-$300 a month to $20-$40 per month. I don't know why everyone hasn't signed up for PACE with Ygrene."
• Daren Goldin (Owner of Goldin Solar Contracting): "I think Ygrene and PACE are absolutely brilliant. From my experience, the biggest barrier for people to invest in solar or energy efficiency is the up front costs – that is where PACE and Ygrene come in. Ygrene provides the up front capital with a very smooth and user-friendly platform to help homeowners understand project costs, annual payments, performance, and of course, what the energy savings and return on investment will be."

Ygrene has now financed over 90 percent of all Florida PACE projects, totaling $77 million in residential, commercial, and multifamily property upgrades that increase energy efficiency and climate resiliency to protect homes and businesses against hurricane impact.

"Since 2013 Ygrene has been providing Floridians with the financing solutions they need to protect their homes and businesses against rising energy costs and climate-related threats," said Stacey Lawson, CEO of Ygrene. "As demand for energy and weather-related upgrades continues to rise, we look forward to continuing to expand our operations and services in the Sunshine State to help our property owner, contractor, and elected official partners build strong, resilient communities."

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading provider of residential and commercial property assessed clean energy financing. The award-winning, privately funded YgreneWorksTM program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront payments for energy efficiency, renewables, and, in certain areas, water conservation, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is expected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Florida Mayors choose YgreneWorks as President Obama endorses PACE as a key driver enabling adoption of solar and energy efficiency improvements by people of all income levels

SANTA ROSA, Calif., July 27, 2016 -- Ygrene Energy Fund announced today that Miami Beach, Miramar, and Broward County have selected the award-winning YgreneWorks™ PACE (property assessed clean energy) program to help home and business owners finance a broad range of energy efficiency, renewables and hurricane protection property upgrades. On July 19, PACE was endorsed by President Obama as a cornerstone of the Clean Energy Savings for All Initiative, which will ensure that every household has options to adopt solar and other additional measures to promote energy efficiency.

Ygrene has already been selected by 270+ cities and counties across California and Florida, making it the nation's leading multi-state residential and commercial PACE provider. With more than $785M in committed capital, Ygrene continues its rapid expansion, paving the way with its commitment to providing property owners with a simple and easy process and service excellence.

Ygrene has now financed over 90 percent of all Florida PACE projects, totaling $77 million in residential, commercial, and multifamily property upgrades that increase energy efficiency and protect homes and businesses against hurricane impact.

Florida Mayors: "YgreneWorks for our communities"

• Philip Levine (Mayor of the City of Miami Beach): "We are excited to offer Miami Beach residents PACE financing for energy efficiency and climate resiliency improvements to their homes and businesses. This program will undoubtedly make our community safer and more resilient to extreme weather while contributing to lowering our residents' insurance premiums. I am glad this program is available and I am excited to see the many benefits it will bring to our community."
• Wayne M. Messam (Mayor of the City of Miramar): "I am proud to have sponsored the legislation that enables Miramar residents and business property owners the ability to participate in the PACE program. Providing creative and accessible funding solutions that help make property more energy efficient and safe is another advantage of being in our wonderful city."
• Marty Kiar (Mayor of Broward County): "PACE financing provides a unique means of broadening community-wide access to affordable energy and resiliency improvements that deliver economic and environmental benefits. It allows property owners to overcome the barrier of steep upfront costs. Insurance costs may also go down, along with savings that come from using less energy. PACE will also deliver additional economic benefits by stimulating local job growth and green sector jobs in particular."

In addition to offering the most comprehensive PACE program in the market, Ygrene also leads the industry when it comes to transparent PACE financing and a high level of commitment to customer protections. From application through approval, construction, project completion and funding, Ygrene's customer protection policies ensure consumers are supported every step of the way with its complete set of contractor certification, underwriting, consumer disclosure, data security and senior protection processes. For more information, view or download Ygrene's Customer Assurance and Protections.

YgreneWorks for Miami Beach, Miramar and Broward County
Ygrene's people-first approach to financing gives businesses and homeowners the most accessible and affordable way to pay for energy efficiency and climate resiliency upgrades. Rather than paying the high up-front payments associated with credit-based financing, YgreneWorks allows owners to pay off home and property improvements with terms of up to 20 years on their property tax bill. Property owners can access YgreneWorks' list of certified contractors who will work with them to select and install eligible upgrades such as solar systems, energy efficient and impact resistant windows and doors, heating and air conditioning, cool roofs, and more.

YgreneWorks is currently operational in Miami Beach, Miramar and Lauderhill. In Broward County the program will go live in 120 days. For local municipalities in the county who want to implement the program earlier, they can opt-in at any point by sending a written notice to the county. Already 420,000 people have gained access to PACE in Broward County with the following ten cities opting in to the program:

Coconut Creek
Cooper City
Lighthouse Point
Lauderdale by the Sea
North Lauderdale
Oakland Park
Plantation
Tamarac
Weston
Wilton Manors

With $1 billion in approved applications for more than 21,000 buildings, the YgreneWorks program is helping cities across the nation meet their clean energy and climate resiliency goals and is assisting residents in making improvements that will save them money and increase the value of their properties.

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading provider of residential and commercial property assessed clean energy financing. The award-winning, privately funded YgreneWorks™ program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront payments for energy efficiency, renewables, and, in certain areas, water conservation, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is expected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Affordable, accessible financing will provide economic stimulus and job creation

STOCKTON, Calif., July 27, 2016 -- Ygrene Energy Fund announced today that Stockton has approved the award-winning YgreneWorks PACE (property assessed clean energy) program to help home and business owners finance a broad range of energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation upgrades. Ygrene has already been selected by 274 cities and counties across California and Florida, making it one of the nation's leading multi-state residential and commercial PACE providers. With more than $785M in committed capital, Ygrene continues its rapid expansion, paving the way with its strong commitment to providing property owners a simple and easy process and service excellence.

Stockton Mayor and Contractors: "YgreneWorks for our community"

• Anthony Silva, Mayor of the City of Stockton: "The City of Stockton is extremely excited to have Ygrene as our new partner and PACE provider. I am impressed with their level of customer service. They are going to help make Stockton a more energy efficient city and their pricing plan is just right for our residents."
• Kevin Gutierrez, CEO of All Air Heating, Air Conditioning and Solar: "All Air Heating, Air Conditioning and Solar has done over $1 million in PACE projects this year, enabling our company to grow and add a significant number of new jobs. As a Ygrene Certified Contractor I am thrilled about the expansion of the Ygrene territory to Stockton and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead for us in this market."

In addition to offering the most comprehensive PACE program in the market, Ygrene also leads the industry when it comes to safe, transparent PACE financing and a high level of commitment to customer protections. From application through approval, construction, project completion and funding, Ygrene's customer protection policies ensure consumers are supported every step of the way through its complete set of contractor certification, underwriting, consumer disclosure, data security and senior protection processes. For more information, view or download Ygrene's Customer Assurance and Protections.

YgreneWorks in Stockton
Ygrene's people-first approach to financing gives businesses and homeowners the most accessible and affordable way to pay for energy efficiency and climate resiliency upgrades. Rather than paying the high up-front payments associated with credit-based financing, YgreneWorks allows owners to pay off home and property improvements with terms of up to 30 years on their property tax bill. Property owners can access YgreneWorks' list of certified contractors who will work with them to select and install eligible upgrades such as solar systems, energy efficient windows and doors, heating and air conditioning, cool roofs, and more.

With $1 billion in approved applications for more than 21,000 buildings, YgreneWorks is helping cities across the nation meet their clean energy and climate resiliency goals and assist residents in making improvements that will save them money and increase the value of their properties.  

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading provider of residential and commercial property assessed clean energy financing. The award-winning, privately funded YgreneWorksTM program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront payments for energy efficiency, renewables, water conservation, and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is expected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Within days of its approval by the County Commission, YgreneWorks receives 500+ applications

SANTA ROSA, Calif., July 27, 2016 -- Ygrene Energy Fund announced today that Miami-Dade County has selected the award-winning YgreneWorks™ PACE (property assessed clean energy) program to help home and business owners finance a broad range of energy efficiency, renewables, and hurricane protection property upgrades. Now, all 1.4 million unincorporated Miami-Dade County residents will have access to YgreneWorks. More than 270 cities and counties across California and Florida have already selected Ygrene, making it the nation's leading residential and commercial PACE provider.

Ygrene has now financed over 90 percent of all Florida PACE projects, totaling $77 million in residential, commercial, and multifamily property upgrades that increase energy efficiency and help protect homes and businesses against hurricane damage. With more than $785M in committed capital, Ygrene continues its rapid expansion, dedicated to providing property owners nationwide with a simple and easy process and service excellence.

Demand for Property Retrofits Soars as Miami-Dade Prepares for the Next Big Storm:

• Jose Diaz (Commissioner for Miami-Dade County): "This is a big step forward for energy conservation and is going to be very good for homeowners. I thank Ygrene Energy Fund for being the first company to step up to serve our unincorporated residents."
• Maria Arguelles (Homeowner): "Since I first heard about the YgreneWorks program, I've been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to enroll so I can upgrade my roof and protect my home before the next storm. I have called City Commissioners to push this great new financing option for Miami-Dade residents repeatedly and I am so happy that this is finally approved."
• Gabriel Marinas (Sales Manager for The Home Depot): "PACE funding through Ygrene has been a great financing option that many of our customers have opted for.  For many homeowners, this option has made it possible to strengthen their homes against hurricanes, and at the same time improve the energy efficiency of their homes.  As the program has expanded, more and more customers from Unincorporated Miami-Dade have decided to wait for this program in order to make these important improvements to their homes. As we speak, we are looking to add personnel to our sales staff as well as grow our installer base to accommodate the anticipated boost that Ygrene approval will bring to the business."

In addition to offering the most comprehensive PACE program in the market, Ygrene also leads the industry when it comes to its commitment to customer protections. From application through approval, construction, project completion and funding, Ygrene's customer protection policies ensure consumers are supported every step of the way. For more information, view or download Ygrene's Customer Assurance and Protections.

YgreneWorks for Miami-Dade
Ygrene's people-first approach to financing gives businesses and homeowners an affordable way to pay for energy efficiency and climate resiliency upgrades. YgreneWorks allows owners to pay for home and property improvements with terms of up to 20 years through their property tax bill with no upfront payments. Property owners can access a list of Ygrene certified contractors who will work with them to select and install eligible upgrades such as solar systems, energy efficient and impact resistant windows and doors, heating and air conditioning, cool roofs, and more.

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading provider of residential and commercial property assessed clean energy financing. The award-winning, privately funded YgreneWorksTM program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront payments for energy efficiency, renewables, and, in certain areas, water conservation, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is expected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Over 200 EV chargers will test Vehicle-Grid Integration (VGI) technology in Washington State

SPOKANE, Wash., July 27, 2016 -- Today Greenlots, a global provider of open standards-based distributed energy resource solutions, announced it was selected by Avista Utilities located in Spokane WA for a grid-integrated electric vehicle charging pilot that enables the utility to own and operate EV infrastructure.  Avista will integrate Greenlots' SKY platform with over 200 EV chargers for residential, workplace, and public charging sites throughout Eastern Washington.  This pilot is expected to provide Avista with a holistic view of scaling EV infrastructure sustainably with the grid, and inform intelligent longer term programs with utility owned EV charging infrastructure.  Together, Greenlots and Avista will implement various demand flexibility strategies to demonstrate the feasibility of higher EV penetration, in a way that maximizes the utilization of existing grid assets and minimizes unnecessary distribution and capacity upgrades, providing the most value and benefits possible to all electric customers. 

"We selected Greenlots for this pilot because it's an interoperable platform that provides a robust feature set for control at both the site and system level, and allows for the use of a variety of different EV chargers, reducing operational risk and capitalizing on market innovations as the pilot proceeds.  It also affords Avista opportunities to better engage with our customers while reducing the region's carbon footprint," said Kevin Christie, Vice President of Customer Solutions at Avista. "We look forward to strengthening our customer relationships with this pilot and supporting Washington State's Electric Vehicle Action Plan.  We expect this pilot to help accelerate EV adoption that can benefit all customers, and provide important information for smart, cost-effective programs in the future that involve utility-owned charging infrastructure."

This EV charging pilot aims to demonstrate how using demand response and smart charging programs can help reduce costs and create a more reliable and less expensive grid, by shifting charging to occur during times of lower system energy demand.  Beginning in August of 2016, Avista will install and maintain 200 Level 2 chargers across different locations as part of a two-year pilot with Greenlots.  120 Level 2 chargers will be installed in single-family and multi-family residences for qualifying Avista customers and the remaining 80 Level 2 chargers will be available to the public and used at select workplaces.  Additionally, Avista will install seven DC fast chargers in convenient public locations. Applications for the EV charging program are now available to Avista customers in Eastern Washington and can apply to the program here: avistautilities.com/transportation.

An early leader in interoperable Vehicle-Grid Integration technologies, Greenlots' SKY platform supports Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) for charger-to-central-system communication, SEP 2.0, and Automated Demand Response (OpenADR 2.0b) for flexible EV charging under diverse grid conditions. A future-proofed technology, Greenlots' hardware agnostic software provides leading utilities including Southern California Edison (SCE), Hawaiian Electric (HECO), the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) and others with a platform that bridges electric mobility, demand side management, and behind-the-meter energy storage markets for the built environment.

"Large-scale deployment of electric vehicles is required to achieve national greenhouse gas reduction goals.  Utilities are uniquely positioned to provide broad-based and cost-effective access to EV charging infrastructure to help make this transition possible," said Greenlots CEO, Brett Hauser. "Greenlots is proud to be partnering with Avista and the State of Washington as they move towards electrified transportation and a sustainable energy future."

About Avista Utilities
Avista Utilities is involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy. We provide energy services and electricity to 375,000 customers and natural gas to 335,000 customers in a service territory that covers 30,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.6 million. Avista Utilities is an operating division of Avista Corp. For more information, please visit www.avistautilities.com.

About Greenlots
Greenlots is a global provider of open standards-based distributed energy resource solutions. Its award-winning SKY Smart Charging™ charge management platform bridges electric mobility, demand side management, and behind-the-meter energy storage markets for the built environment. Greenlots operates the largest open fast charging network in North America, and provides utilities the ability to remotely control grid loads through smart charging, demand response, and energy storage initiatives. Visit www.greenlots.com for more information or follow us on Twitter @greenlots.

American-made electric bus demonstrates clean transportation future for all

PHILADELPHIA, July 22, 2016 -- As the nation converges on Philadelphia for the historic 2016 Democratic National Convention (DNC), the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Proterra and PECO will demonstrate their shared commitment to sustainable transit by providing test rides on an American-made electric bus, the Proterra Catalyst®.  The project is one component of Philadelphia's commitment to hosting the most sustainable national political convention ever.

SEPTA, along with Proterra and PECO, invites residents, delegates and visitors to SEPTA headquarters at 1234 Market Street to tour and ride SEPTA's soon-to-be-deployed battery-electric bus on Monday, July 25 from 1-5 p.m., and Thursday, July 28 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. In addition to the tour and demonstration, SEPTA will debut a new lobby exhibit showcasing the evolution of SEPTA's bus fleet over the years. Those interested in seeing the bus, or taking a ride, can learn more about the event by using #SEPTAINABLE on Twitter.

SEPTA, one of the largest transit agencies in the United States and operator of one of the greenest bus fleets in the nation, serves as a model transit agency and case study for the economic and environmental advantages of going electric. To better serve the 3.9 million residents across the five counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania, SEPTA was awarded a $2,585,075 milliongrant from the Federal Transit Administration to purchase 25 Proterra Catalyst buses and five overhead chargers that will begin operating on two routes in South Philadelphia in 2017.

"SEPTA is looking forward to adding 25 emission-free electric buses from Proterra," said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon. "SEPTA already has one of the greenest bus fleets in the nation, with over half of our vehicles operating diesel-electric hybrids. The addition of electric buses furthers our commitment to a sustainable future for our riders and local residents."

PECO, Pennsylvania's largest electric and natural gas utility, has worked closely with SEPTA and Proterra to provide EV bus charging infrastructure during the DNC. PECO also will support the overhead charging installations in the coming months. In addition to this effort, PECO's parent company, Exelon, is the official zero carbon energy provider of the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

"We are pleased to join SEPTA and Proterra in supporting clean, sustainable energy and transportation solutions at the 2016 Democratic National Convention," said Craig Adams, PECO President and CEO. "As part of the nation's largest energy services company, we are taking a leadership position in advancing the clean electric vehicle market across our region."  

"As more cities embrace zero-emission mass transit, we are honored to partner with SEPTA and PECO at such a historic event," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "Looking back on how far the electric bus industry has come over the last few years, it is very promising to see buses operating coast to coast. We look forward to gaining more support, as other cities understand that EVs offer higher performance, better economic savings and a number of environmental and public health benefits."

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to eliminate the dependency on fossil fuels and to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 252 vehicles to 28 different municipal, university, and commercial transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley, South Carolina, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit: http://www.proterra.com and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc. Media Contact: pr@proterra.com

About SEPTA:
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is the sixth largest public transportation system in the U.S., with an average weekday ridership of approximately 1.1 million. SEPTA's service area covers 2,202 miles in Philadelphia, Bucks,Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. SEPTA also provides rail service to Delaware and Trenton, N.J.  SEPTA operates multi-modal transportation services, including two subway/subway-elevated lines, 118 bus routes, eight trolley routes, three trackless trolley routes, one inter-urban High Speed Line, 13 Regional Rail (commuter rail) lines and ADA Paratransit service.

Partnership brings distributed energy management technology and new financing options to small-to-midsized commercial customers in New York State

VANCOUVER, B.C., JULY 21, 2016 -- Enbala Power Networks and Joule Assets were selected by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to implement a program aimed at hastening implementation of distributed energy resource (DER) management technology by small to midsized commercial and institutional businesses in New York State. Enbala will provide its leading edge DER optimization and control technology; Joule Assets will provide financing to install onsite building automation and controls technology-enabling site communication with Enbala’s platform.

The new three-year market transformation project reinforces the goals set out in New York State’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) program by delivering comprehensive DERs under an innovative, privately financed pay-for-performance structure.

Energy used by commercial buildings accounts for two-thirds of the state’s power consumption, and small to midsized businesses comprise 99 percent of New York’s commercial enterprises. Thus, these businesses present substantial opportunities to help the state meet its energy efficiency goals, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce energy costs and boost clean energy measures. Historically, however, smaller businesses have lacked the funding or economies of scale needed to leverage the cost and energy-saving benefits of DERs and associated optimization technologies.

This partnership between Enbala and Joule provides smaller businesses with a turnkey distributed energy management solution that leverages the Symphony by Enbala platform with capital provided by Joule’s innovative financing options. This allows businesses to bid into NYISO and ConEd demand response programs, while also reducing operating costs. NYSERDA projects that, as a result of the project, small and midsized business in New York will reduce annual electricity consumption by 1,400,000 kilowatt-hours and produce 500 kW of distributed energy assets.

“This is a significant milestone in the transformation of our electric grid and energy markets,” said Arthur “Bud” Vos, Enbala CEO. “New York is a strong leader with its forward-thinking REV program, and this NYSERDA initiative is an important step towards fulfilling the state’s goals of delivering multiple stakeholder value streams through distributed energy resources. It will clearly demonstrate how a networked ecosystem of diverse utility customers can be a critical component of the grid edge landscape, giving utilities the resource flexibility they need, while rewarding the customers with cost savings and new revenue opportunities.”

Joule’s pay for performance financing, backed with investment grade insurance by HSB, a Munich RE subsidiary, provides a clear path to value and scale for energy retrofits in historically underserved small and midsized enterprises (SMEs). Bringing sophisticated financing solutions to SME retrofits, Joule’s Energy Reduction Asset (ERA) Fund is committed to delivering on the multiple sources of value these projects produce. The financing component of the project provides a clear path to demonstrating New York’s priorities—animating markets and attracting private capital sources to fund infrastructure upgrades.

“There is significant economic potential in providing financing to smaller-scale contractors, a market segment whose needs have been largely unaddressed until now,” said Dennis Quinn, COO and co-founder of Joule Assets.

Mike Gordon, CEO and co-founder of Joule Assets, points out, “This project will demonstrate the valuable opportunities we can create at the grid edge under New York’s changing energy paradigm.”

About Enbala Power Networks     
Enbala Power Networks is focused on making the world’s power grids greener and more reliable, efficient and predictable by harnessing the power of distributed energy. Enbala’s real-time energy-balancing platform is transforming energy system operations through its revolutionary, highly flexible approach for creating controllable and dispatchable energy resources. It unobtrusively captures and aggregates available customer loads, energy storage and renewable energy sources to form a network of continuously controlled energy resources. The platform dynamically optimizes and dispatches these resources to respond to the real-time needs of the power system – all without impacting customer operations. For more information, visit http://www.enbala.com,  or follow Enbala on Twitter athttps://twitter.com/Enbala. 

About Joule Assets  
Joule Assets (Joule) actively empowers businesses, investors, communities, and individuals to capitalize on reductions of energy consumption through innovative financing, creative business models and regulatory policy in the U.S. and Europe. Through its market intelligence, expertise and performance-based financing approach, Joule enhances projects by generating and integrating new value and revenue streams. Each business unit - Joule Energy Reduction Asset Fund, Joule Energy Services, Joule Community Power, and Joule Europe - supports the overarching mission to develop, enhance, improve and catalyze the energy efficiency, control and clean generation markets. Learn more about Joule Assets at http://www.jouleassets.com.  Follow us on Twitter @JouleAssets. 

Property owners and local governments will benefit from energy efficient homes, climate resilient communities and reduced utility bills

SANTA ROSA, Calif., July 20, 2016 -- The Obama Administration has expressed its unequivocal support for the expansion of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) as a tool for assisting local communities in meeting their sustainability goals. With strong statements from the White House, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Administration laid out new guidelines for PACE financing.

"This guidance provides resolution on how PACE financings will be handled in the event of a property's sale, refinance or foreclosure and upholds PACE's senior lien position," said Stacey Lawson, CEO & President of Ygrene. "This is confirmation for the homeowners and local governments that have realized enormous, positive benefits of PACE financing for energy and water-related improvements."

Today's guidance makes clear that a senior PACE lien – a vital feature of PACE financing – can be secured to a property with an FHA-insured mortgage in a manner consistent with traditional special property tax assessments. Additionally, the announcement reinforces lien transferability by stating that in the event of a sale (including a foreclosure sale) that the outstanding PACE obligation will remain with the property and the new homeowner will be responsible for the balance.

In addition to the much-anticipated guidelines, the Administration formally launched the Clean Energy Savings for All Americans Initiative. This program is a joint partnership between the DOE, HUD, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Health and Human Services (HHS), Veteran's Affairs (VA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and aims to strengthen and expand the availability of PACE financing to low and moderate income families.

"We have long known that, if we are going to be successful in achieving our ambitious greenhouse gas emission goals, we need to ensure that all property owners, regardless of their income level, have access to these tools and resources," Lawson continued.

The Initiative includes a goal of generating 1 gigawatt of solar energy through low and moderate income families – enough to power roughly 700,000 homes.

With more than $785 million in committed capital, Ygrene is helping to scale resources for over 254 communities across the nation and is slated to begin doing business in Georgia, Missouri and Arkansas by the end of the year. To date, the YgreneWorks program has provided over $437 million in energy efficiency, renewables, water conservation and climate resiliency upgrades, resulting in an estimated $1.1B in economic stimulus, 6,549 new jobs created and sustained, 524 metric tons of CO2 reduction, 1.9B gallons of water saved and $873M in utility bill savings.

"We are encouraged by the President's support for PACE. This endorsement aligns with our goal of helping communities become resilient in the face of energy and climate-related pressures, while providing the highest quality consumer protections and customer service for people to safely and affordably make improvements to homes and businesses, reduce CO2 emissions and protect the planet for future generations," Lawson concluded. 

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading multi-state provider of residential and commercial property assessed clean energy financing. The award-winning, privately funded YgreneWorksTM program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewables, water conservation, and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Digitized Farms & Electric Garbage Trucks Honored for Advancing Innovation

SAN FRANCISCO, July 7, 2016 -- Last week the World Economic Forum (WEF) announced its selection of the world's 30 most promising Technology Pioneers at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, People's Republic of China. Companies were selected for their potential to significantly impact business and society through new technologies and advance the Fourth Industrial Revolution. mc² is pleased to announce that two of the 30 global recipients, Farmers Edge and Wrightspeed, are mc² portfolio clients.

Digitizing the farm to feed the 9 billion
Within the next few decades, agriculture and our ability to feed the world's future nine billion will likely eclipse all other global concerns. Operating in five countries with more than 7 million acres under management, Farmers Edge is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Farmers Edge was also recently named Canada's Disruptor Innovator of the Year by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for its efforts to ensure that growers around the world have an alternative to agriculture giants like Monsanto.

"Our clients are changing the future today," says mc2 CEO, Caroline Venza
 
The little range-extended powertrain that could
As Wrightspeed co-founder and CEO Ian Wright likes to say, electric cars are a step in the right direction, but the energy and fuel savings are minimal compared to what can be achieved by tackling the worst emission emitters on our streets today – commercial fleets. A drop-in replacement for today's conventional piston engine and transmission systems, Wrightspeed's the Route™ is a range-extended electric vehicle powertrain that provides dramatic fuel cost reductions for today's refuse, delivery and mass transit markets. An Edison Award winner and recent TEDx speaker on "How Jet-Powered Garbage Trucks Can Save the World," Ian Wright's recent piece for WEF "The Question We Really Should be Asking About Electric Cars" is a compelling take on EVs and economics.

The Technology Pioneers were selected from among hundreds of applicants. A selection committee of 68 academics, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and corporate executives based its decisions on criteria including innovation, potential impact, working prototype, viability and leadership. Past recipients and mc² portfolio clients include Proterra (2014) and Blue Oak Resources (2015). More on this year's Technology Pioneers can be found here: http://wef.ch/techpioneers

"Since our inception just three years ago, one third of our portfolio clients have been selected by the World Economic Forum for their sustainable contributions to the world," said mc² CEO, Caroline Venza. "At a time when we're radically reinventing business models, materials, global supply chains and resources, this acknowledgment by WEF fuels our determination to shine the light on meaningful innovators."

About mc²
Forging the path to a new world in which renewable resources, sustainable materials and business models coexist, then ultimately replace, fossil-based incumbents is no small feat. It hinges on radical innovation and market evangelism powerful enough to incite a sea change. MissionCTRL Communications (mc²) was founded to serve this need. A strategic communications consultancy serving innovators at the intersection of science and technology, mc² is partnered with some of the boldest future-tech pioneers today. Visit us at www.missionC2.com and follow us on Twitter @MissionC2.

Ag visionary and food security advocate to help guide global expansion of company

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, announced today that Jim Borel, a recently retired Executive Vice President of DuPont, has joined its Board of Directors. Widely considered one of the most influential and experienced figures in global agriculture, Borel joins existing board members Steve Mills of Archer Daniels Midland Company and Dayna Spiring, former chief strategy officer of the Canadian Wheat Board, during a period of rapid growth for the company.

In his nearly four-decade agriculture career leading DuPont’s Crop Protection and Pioneer businesses, as well as overseeing product stewardship, sustainability and new market expansion for the company, Borel has been and continues to be a vocal advocate for food security worldwide. Now, at Farmers Edge, he will help guide the company as it establishes new global markets, bringing novel precision agriculture solutions to ensure growers meet the mounting pressure to feed the world’s 9B future citizens.

“Like Wade, I was raised on a farm where the desire to provide for others was deeply ingrained in me from the start. At DuPont, I had the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with growers around the world, bringing the agriculture sector the same caliber of scientific and technology advances that have catapulted other industries forward,” said Jim Borel, former EVP of DuPont and Farmers Edge board member. “What sets Farmers Edge apart, in addition to its dedication to growers, is the role it has carved out as the farmers’ trusted data advisor. This role will become increasingly important as growers contend with continued market volatility and strive to increase profits as well as yields.”

“We are excited to continue adding world-leading industry expertise to the Farmers Edge board,” said Brook Porter, Senior Partner at Kleiner Perkins’ Green Growth Fund. “Jim Borel is one of the most respected executives in the agriculture industry and we’re honored to have him join us during this exciting growth phase for the business.”

2015 was a pivotal year for Farmers Edge as it expanded its global presence through its entrance into the U.S. and Australian agriculture markets. There it established key sales and operations teams, drawing on significant talent acquisitions from leading competitors including Monsanto, Syngenta and others. In April 2016, the company was named by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as Canada’s Disruptor Innovator of the Year.

“Over the last few years, we’ve been fortunate enough to attract top talent and early leaders in global agriculture, not just on the agronomy and data side, but at the board level as well,” said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. “Now as we look to compete and partner with the largest agribusinesses in the world, Jim’s support, guidance and blue-chip expertise will help inform the strategic direction of the company’s trajectory into a thriving multinational company.”

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge™ is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm since 2005, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedge.ca.

New products will make solar and energy storage more accessible than ever before

SANTA ROSA, Calif., June 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ygrene Energy Fund, the leading national provider of residential, commercial and multifamily property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, announced today it has appointed Mark Colby as General Manager, Solar and Storage. Colby will lead the effort to bring new, innovative financial products to the solar and energy storage markets as Ygrene expands its award-winning YgreneWorks™ program nationally.

"My principal job at Ygrene is to provide property owners access to solar and energy storage funding solutions that enable them to achieve their energy, financial and environmental goals. Toward that end, we are creating innovative financial products to better meet a broader customer base," said Mark Colby, Ygrene GM, Solar and Storage. "PACE has done a great job of funding residential solar, and, as the leading C-PACE provider, we see real value in delivering a wider range of high-quality financial options to both residential and commercial customers to more closely match their situations."

Colby brings deep domain expertise in renewable energy sales, operations and funding from his leadership roles at Solar Alliance, Envision Solar and ClearEdge Power. Before his time in the renewable energy sector, Colby was a Commanding Officer and nuclear engineer in the US Navy.

As GM, Colby will lead the rollout of a new generation of Ygrene tools, solutions and financial instruments designed to accelerate the adoption of solar and storage technologies while providing the highest quality safeguards and customer service for property owners to affordably make improvements to homes and businesses, reduce CO2 emissions and protect our planet for future generations. For more information, download our customer assurances and protections booklet.

With more than $785 million in committed capital, Ygrene is helping to scale resources for over 254 communities across the nation. To date, the YgreneWorks program has provided over $437 million in energy efficiency, renewables, water conservation and climate resiliency upgrades, resulting in an estimated $1.1B in economic stimulus, 6,549 new jobs created and sustained, 524 metric tons of CO2 reduction, 1.9B gallons of water saved and $873M in utility bill savings.

"As home and business owners continue to face volatile energy prices, solar and storage are just two of the wide range of solutions that can ensure predictable energy pricing," said Stacey Lawson, CEO & President of Ygrene. "Under Mark's guidance, we will continue to leverage our unique financial services DNA to bring innovative solutions to market that enhance our ability to offer ways in which property owners can conserve energy, save money and have peace of mind."

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading multi-state provider of residential and commercial clean energy financing. The award winning, privately funded YgreneWorks™ program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for property owners to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is expected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

World Economic Forum today announced its selection of the world’s 30 most promising Technology Pioneers 2016 at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, People’s Republic of China

Companies were selected for their potential to significantly impact business and society through new technologies and advance the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Farmers Edge provides growers worldwide with precision agriculture solutions that harness field-centric data to maximize agricultural productivity while minimizing on-farm input

The full list of recognized Technology Pioneers can be viewed here

WINNIPEG, Manitoba & TIANJIN, China -- Farmers Edge, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, was today awarded as one of the World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers, a selection of the world’s most innovative companies. Easily integrated with growers’ existing equipment and programs, the Farmers Edge Precision Solutions™ package provides a comprehensive turnkey system that includes: Variable Rate Technology, soil sampling and analysis, field-centric weather, in-field telematics and data transfer, high-resolution satellite imagery, field-centric data analytics, access to FarmCommand™ – an integrated farm management platform – and a network of highly experienced, trusted advisors to ensure growers have the data they need to make informed on-farm decisions for maximizing sustainable yields.

“We’re proud to be recognized by the World Economic Forum for our leadership in the next generation of precision agriculture innovation”

Farmers Edge was chosen by a professional jury among hundreds of candidates as one of the 30 selected companies. Thanks to its selection, it will have access to an influential and sought-after business and political network worldwide. Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge, is participating in the Annual Meeting of the New Champions, and many Technology Pioneers will also participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.

“We welcome Farmers Edge in this group of extraordinary pioneers,” said Fulvia Montresor, Head of Technology Pioneers at the World Economic Forum. “Farmers Edge is among those companies that is shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work and relate to one another. Through the platform of the World Economic Forum, it will be able to scale and share its technology and achieve a larger impact.”

“We’re proud to be recognized by the World Economic Forum for our leadership in the next generation of precision agriculture innovation,” said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. “Our data-driven approach to sustainable agriculture will continue to be a key tool for growers needing to improve productivity without deteriorating environmental conditions. Ultimately, as these conditions change and the population grows, our approach to farming represents a replicable, scalable model for the world’s largest and most important agricultural regions. We’re honored to be a part of the global food security solution.”

As in previous years, American-based entrepreneurs continue to dominate the list of Technology Pioneers, with 22 out of 30 recipients. Other selected pioneers come from France (2), Luxembourg (2), and Canada, Israel, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The Technology Pioneers are mostly active in IT, health (medtech), food, energy, environment, financial services (fintech) and production.

The Technology Pioneers were selected from among hundreds of applicants by a selection committee of 68 academics, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and corporate executives. Notable members of the committee include Jeffrey M. Drazen (Editor-in-Chief, The New England Journal of Medicine) and Sang Yup Lee (Distinguished Professor and Director, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). The committee based its decisions on criteria including innovation, potential impact, working prototype, viability and leadership. Past recipients include Google (2001), Wikimedia (2007), Mozilla (2007), Kickstarter (2011) and Airbnb (2013). More information on past winners can be found here.

All information on this year’s Technology Pioneers can be found here: http://wef.ch/techpioneers

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge™ is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm since 2005, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedge.ca

About the World Economic Forum: The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org).

"Flawless customer experience and comprehensive consumer protections are key," says Orrell, new EVP of Business Development and Products

SANTA ROSA, Calif., June 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ygrene Energy Fund, the leading national provider of residential, commercial and multifamily property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, announced today it has appointed Peter Orrell as Executive Vice President, Business Development and Products. A 20+ year consumer finance veteran of American Express Company, Orrell will lead business development and product strategy to expand Ygrene's product offerings and partnerships as it grows to meet demand for its clean energy financial service solutions.

"We're at an inflection point with PACE, and consumer finance, in general, that makes this an incredible time to join Ygrene," said Peter Orrell, Ygrene EVP, Business Development and Products. "Ygrene has all the components, from systems to financial expertise and most of all its culture, to build the kind of aspirational blue-chip brand that American Express has become. A vigilant dedication to consumer protections, disclosures, education and leadership is fundamental to Ygrene's brand. I see all of these in the high caliber team Ygrene has assembled as well as in the exponential growth it's experiencing in the market."

During his 20+ year tenure at American Express, Orrell led some of the Fortune 50's highest growth segments, from its Merchant Services Group, to theCorporate Card & Business Travel division to its airline business until becoming GM of the Global Client Group. In his new role at Ygrene, Orrell will leverage his experience in creating a seamless consumer experience that dovetails with today's demand for a clean energy financial services firm, while providing the highest quality safeguards and customer service for people to safely and affordably make improvements to homes and businesses, reduce CO2 emissions and protect the planet for future generations. For more information, download Ygrene's customer assurances and protections booklet.

With more than $785 million in committed capital, Ygrene is bringing scale resources to over 254 communities across the nation. To date, the YgreneWorks program has provided over $437 million in energy efficiency, renewable generation, water conservation and climate resiliency upgrades, resulting in $1.1B in economic stimulus, 6,549 new jobs created and sustained, 524 metric tons of CO2 reduction, 1.9B gallons of water saved, and $873M in utility bill savings.

"As PACE financing accelerates towards national adoption, Ygrene remains focused on the development of innovative clean energy financing mechanisms to provide consumers and businesses easy ways to access affordable capital necessary for making investments that conserve energy and protect against climate change," said Stacey Lawson, CEO & President of Ygrene. "Peter brings both vision and the highest level of knowledge in strategy, financial product services and the customer experience to Ygrene as we embark on this significant new growth phase."

About Ygrene Energy Fund

Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading multi-state provider of residential and commercial clean energy financing. The award winning, privately funded YgreneWorks™ program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for property owners to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

World Economic Forum today announced its selection of the world's 30 most promising Technology Pioneers 2016 at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, People's Republic of China

Companies were selected for their potential to significantly impact business and society through new technologies and advance the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Wrightspeed's powertrains are completely displacing conventional diesel engine and transmission systems in the most expensive emitters on urban streets today: commercial trucks and mass transit fleets

SAN JOSE, Calif. and TIANJIN, China, June 27, 2016 -- Today Wrightspeed Inc., the leading manufacturer of range-extended electric vehicle powertrains, was awarded as a World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneer, a selection of the world's most innovative companies. Designed as a replacement for conventional piston engine and transmission systems, Wrightspeed's the Route™ is a range-extended electric vehicle powertrain that provides unlimited range and dramatic fuel cost reductions for today's refuse, delivery and mass transit markets.

Wrightspeed was chosen by a professional jury among hundreds of candidates as one of the 30 selected companies. Thanks to its selection, it will have access to an influential and sought-after business and political network worldwide. Ian Wright, CEO and founder of Wrightspeed, is participating in the Annual Meeting of the New Champions, and many Technology Pioneers will also participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.

"We welcome Wrightspeed in this group of extraordinary pioneers," said Fulvia Montresor, Head of Technology Pioneers at the World Economic Forum. "Wrightspeed is among those companies that are shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work and relate to one another. Through the platform of the World Economic Forum, it will be able to scale and share its technology and achieve a larger impact."

"We are honored to be recognized by the World Economic Forum as one of the world's most innovative companies," said Ian Wright, CEO and Founder of Wrightspeed. "At Wrightspeed, we're dedicated to achieving efficiency without compromising performance. This award affirms the efficacy of our approach to improving the performance and operations of our cities' most demanding vehicles, and we're proud to know the world's leading economic thinkers are aligned with our vision."

As in previous years, American-based entrepreneurs continue to dominate the list of Technology Pioneers, with 22 out of 30 recipients. Other selected pioneers come from France (2), Luxembourg (2), and Canada, Israel, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The Technology Pioneers are mostly active in IT, health (medtech), food, energy, environment, financial services (fintech) and production.

The Technology Pioneers were selected from among hundreds of applicants by a selection committee of 68 academics, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and corporate executives. Notable members of the committee include Jeffrey M. Drazen (Editor-in-Chief, The New England Journal of Medicine) and Sang Yup Lee (Distinguished Professor and Director, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). The committee based its decisions on criteria including innovation, potential impact, working prototype, viability and leadership. Past recipients include Google (2001), Wikimedia (2007), Mozilla (2007), Kickstarter (2011) and Airbnb (2013). More information on past winners can be found here.

All information on this year's Technology Pioneers can be found here: http://wef.ch/techpioneers 

About Wrightspeed Inc.

Wrightspeed Inc. is the leading manufacturer of range-extended electric vehicle powertrains. Built on a tradition of quality systems engineering, Wrightspeed's powertrains are the next step in the evolution of vehicle propulsion. Its flagship product, the Route™, was designed to transcend commercial truck efficiency and performance, providing unlimited range and dramatically reduced fuel costs. Located in Silicon Valley, Wrightspeed was founded by Ian Wright, co-founder of Tesla Motors. For more information about Wrightspeed visit: http://wrightspeed.com/ and follow us on Twitter at @GOWrightspeed.

About the World Economic Forum: The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org).

In support of Mayor Garcetti's Sustainability pLAn and goal of making the City of Los Angeles' fleet the cleanest in the country

LOS ANGELES, June 8, 2016 -- Today Greenlots, a global provider of open standards-based distributed energy resource solutions, announced it has partnered with the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), and BMW of North America on a new electric vehicle (EV) program to help the City achieve its clean transportation goals as part of Mayor Garcetti's Sustainability pLAn. Greenlots will supply 100 Level 2 chargers and four DC fast chargers to LAPD, and integrate its software with LAPD's Fleet management program. This will represent the largest electric vehicle fleet and charging installation to ever serve a police department and underscores the City's dedication to improving Los Angeles' air quality by adopting innovative transportation solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"We should be thinking green in everything we do — and these new EVs show how local government can lead," said Mayor Garcetti. "Our sustainability plan pushes L.A. to speed adoption of greener practices and technologies, which also save money and resources."

Los Angeles currently has a 50% EV procurement guideline for all new light duty fleet vehicles, which will go to 80% by 2025 as called for in the Los Angeles Sustainable City pLAn. Together, the City and Greenlots will show how state of the art EV infrastructure and next-generation load management technology can reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of LAPD's electric fleet, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When the LAPD building is nearing peak capacity, SKY will reduce the charging load based on priority, allowing LAPD to optimally charge electric vehicles while avoiding overloading the building.

This spring, BMW will supply 100 BMW i3 electric vehicles to Los Angeles Police Department headquarters downtown. The goal of the LAPD is to add 500 more vehicles over the next five years. Greenlots will provide LAPD and the City of Los Angeles with a custom fleet charging and reporting system.

"As more electric vehicles penetrate the grid, this program will serve as a blueprint for scaling electric vehicle fleets sustainably," said Brett Hauser, CEO of Greenlots. "We look forward to helping the City of Los Angeles and the LAPD realize its clean fleet goals, by enabling high-density charging infrastructure with advanced energy management systems."

About pLAn
On April 8, 2015, Mayor Eric Garcetti released L.A.'s first-ever Sustainable City pLAn. The pLAn is both a roadmap to achieve back to basics short-term results while setting the path to strengthen and transform our City in the decades to come. By addressing the environment, economy, and equity together, we can move toward a truly sustainable future. The pLAn is made up of short term (by 2017) and longer term (by 2025 and 2035) targets in 14 categories that will advance our environment, economy and equity. To reach these targets, the Mayor is calling upon organizations, universities, neighborhood councils, community groups, businesses, and individual Angelenos to commit to "Adopt the pLAn" into action. You can find out more here: http://lamayor.org/plan.

About Greenlots
Greenlots is a global provider of open standards-based distributed energy resource solutions. Its award-winning SKY Smart Charging™ charge management platform bridges electric mobility, demand side management, and behind-the-meter energy storage markets for the built environment. Greenlots operates the largest open fast charging network in North America, and provides utilities the ability to remotely control grid loads through smart charging, demand response, and energy storage initiatives. Visit www.greenlots.com for more information or follow us on Twitter @greenlots.

Mack and Wrightspeed highlight retrofitted Mack-Wrightspeed refuse truck

LAS VEGAS, June 7, 2016 -- WasteExpo 2016 -- At this week's WasteExpo2016, Mack Trucks, one of North America's largest manufacturers of heavy-duty Class 8 trucks, engines and transmissions, will demonstrate its continued commitment to product excellence by showcasing a highly advanced powertrain innovation, Wrightspeed's The Route™. Designed as a replacement for conventional piston engine and transmission systems, the award-winning Route is a range-extended electric vehicle powertrain that provides unlimited range and dramatically reduced fuel costs for today's refuse, delivery and mass transit markets. Wrightspeed counts FedEx, Ratto Group and New Zealand Bus as early Route customers.

Today's refuse vehicle market is constantly looking for more efficient powertrain technology that performs on par with existing vehicle propulsion strategies while improving the environmental impact. WasteExpo attendees will have the opportunity to see one of these promising breakthroughs in Mack booth no. 1327: a Mack® LR® model refuse collection truck chassis retrofitted with the Route™ 1000 powertrain.

The future of garbage? Trucks that clean the air and your dumpster. At WasteExpo 2016, Mack Trucks showcases its LR(R) model refuse collection garbage trucks chassis, retrofitted with Wrightspeed's the Route(TM) 1000 powertrain.

"At Mack, our focus is delivering the best performing and most efficient products to our customers," said Curtis Dorwart, Mack's refuse product manager. "While our LR model trucks are already providing our refuse customers with the finest driving and operating experience, we continually investigate technologies that advance our offerings. Wrightspeed's The Route is a very interesting advanced technology that we're pleased to showcase during WasteExpo."

Capable of powering vehicles weighing up to 66,000 pounds up grades as steep as 40 percent, the Route provides the refuse market with the power-to-weight ratio needed for collection duty cycles. Outfitted with 730kW regenerative braking power, as well as an 80kW, fuel agnostic Fulcrum™ Turbine Generator that charges on-board batteries, the powertrain kit gives the vehicles unlimited range with refueling. The company's patented Geared Traction Drive™ (GTD) digitally drives each rear wheel of the vehicle, providing the slip control needed to operate in tough road conditions.

"Mack has long led the industry as a powertrain pioneer in its own right, and as one that actively seeks out other powertrain innovators," said Ian Wright, CEO and founder of Wrightspeed. "Highlighting The Route powertrain at WasteExpo signifies Mack's commitment to investigating the best performing and most efficient technologies with their complete lineup of refuse and recycling trucks. We thank them for their generosity in hosting us and their continued efforts on behalf of the industry."

About Wrightspeed Inc.

Wrightspeed Inc. is the leading manufacturer of range-extended electric vehicle powertrains. Built on a tradition of quality systems engineering, Wrightspeed's powertrains are the next step in the evolution of vehicle propulsion. Its flagship product, the Route™ was designed to transcend commercial truck efficiency and performance, providing unlimited range and dramatically reduced fuel costs. Located in Silicon Valley, Wrightspeed was founded by Ian Wright, co-founder of Tesla Motors. For more information about Wrightspeed visit: http://wrightspeed.com/ and follow us on Twitter at @GOWrightspeed.

Osmington Deepens its Commitment to Technology Play

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 24, 2016 -- Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, announced today that Osmington, Inc., a Toronto-based commercial real estate firm and one of the leading investors in Farmers Edge has exercised a $3.2 million investment option in the growing multinational. The option comes on the heels of a $58 million raise in January 2016 joined by Osmington and led by additional existing Famers Edge investors Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers’ Green Growth Fund. The $3.2 million option will support the growth of Farmers Edge into global markets and fuel its aggressive push into building a world-class data analytics team.

Osmington has traditionally focused on real estate investment, and Farmers Edge represents the company’s only technology investment to date. Osmington began investing in farmland four years ago as a non-correlated asset class and looked to Farmers Edge in 2015 as a technology investment that provided farmers with a simple solution to manage expenses and improve yields with field-centric data. The growth of big data for precision ag analytics has since emerged as an increasingly important value-add investment component with applications across broader market verticals.

“Farmers Edge is our first investment in a technology company and it’s a result of their great team matched with a proven, easy to use technology that will have a disruptive impact on the agricultural industry. Farmers Edge helps farmers increase their ROI by allowing them to make informed decisions using the Farmers Edge technology platform,” said Lawrence Zucker, President and CEO of Osmington. “As our interest in farming grows, it’s clear that access to field-centric data will ultimately add value to the entire agricultural industry, including seed companies, fertilizer companies, and even commodity traders who want to know what is happening in the fields before others.”

Easily integrated with growers’ existing equipment and programs, the Farmers Edge Precision Solutions™ package provides a comprehensive turnkey system that includes: Variable Rate Technology, soil sampling and analysis, field-centric weather, in-field telematics and data transfer, high-resolution satellite imagery, field-centric data analytics, access to FarmCommand™ – an integrated farm management platform – and a network of highly experienced, trusted advisors.

“Farmers continue to seek better tools to enable increased yields and profitability while achieving sustainable growing practices for a range of crops in diverse geographic regions around the world,” said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. “Osmington’s increased commitment to Farmers Edge will enable further development of easy-to-use technologies that leverage new levels of data for advanced precision agronomy.”

About Osmington

Formed in 1995, Osmington is a private commercial real estate company, owned and controlled by David Thomson, Chairman of Thomson Reuters. Osmington operates with the highest degree of integrity and has a stellar reputation in the Canadian real estate market. The Company's investment focus has been and continues to be focused on value creation. Signature projects for the Company include the retail redevelopment of Toronto's Union Station and the purchase and relocation of NHL's Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg to become the Winnipeg Jets.

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge™ is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm since 2005, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedge.ca

Reducing expenses, increasing asset value most important drivers of energy and water management improvements

OAKLAND, Calif., May 19, 2016 -- MACH Energy, a leading provider of energy and water management software services and solutions, revealed today the results of one of the largest national surveys to date of hotel and lodging professionals on energy and water management efforts. The poll reached out to over 5000 industry professionals, and the responses exposed significant opportunities to expand energy and water efficiency awareness as well as adoption of energy and water management best practices. Meanwhile hotel and lodging professionals seek to improve overall guest experience and the bottom line.

Of primary concern to MACH Energy in conducting the survey was to specifically gauge the operational depth and diversity of methods used by hotel teams in running their properties efficiently. Companies surveyed represented a full asset range, including luxury, casino, historical, boutique, economy, and extended stay properties. While 61% of respondents reported their hotels ran a sustainability program, the success of these programs remained unclear – 42% of those with programs did not know if their program was achieving savings, 29% of respondents did not have a program, and another 7% were unaware if a program existed.

"Despite many hotels proclaiming sustainability initiatives, there is an incredible opportunity to expand the adoption of affordable energy and water management solutions," said Wei-En Tan, Ph.D., Vice President of Research at MACH Energy. "Deployment of energy and water management systems, in particular, would provide immediate bottom-line improvements to teams looking to decrease operations costs, and improve their standing with guests, which will enhance revenue per available room (RevPAR)."

Among respondents who had implemented energy and water efficiency and sustainability measures, 80% listed cost reduction as their primary motivator, followed by interests or requirements of guests (39%) and ENERGY STAR scores or LEED requirements (30%). Little variation was seen by job title, with C-level executives, hotel owners, asset managers, general managers, regional directors, operations managers, engineering managers and sustainability directors universally stressing the importance of cost savings in describing energy priorities.

Additional survey takeaways include:

• 70% of respondents rely on operational improvements to reduce energy and water expenses, while 47% opt for capital-intensive projects such as occupancy sensors
• While 92% of respondents knew the general sizes of their common areas, 30% did not know the utility costs tied to the common areas, showing areas for improvement in reducing usage
• Only 30% of respondents reported using an Energy Management System to reduce energy and water costs

For survey participants who reported using an EMS to improve operational efficiency, 79% said reduced costs were their favorite feature, followed by real time monitoring capabilities (55%) and ease in tracking variance and budgets (45%).

"The hotel and lodging industry has made incredible strides to address sustainability concerns and to take advantage of the associated cost and time savings and improved guest experience," said Jon Moeller, CEO of MACH Energy. "Our team has worked hand-in-hand with some of the most progressive building teams to integrate energy management programs and make their job easier, and we look forward to bringing low-cost, high-impact EMS solutions to the rest of the industry as it embraces the value creation in energy and water management."

To download the complete report, please visit: http://contact.machenergy.com/industryreport/

About MACH

MACH Energy is a leading provider of CRETech energy and water management solutions for commercial real estate property managers, operators, engineers, and owners. With some of the nation's most iconic buildings under management, MACH counts hundreds of commercial, REIT, hotel and corporate building owners as customers encompassing hundreds of millions of square feet of properties across the country.

Funding platform provides flexible capital diversification to fuel company and industry growth

SANTA ROSA, Calif., May 18, 2016 -- Ygrene Energy Fund Inc., the nation's leading multi-state provider of residential and commercial property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, today announced the formation of a $250 million credit facility to support the expansion of its PACE program investments. The syndicated credit facility, among the first in the industry, includes capital commitments from a syndicate of three large banks and provides Ygrene with immediate capacity and financial flexibility to continue to grow its national presence.

With more than $785 million in project and operating capital raised to date, and an 800% year-over-year increase in applications, Ygrene has the opportunity to increase the new facility to over $400 million and expand its network of financial partners. The company offers the broadest PACE program in California and Florida, providing both residential and commercial financing across an extensive service territory, and announced that it will bring its YgreneWorks program to multiple new states this year including Georgia, Arkansas, Missouri, and others.

"The formation of this credit facility provides Ygrene with a flexible and manageable funding resource that allows for diversification and the ability to fund a variety of eligible PACE projects," said Ygrene CFO Michael Chan. "It will represent our core borrowing facility and serve as the backbone of Ygrene's capital platform as we continue expanding nationally. We are appreciative of our trusted lender relationships and value their support."

In addition to offering the most comprehensive program, Ygrene leads the industry when it comes to safe, transparent PACE financing with the highest level of consumer protections. From application through approval, construction, project completion and funding, Ygrene's Customer Protection Policy ensures consumers are supported every step of the way through our complete set of contractor certification, underwriting, consumer disclosure, data security and senior protection processes.

"As PACE takes root in additional states this year, this new facility marks a significant enhancement to our already robust capital platform and accelerates our ability to offer home and business owners across the nation the most affordable, accessible financing for clean energy and climate resiliency upgrades," said Ygrene CEO Stacey Lawson.

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading multi-state provider of residential and commercial property assessed clean energy financing. The award-winning, privately funded YgreneWorksTM program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewables, water conservation, and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

15-Year Veteran of CRE technology sector will leverage extensive real estate and software background to facilitate growth

OAKLAND,CA, June 8, 2016 – MACH Energy, a leading provider of energy and water management software services and solutions, today announced that Joe Nugent has been named Vice President of Business Development. Formerly the VP of Business Development at Genea and with more than 10 years of experience at CoStar Group, Inc., Nugent will apply his unique skill set to immediately broaden MACH’s already extensive list of industry-leading commercial real estate (CRE) relationships and to promote overall awareness of building operational efficiency.

“Energy efficiency standards like ENERGY STAR and LEED are more prevalent than ever, but commercial buildings are still missing out on fairly easy-to-implement cost savings initiatives. That’s why MACH is such an immediate value-add – its simple user interface provides clear, actionable initiatives for building owners and managers,” said Nugent. “MACH’s platform makes our customers’ job easier by enabling operational efficiency and energy / tenant reporting, and it’s a company where everyone is excited about helping CRE professionals succeed. I’m proud and excited to join the team.”

MACH continues to build on its position as the industry standard-bearer for cost-effective, easy-to-use energy management software and mobile solutions. In his new role, Nugent will introduce these best-in-class solutions to new customers and market verticals, ensuring property owners, building teams, and asset managers have the capacity to easily reduce operational costs and increase building valuations through operational efficiency.

“At MACH, our exceptional client relationships have been an integral part of our success. Joe is a good fit as he has spent his career forging strong local, regional and national relationships in the commercial real estate space.  As a result, he will add significant value to our team,” said Jon Moeller, CEO of MACH Energy. “As MACH brings its leading energy management solutions to new communities and customers, Joe will play a critical role in establishing key industry connections and increasing adoption of the MACH platform.”

About MACH

MACH Energy is a leading cloud-based and mobile provider of CRETech energy and water management solutions for commercial real estate property managers, operators, engineers, and owners. With some of the nation’s most iconic buildings under management, MACH counts hundreds of commercial, REIT, hotel and corporate building owners as customers encompassing hundreds of millions of square feet of properties across the country.

All Miami Residents Can Now Tap into Unprecedented Financing for Clean Energy Property Improvements

MIAMI, May 17, 2016 -- Based on the overwhelming success of a one-year residential pilot program, Florida's largest PACE financing provider, Ygrene Energy Fund, announced today that all fiveMiami districts have now adopted its award-winning program, YgreneWorks™. Ygrene is the nation's leading multi-state provider of residential and commercial property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for energy efficiency, hurricane protection and renewable energy improvements.

First introduced in June 2014 to Miami District 2 and District 4, YgreneWorks has quickly become the easiest, fastest, most affordable way to finance energy efficiency and climate resiliency home and business improvements. Since the start of the residential pilot program, Ygrene has received over 800 applications for energy efficiency and hurricane protection retrofits and has closed over $7.5 million in contracts. As a result of the program's success, the city has expanded YgreneWorks to all Miami residents and expects to see an increase in the demand for PACE-financed projects, in addition to new job creation and economic stimulus. The need for easy access financing for climate resiliency infrastructure improvements in Miami-Dade is on the upswing as the area commits millions to sea level rise abatement projects.

Faces of PACE: Contractors, Property Owners and Elected Officials Laud Ygrene Benefits

Across the five districts of Miami, more than 45 communities in Florida and more than 240 communities nationwide, including contractors, property owners and elected officials, trust PACE pioneer Ygrene to help grow their businesses, protect their properties and address the effects of climate change.

"After successfully running a commercial and residential pilot program in two districts, and responding to multiple requests from constituents all over the City, we are excited to announce the full roll out of YgreneWorks in Miami. All property owners can now take full advantage of Ygrene's home improvement financing." – Tomás Regalado, Mayor of the City of Miami

 "After almost 10 years without a major hurricane, Miami residents can't continue to risk postponing climate-critical home improvements for yet another season. Within the past year, our business of installing impact resistant windows and doors has grown substantially as property owners seek peace of mind. Because of the Ygrene program, property owners can now improve their properties without having the stress and financial pressure to pay forthright." – Javier Avila, CEO of Miami-based American Impact Window and Door

"We're proud to be living and raising a family in the city of Miami, and excited about the opportunity to make significant upgrades to our home without having to access a personal line of credit. With YgreneWorks, we were able to install hurricane-resistant windows and doors on our house with no upfront costs, helping to improve the value of our property and also safeguard our home and family from the impact of tropical storms." – Jessica Fernandez, Miami homeowner and satisfied YgreneWorks customer

Financing $1B in Critical Upgrades, Protecting Customers Every Step of the Way

YgreneWorks leads the industry in customer protections and in doing so, is committed to providing Miamihomes and businesses with safe, flexible financing that starts with the application process and continues until the project has been completed and approved. Property owners can have confidence that Ygrene is supporting them every step of the way: that their contractor is Ygrene certified, that they will understand the terms and conditions of their financing agreement, and that they know their sensitive information is protected.

Nationwide, YgreneWorks has approved more than $1 billion in applications for over 21,000 buildings and has completed $394 million in contracts, producing more than $985 million in economic stimulus and creating 5,910 jobs. In Florida, it has financed more than 90% of all PACE projects to date totaling $61M.

"Today Miami has joined the dozens of other cities in Florida that have already chosen to adopt and expand PACE as a primary means to protect Floridians from growing energy costs, rising sea levels, more extreme weather scenarios and increased risk to property values," said Stacey Lawson, CEO of Ygrene. "We applaud the city, and look forward to partnering with residents, contractors and property owners to make energy efficient, climate-resilient buildings a reality across the entire state of Florida." 

About Ygrene Energy Fund

Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading multi-state residential and commercial provider of property assessed clean energy financing. The award winning, privately funded YgreneWorks™ program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Improved Catalyst® XR Transit Vehicle will deliver 28% more range from the same storage volume

BURLINGAME, Calif., May 16, 2016  -- Proterra, the market leader of zero-emission, battery-electric buses in North America, today announced a new battery design for the Proterra Catalyst® XR transit vehicle at the American Public Transportation Association Bus and Paratransit Conference (APTA), a gathering for U.S. transit agencies to showcase the best innovations in mass transit. Within the same energy storage footprint as the original Catalyst XR, the battery-enhanced vehicle now holds 28 percent more energy at 330 kWh and a best-in-market lightweight vehicle body. All current Catalyst XR customers will receive a complimentary upgrade to the higher energy level.

"Our goal is to enable a complete replacement of fossil-fueled transit vehicles," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "By steadily improving the range and charging capability of our purpose-built EV transit vehicles, we're broadening the market for EV transit very quickly, enabling more cities and more routes to go Zero Emission sooner." 

Since establishing its state-of-the-art battery-engineering lab in Silicon Valley, Proterra has attracted world-class engineers from leading technology companies to design batteries specifically for heavy-duty EV transit. With extensive background in mechanical, electrical and battery systems engineering, the team architected a new Catalyst XR battery pack for optimal efficiency which now delivers additional range while remaining the lightest vehicle in its class.

"By increasing the battery's energy density, the team was able to utilize the Catalyst vehicle's purpose-built design and maintain its light weight," said Gary Horvat, chief technology officer at Proterra. "The improved Catalyst XR marks another step toward Proterra's goal of providing a high-performance bus that can serve any transit route in the United States."

The award-winning bus has already achieved the best efficiency rating ever for a 40′ transit bus at 22 MPGe. Nearly six times more efficient than a diesel or CNG bus, the Catalyst is also significantly more energy efficient per mile than the closest competitors' electric bus. Other performance benefits of the Catalyst XR2 include:

• Longest nominal range: capable of traveling a maximum of 194 miles on a single charge, based on Altoona efficiency measures.  Actual mileage will vary with route conditions.
• Lightest weight: at least 2,000 lbs. lighter than any other 40' battery electric bus on the market, while being more efficient.
• Designed for safety: Catalyst vehicles are purpose-built and engineered for the safest location of batteries—outside of the passenger compartment. The batteries are temperature-controlled and incorporate both active and passive safety systems, with ruggedized, reinforced battery packs that are further separated from passengers by a heavy-duty structural barrier. 

Transit agencies interested in assessing route-specific range along with the cost savings, performance and environmental benefits of the updated Catalyst XR, can now receive accurate system-level data with the new Proterra® EV Simulator, which will be on display at booth 631 during the APTA conference.

About Proterra
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 155 vehicles to 16 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley, Southern California and South Carolina. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

Appointment of clean energy marketing expert signals new growth phase for PACE provider

SANTA ROSA, Calif., May 3, 2016 -- Ygrene Energy Fund, the leading national provider of residential, commercial and multifamily property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, announced today it has appointed solar industry veteran Louis-Philippe Lalonde as Chief Marketing Officer. Lalonde brings over 25 years of experience in technology ventures, renewable energy, and finance to Ygrene as it expands its award-winning YgreneWorks™ program nationally.

Lalonde comes to Ygrene as an acknowledged expert in designing and marketing renewable energy financing instruments. In addition to playing a role in the nascent development of PACE, he has held executive positions at Akeena Solar, Enecsys, and CentroSolar and joins Ygrene at a time of exponential growth. As CMO, Lalonde will lead the company's strategic vision, product marketing discipline, performance analytics, and communications platform as Ygrene continues scaling its operations and industry-leading customer service from coast to coast.

"I feel I've come full circle in returning to the renewable energy financing sector and the timing couldn't be more ideal as PACE claims the leadership role as the most flexible mechanism to provide capital for a wide range of building improvements from energy efficiency and renewables to water conservation and beyond," said Lalonde. "As I did due diligence, the sophistication of Ygrene's financial instruments, its commitment to the customer experience and its strategic long-view on what a full-service financial services firm catering to climate resilient infrastructure can become made it the clear path forward."

Lalonde will focus his immediate attention on engaging new and existing customers and empowering Ygrene's national base of more than 3,000 certified contractor partners. In particular, he'll look to harness his solar marketing background to build awareness and engagement around the unique benefits of PACE as a preventative measure against fluctuating energy prices, drought, and severe weather events.

"As we lead the sector in expanding PACE into new states this year, we sought a talented marketing professional who can weave an engaging story across all of our channels and customer connections and help us evangelize the benefits of affordable, accessible PACE financing to more home and business owners across the U.S.," said Stacey Lawson, CEO & President of Ygrene. "We are lucky to have Louis, a veteran of both the solar and PACE sectors, join us as CMO. I will look to him to invest in and strengthen our customer relationships as we embrace this next growth phase."

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is a leading residential and commercial provider of clean energy financing throughoutthe United States. The award winning, privately funded YgreneWorks™ program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Energy Efficiency Property Improvements Total Over $100 Million in Savings

SANTA ROSA, Calif., May 11, 2016 -- As part of the Obama Administration's efforts to cut energy waste in the nation's buildings, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today recognized Ygrene Energy Fund, the nation's leading multi-state provider of residential and commercial property assessed clean energy financing for achieving its Better Buildings Challenge goal by investing over $100 million in commercial building energy efficiency projects. The award-winning YgreneWorks™ program provides residential, commercial and multifamily property owners the financing they need to immediately install energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy and climate resiliency upgrades with no up-front costs. Approved in more than 240 communities across the U.S., YgreneWorks has emerged as a way for cities and counties to achieve energy and climate initiatives while fortifying against fluctuating energy prices, drought and severe weather events.

The Better Buildings Challenge, part of the President's Better Building Initiative, aims to increase energy efficiency in buildings by 20 percent over the next decade and reduce energy costs for American businesses by nearly $40 billion. To achieve these ambitious targets, Ygrene committed to unlock a minimum of $100 million in financing for commercial building energy efficiency improvements. Together, the retrofit projects created $250 million in economic stimulus, over 1,500 new and sustained jobs and$200 million in energy savings—the equivalent of providing power to 99,000 homes for a year.

"Thanks to a dedicated drive to actively create and share the best energy efficiency solutions, Better Buildings partners have dramatically cut their energy waste and saved more than a billion dollars since the Better Buildings initiative was launched five years ago," said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. "As the initiative continues to grow, we are moving the nation forward by reducing energy costs and carbon emissions through energy efficiency."

Nationwide, YgreneWorks has approved more than $1 billion in applications for over 21,000 properties and has completed $394 million in contracts, producing more than $985 million in economic stimulus, more than 5,900 jobs and $788 million in energy savings—equal to providing power to 390,000 homes for a year.

"Ygrene is proud to partner with the Obama Administration and the Department of Energy as an industry leader and 2016 Goal Achiever by unlocking hundreds of millions of dollars in energy savings for the Better Buildings Challenge program," said Stacey Lawson, CEO & President of Ygrene. "The demand for affordable, accessible financing for clean energy and climate resiliency upgrades is increasing. As we expand our national footprint, we look forward to extending the benefits of PACE to more home and business owners across the U.S. and achieving an even higher Better Buildings Challenge goal."

About Ygrene Energy Fund

Ygrene Energy Fund is the nation's leading multi-state provider of residential and commercial property assessed clean energy financing. The award-winning, privately funded YgreneWorksTM program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewables, water conservation, and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Platform calculates financial and environmental benefits of ZEV technology

BURLINGAME, Calif., May 16, 2016  -- Proterra, the market leader of zero-emission, battery-electric buses in North America, today announced the addition of the Proterra® EV Simulator to their growing suite of products and services. The EV Simulator provides fleet managers with customized, system-level information on electric bus deployment. Designed to visualize mass transit networks and to assess the cost savings, performance improvements and environmental benefits of battery-electric transport, the Proterra EV Simulator generates a side-by-side comparison of Proterra's transit solutions with diesel, CNG and hybrid technologies on specified transit routes within a chosen public transit system. Proterra will display the performance simulator on May 17th at booth 631 during the American Public Transportation Association Bus and Paratransit Conference in Charlotte, NC.

Utilizing data that drives Google's map applications and based on algorithms that are built on performance data from Proterra's two million miles of real-world experience, the Proterra EV Simulator incorporates a wide variety of variables affecting vehicle performance, including route specifications, local temperatures, passenger load and vehicle efficiency. Proterra's offering represents the most comprehensive and accurate heavy-duty vehicle performance comparison simulator in the public transit market.

The Proterra EV Simulator takes into account energy use of the Proterra electric powertrain and provides an estimated daily route analysis based a specified passenger load, layover times, the number of buses in operation and number of route loops, as well as energy efficiency, vehicle charge time and battery state-of-charge on-route and at the end of the day.  Some of the key calculations include:

• Annual maintenance and operational costs per Proterra bus
• Lifetime maintenance and fuel savings
• Overall Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
• Energy efficiency MPGe
• Total daily distance and energy used per day
• Charge time

"As communities increasingly seek out EV public transit as an alternative to diesel, the Proterra EV Simulator removes all the guesswork from the procurement process, demonstrating the specific route-by-route benefits of fleet electrification," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "Whether its battery efficiency, high-occupancy vehicle design, or data-enhanced route analysis, Proterra is innovating on all fronts in the EV transportation sector."

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 155 vehicles to 16 different municipal and university transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley and South Carolina. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc

Demand for the Proterra Catalyst® Bus Surges with 33 New Orders from Philadelphia & Seattle

BURLINGAME, Calif., April 21, 2016 -- Proterra, the market leader of zero-emission, battery-electric buses inNorth America, today announced that SEPTA, Foothill Transit and King County Metro have won Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low or No Emission Vehicle Deployment Grants. The Low-No grant winners will use their funds to purchase 33 Catalyst®buses and charging infrastructure, bringing Proterra's total number of orders to 155 vehicles from 16 transit agencies across the United States. Proterra customers won 33 of the 55 buses awarded under this program. With new and existing Proterra customers building their zero-emission vehicle fleets, this announcement underscores the rising demand for Proterra® zero-emission battery-electric buses and highlights that the electric bus market is going mainstream.   

As one of the largest transit agencies in the United States, serving 3.9 million people in five counties in and around Philadelphia, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will receive $2,585,075 from FTA and use the funds to purchase 25 Proterra Catalyst buses and five overhead chargers. SEPTA will be procuring more zero-emission vehicles with less Low-No funding than any other grant recipient, which is a testament to SEPTA's electric vehicle vision and state of the EV bus market. Proterra zero-emission buses will be deployed on Routes 29 and 79 in South Philadelphia.

"SEPTA is excited to be able to move forward with the purchase of 25 emission-free electric buses from Proterra," said SEPTA Board Chairman Pasquale T. Deon. "SEPTA already has one of the greenest bus fleets in the nation, with over half of our vehicles operating diesel-electric hybrids. The addition of electric buses furthers our commitment to a sustainable future for our riders and local residents."

On the heels of completing one of the most rigorous performance tests in the industry, King County Metro Transit, serving the greater area of Seattle Washington, will now be able to fully electrify two routes using new funds from FTA's Low-No Program for eight additional Proterra Catalyst vehicles. This award will increase KCM's battery-electric fleet to 11 Catalyst vehicles.

Proterra's first customer and the first agency in the U.S. to operate EV buses in revenue service, Foothill Transit, also received Low-No grant funding that will go towards electric charging facilities and support the transit agency's ongoing electric bus program. Foothill Transit, which serves more than 14 million customers in Los Angeles County, will be getting 13 Proterra Catalyst buses from a previous order this year, bringing Foothill's all-electric fleet to nearly 10 percent of the transit agency's total. 

"This award is a big win for Proterra and the industry alike because it signals continued market demand for zero-emission vehicles," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "We are pleased to be supporting SEPTA, Foothill Transit and King County Metro in their electrification efforts and are committed to designing and manufacturing state-of-the-art, zero-emission buses that ultimately save our customers time and money."

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 155 vehicles to 16 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley and South Carolina. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

Deal marks Wrightspeed's expansion into mass transit and Infratil and NZ Bus' leadership in New Zealand's transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy

SAN JOSE, Calif. and WELLINGTON, New Zealand, April 20, 2016 -- Today Wrightspeed Inc., the leading manufacturer of range-extended electric vehicle powertrains, announced a US $30M deal with Infratil-owned NZ Bus, the country's largest operator of urban bus services. Under the terms of the deal, Wrightspeed will provide its award-winning powertrain technology – the Route™ 500 – to NZ Bus. The move marks Wrightspeed's first expansion beyond refuse and delivery applications, into mass transit, signaling multinational and multimodal demand for the company's first-in-kind powertrain technology.

With nearly 75 percent of its electricity sourced from clean energy including, hydro, geothermal and wind power, New Zealand has one of the cleanest energy mixes on the global stage. This deal marks the first tangible step towards New Zealand's public transportation fleet transitioning to electric powered vehicles, which will make a significant contribution to reducing the country's carbon footprint.

Zane Fulljames, CEO of NZ Bus, said the company has explored all the options on the market for maintaining a market-leading position in bus infrastructure by accelerating evolution to electric vehicles.

"Wrightspeed's powertrains outperformed the competition on nearly every metric and will provide us with the fuel source flexibility and economically compelling technology to future-proof our transit assets. For example, the technology enables us to reimagine our trolley buses, rather than decommissioning them," said Mr. Fulljames.

Wrightspeed's the Route 500 range-extended powertrain is capable of powering vehicles weighing up to 36,000 pounds, in grades as steep as 40 percent. Vehicles with Wrightspeed's powertrain maintain an efficient drive, with an estimated 11.1 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent. The 80kW, fuel agnostic Fulcrum™ Turbine Generator charges on-board batteries, which provide power to turn the wheels and give the buses unlimited range with refueling. The company's patented Geared Traction Drive (GTD)™ digitally drives each wheel of the vehicle, providing the slip control needed to manage New Zealand streets.

"This partnership with NZ Bus is our first international order, which is significant in a country where fuel costs today are close to 3x what they are in the U.S.," said Ian Wright, CEO and Founder of Wrightspeed. "New Zealand's commercial fleets have been challenged by some of the most rigorous road conditions and some of the highest global fuel costs. Our technology offers an ideal and economically attractive match for these conditions and is contributing a proven solution to the country's emerging clean transportation grid."

About Wrightspeed Inc.

Wrightspeed Inc. is the leading manufacturer of range-extended electric vehicle powertrains. Built on a tradition of quality systems engineering, Wrightspeed's powertrains are the next step in the evolution of vehicle propulsion. Its flagship product, the Route™ was designed to transcend commercial truck efficiency and performance, providing unlimited range and dramatically reduced fuel costs. Located in Silicon Valley, Wrightspeed was founded by Ian Wright, co-founder of Tesla Motors. For more information about Wrightspeed visit: http://wrightspeed.com/ and follow us on Twitter at @GOWrightspeed.

About Infratil

Infratil is an owner and operator of businesses in the energy (renewable), airport, public transport and social infrastructure sectors. Its energy operations are through Trustpower in New Zealand and Australia, and it owns Wellington Airport in New Zealand. Infratil's public transport businesses are based inWellington and Auckland, and it has investments in retirement living with listed New Zealand operator Metlifecare and RetireAustralia based in Brisbane, Australia. Infratil invests in growth infrastructure sectors supporting excellent management and employee commitment to deliver top quartile financial, operational and service performance. Infratil is listed on both the New Zealand and Australian stock exchanges (IFT.NZ and IFT.AX).

About NZ Bus

NZ Bus is the largest operator of urban bus services in New Zealand. It has a fleet of over 1,000 buses, employs approximately 1,900 people and carries over 50 million passengers each year. NZ Bus is committed to the future of public transport in New Zealand, by making it more efficient, reliable and accessible for everyone. NZ Bus is 100% owned by Infratil.

Media contacts: 

MissionCTRL Communications for Wrightspeed
wrightspeed@missionc2.com

Expands Farmers Edge Presence in North America and Increases Precision Agriculture Adoption

WINNIPEG, Manitoba & BURLINGTON, Colo.--Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, announced today that it has partnered with Eastern Colorado Seeds (ECS), LLC, a preeminent seed provider specializing in forage crops. With this partnership, the ECS network of over 3,000 growers, spanning more than 8 states, now has access to high-quality, field-centric data to direct decision-making on the farm, as well as “boots on the ground” support from the Farmers Edge world-class team of precision agronomy experts and experienced technology and equipment specialists.

“Many factors, like crop markets, weather and farm labor, remain out of our control but still significantly impact our bottom lines. It is important today to incorporate management strategies and technologies that improve efficiencies on the farm and bolster our profits,” said Clay Smith, CEO and owner of Eastern Colorado Seeds. “We chose Farmers Edge because they are the only company that provides growers with what they need to thrive, even as the markets struggle. At the end of the day, they have the people, the technical support and the infrastructure in place to bring precision agriculture to our expanding customer-base of world-class growers.”

Easily integrated with growers’ existing equipment and programs, the Farmers Edge Precision Solutions™ package provides a comprehensive turnkey system that includes: Variable Rate Technology, soil sampling and analysis, field-centric weather, in-field telematics and data transfer, high-resolution satellite imagery, field-centric data analytics, access to FarmCommand™ – an integrated farm management platform – and a network of highly experienced, trusted advisors. With access to this comprehensive package, ECS growers will be able to efficiently and precisely farm more acres with different needs, from dryland wheat fields to irrigated corn acres.

“Right now, we are rapidly expanding and bringing our field-centric approach to regions primed for more productive agriculture,” said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. “ECS’s acute agronomic expertise and commitment to customer service throughout the Western Plains makes them an ideal partner as our Precision Solutions take root across the U.S. Most importantly, ECS understands the value in utilizing big data to increase productivity and efficiency on the farm, which aligns with our vision of supporting growers for a more prosperous and sustainable agriculture industry.”

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedge.ca.

Mobile application for iPhone/iPad enables real-time, paperless meter logging

OAKLAND, CA, April 20, 2016 – MACH Energy, a leading provider of commercial real estate (CRE) energy monitoring and management software services and solutions, announced today the availability of the MACH Energy tenant billing mobile application. This extension of MACH’s tenant billing platform makes building teams’ jobs easier by solving the time-consuming and error-prone task of manual tenant billing and sub-meter data collection for commercial property managers and engineers. Please register here to join our webinar on Thursday, April 21 at 11:30 a.m. Pacific / 2:30 p.m. Eastern to learn how tenant billing and bill back services are saving commercial property executives time and money.

MACH Energy for iPhone and iPad makes it easy to keep track of building energy use and operating conditions for busy operations professionals. Its simple, on-the-go interface drastically reduces the time burden and data-entry errors associated with manual clipboard-based meter monitoring. In addition, the app enables a streamlined and paperless workflow that functions in tandem with MACH’s comprehensive building energy management system (EMS) for CRETech and property management professionals. 

“Manual collection of sub-meter information and data used to be a long, tedious process for building managers and engineers, and often resulted in costly and time-consuming errors,” said Jon Moeller, CEO of MACH Energy. “Our Tenant billing solution works with both communicating and non-communicating meters, streamlining the process and bringing meter data collection and energy management into the mobile era.”

Available for download to subscribers of the MACH Energy service here, benefits of the Tenant Billing solution for both desktop and mobile include:

• Get set up quickly and create elegant bills with ease
• Engage your tenants with customized messaging
• Maintain all billing history, rates, meter readings and tenant information to effortlessly support any requested audits
• Upgrade to communicating meters to free up your engineering staff from tedious meter reading
• Bill tenants for electricity, steam, natural gas, chilled water and domestic water usage
• Increase cash flow with quick rate calculations from the MACH Energy Tariff Engine, or derive rates from utility bills or lease agreements
• Allocate tenant usage by meter and/or square footage

About MACH Energy

MACH Energy Inc. is a leading provider of CRETech energy management solutions for commercial real estate property managers, operators, engineers, and owners. With some of the nation’s most iconic buildings under management, MACH counts hundreds of commercial, REIT, hotel and corporate building owners as customers encompassing hundreds of millions of square feet of properties across the country.

Media Contact

MissionCTRL for MACH Energy

machenergy@missionC2.com

Persistent drought drives adoption of PACE programs statewide

SANTA ROSA, Calif., April 5, 2016 -- Ygrene Energy Fund, the leading multi-state provider of residential and commercial PACE financing, today announced that Riverside County has adopted its award-winning YgreneWorks™ program. The program gives residents access to private funds necessary to make water conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate resiliency upgrades. With $1 billion in approved applications for over 21,000 properties, and $350M in completed contracts, Ygrene has been generating successful outcomes for customers across the United States. Riverside businesses and homeowners interested in Ygrene's zero-down financing, please visit ygreneworks.com.

"Government should encourage competition and an open market and ensure that consumers have choices, which is why I strongly supported Riverside County opening up the marketplace to provide access to the YgreneWorks PACE program," said Riverside County Supervisor Kevin Jeffries.

Ygrene is now authorized in more than 200 cities and counties in California and Florida. In California, drought-related water mandates have urged most of the state's largest municipalities to adopt YgreneWorks, including the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Fresno, Sacramento, Oakland and Santa Ana, as well as 29 counties, now including the County of Riverside.

Ygrene's PACE program allows home and business owners to pay for energy and water efficient upgrades through their property taxes. These upgrades are done by local businesses and serve to bolster regional economies. Since the company's inception, Ygrene has trained and certified nearly 3,000 contractors in communities across its multi-state service territory.

With an 800% year-over-year increase in applications, Ygrene is providing unprecedented access to clean energy and climate resilient upgrades through its zero upfront cost financing program, YgreneWorks™. Ygrene can finance a range of energy, water, and climate resiliency upgrades such as solar power, drought-tolerant landscaping and seismic retrofits.

"While residential PACE projects have proliferated in Riverside, the county's commercial and multi-family property owners have not yet had access to the same PACE-enabled energy efficiency and resiliency benefits that homeowners have enjoyed. Now, with Ygrene's PACE program, all property types in Riverside can minimize their carbon footprints and reduce their energy costs," said Stacey Lawson, President and CEO of Ygrene. "We thank everyone who helped to bring YgreneWorks to Riverside and look forward to serving the community as it brings water conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate resiliency measures within reach for all."

Ygrene by the Numbers

• 62 multifamily housing (MFH) projects completed, making it the largest MFH funder
• $875M in local economic stimulus
• 5,250 jobs created & sustained
• $700M energy saved (utility bill savings)
• 1.5B Gal water saved

About Ygrene Energy Fund

Ygrene Energy Fund is a leading residential and commercial provider of clean energy financing throughout the United States. The award winning, privately funded YgreneWorks™ program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Orlando Joins 60+ Cities and Counties throughout Florida in Adopting PACE

MIAMI, March 30, 2016 -- On the heels of this year's National Hurricane Conference and Florida's continuing efforts on climate preparedness, Ygrene Energy Fund announced today that Orlando has joined the ranks of 60+ cities and counties across Florida in the adoption of property assessed clean energy (PACE). By voting to join the Green Corridor PACE district, Orlando has selected the state's largest PACE program, YgreneWorks, to finance millions in energy efficiency and climate resiliency upgrades for home and business owners.

Through the award-winning YgreneWorks program, Ygrene has financed over 90% of the PACE projects in the state of Florida to date, providing residential, commercial and multi-family property owners the financing they need to immediately install efficiency, renewable energy and climate resiliency upgrades in the face of rising sea levels and hurricane activity--with no up-front costs.

Ygrene is the only PACE provider in Florida to reach scale with over $55M in project contracts and more than 2,000 projects financed and approved. Nationwide, YgreneWorks has approved more than $1 billion in applications for over 21,000 buildings and has completed $300 million in contracts nationally, producing more than $750 million in economic stimulus, 4,500 jobs and 19MW of energy. Together these projects have saved 1.3 billion gallons of water and enough energy to power 300,000 homes for a full year, while also keeping 360K metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

"Today Florida and Green Works Orlando took yet another step in protecting Floridians as they face rising sea levels, more extreme weather scenarios and increased risk to property values," said Stacey Lawson, CEO of Ygrene. "We applaud Orlando and its Green Works initiative as they work to become one of the most sustainable cities in America."

About Ygrene Energy Fund

Ygrene Energy Fund is a leading residential and commercial provider of clean energy financing throughout the United States. The award winning, privately funded YgreneWorks™ program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

With close to 20 years of experience, Ormann will support growth in key markets and drive innovation in the global agtech sector

WINNIPEG, MB, March 29, 2016 -- Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, today announced that Todd Ormann has been named Vice President of Product. Formerly a Senior Head of CRM and Market Planning at Syngenta and the Vice President of Agriculture at United Farmers of Alberta (UFA), one of Canada’s largest and most influential agricultural cooperatives, Ormann will now oversee the product management and marketing divisions of Farmers Edge and will spearhead strategy initiatives to establish and expand the company’s global footprint in new business areas and key broad-acre markets.

“Farmers Edge has clearly differentiated itself from other agtech providers by ensuring and protecting independent data ownership, and I’m looking forward to bringing this same opportunity to more growers around the globe,” said Ormann. “With its complete package of integrated hardware, software, and personalized support, Farmers Edge is revolutionizing an industry that I’ve been a part of my entire career – and I’m proud to join the company during a period of such rapid growth.”

Ormann comes to Farmers Edge on the heels of its expansion into Brazilian and North American markets, proving that the company is becoming the default home for agriculture leaders seeking to help disrupt the traditional agtech space. Synthesizing customer needs with industry innovation, he will ensure consistency, scalability, and usability of the Farmers Edge product line to further solidify the company’s market-leading position. With the addition of Ormann, Farmers Edge strengthens its already impressive team of agronomists, product innovators, and sustainability experts.

“Our ongoing commitment to independent data services continues to attract the best talent in the agriculture sector,” said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. “As we expand and enhance our product offerings, Todd’s experience in working with some of the largest agriculture leaders today will be key to providing our world-class customers with the best products.”

About Farmers Edge
Farmers Edge is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedge.ca.

LA JOLLA, Calif., March 21, 2016 -- Last week, a dynamic mix of the world's most influential trailblazers and rising stars at the cutting edge of human health, biology, agriculture and sustainability met in La Jolla, California at the debut of Near Future Summit. The brainchild of Zem Joaquin, founder of Ecofabulous.com, the intimate three-day #WorldPositive event was created to facilitate systems-level change to address the world's most pressing problems. For a complete list of Near Future speakers, capsule descriptions, launch details, etc., please contact nearfuturesummit@missionC2.com.

"Near Future is my kind of conference, focused on both breadth and depth of important ideas. It was a treat for me to take the stage with Arianna Huffington and Dave Pell for an honest conversation about the challenges and opportunities in the future of media," said Evan Williams, CEO of Medium.

The Launch Pad to the Near Future

Media titans Arianna Huffington and Evan Williams kicked off the event and then ceded the stage to showcase more than 40 speakers and 10+ company / product / project debuts. Near Future launches included:

• Celmatix | After six years in stealth, Dr. Piraye Yurttas Beim revealed a genomic approach to improving fertility.
• Diamond Foundry | CEO Martin Roscheisen shared a first glimpse of Diamond Foundry's "cultured diamond" manufacturing process.
• FIRST | Dean Kamen shared his master plan for FIRST International – a STEM-based Olympic Games in which students compete on a global stage in the name of education.
• Freenome | Genomics pioneers Dr. Charles Roberts and Gabriel Otte introduced TRINITY. Based on a simple blood sample, TRINITY provides a consumer-centric view into a patient's living genome and how it changes over time, such as with age, exercise and diet.
• Iodine | Thomas Goetz, Iodine founder, launched the Better, Faster Depression (BFD) Study, with the goal of being the largest data collection around depression to analyze drug efficacy (or the lack of) and the path forward from depression.
• Neuroelectrics | CEO Ana Maiques revealed a never-before-seen brain-to-brain data communication experiment from Spain to France.
• We Are Curious | Founder Linda Avey launched Curious, a personal platform for "health hackers" that aggregates and tracks data in partnership with OuraRing, developer of the world's first ring-sized wellness computer.
• Stella McCartney | Head of McCartney's sustainability group, Claire Bergkamp, pledged that they will be utilizing viscose only from traceable, managed forests by the end of this year and are working to create a Cradle to Cradle Certified™ luxury fashion line.
• The Kitchen | Kimbal Musk announced the latest addition to his farm-to-table initiative, The Kitchen, in Cherry Creek, Colorado.
• Zymergen | Zymergen introduced a robotics lab in which the manufacturing of microbes is transforming renewable feedstocks into valuable chemicals.

"We've been in stealth for six years as we charted a path to enabling women to be proactive about their fertility, and we couldn't have chosen a more receptive setting to reveal our approach," said Dr. Piraye Beim, founder and CEO of Celmatix. "By convening an intimate group of 250 vanguards, Near Future established this perfect community. It felt like we were experiencing Dunbar's number, the ideally sized gathering of people to build and fortify relationships and act on scaling critical cross-sector solutions."

"What Zem has created is a gathering unlike any I've seen – one that shines the light on some of the most inspiring and creative innovations at the vanguard of the Near Future – in a setting that melds music, art and education. Near Future Summit left me encouraged, optimistic and excited to engage," said Kimbal Musk, Co-founder, The Kitchen.

Time Capsules Centered Around Systemic Change and Possibilities

Beginning with a microcosmic view of the most disruptive inventions happening at a cellular level, and then turning to the natural and man-made systems being re-architected around us, attendees including entrepreneurs, inventors, investors and entertainers traveled on the same three-day journey together, creating meaningful partnerships and connections to share solutions to world's most pressing problems.

Near Future's HealthTech Showcase | Next Gen MedTech and Wearables

Dr. Eric Topol, author of The Patient Will See You Now, and the Near Future team co-curated the HealthTech Showcase, which featured a number of never-before-seen wearable health technology:

• OuraRing | ŌURA, the most medically accurate sleep tracker on the market.
• Muse | A brain-sensing headband designed as your personal meditation assistant.
• Rhythm Diagnostic Systems | MultiSense™ Patches are Band-Aid size vital signs monitoring strips.
• DANA | The most comprehensive health and wellness engagement platform to measure and monitor subtle and acute changes in cognitive efficiency.
• Motion Scientific Stroke Recovery System | A 3D camera and touch-screen system provide automated and personalized physical therapy.
• Sotera ViSi Mobile System | A complete wireless monitoring system to continuously capture core vital signs.
• AliveCor, Inc. | AliveCor® Mobile ECG is the most clinically validated mobile ECG monitor on the market, providing instant analysis for detecting atrial fibrillation (AFib) and normal ECG's.
• ToSense CoVa™ Monitoring System | A body-worn sensor designed as a necklace for in-home patients with chronic heart-related illnesses.
• Dexcom | The first FDA-approved, fully mobile system for both adults and children 2 years and older, Mobile Continuous Glucose Monitoring Patch, allows patients to view and share real-time glucose data via smart device.

"The companies and individuals showcased at Near Future could be the pieces of a less puzzling future in which we consciously work together to develop technologies and pathways that create a more sustainable, secure, equitable and vibrant world." – Zem Joaquin

About Near Future Summit:

Founded by Zem Joaquin, the three-day #WorldPositive event was designed to facilitate systems-level change by spotlighting meta themes and the unexpected, often unseen connections underlying humans' longevity, education and well-being. Beginning with a microcosmic view of the most disruptive inventions happening at a cellular level, then turning to the natural and man-made systems being re-architected around us, attendees including entrepreneurs, inventors, investors and entertainers traveled on the same three-day journey together, creating meaningful partnerships and connections. For more information visit http://nearfuturesummit.com and follow us on Twitter at: @nearfuturenow.

New strategic leadership will bolster Brazil operations and galvanize agtech infrastructure in the world’s second largest agriculture market

WINNIPEG, Manitoba & CAMPINAS, São Paulo, March 14, 2016 -- Farmers Edge, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, today announced it is expanding its operations in Brazil by establishing a regional headquarters in Campinas, Sao Paulo and appointing Lucas Trindade as General Manager of Brazilian Operations. Formerly an executive within Monsanto's technology development in Brazil, Trindade will leverage his extensive background to scale the national Farmers Edge presence to ten times its current size by the end of 2016, ensuring that Brazilian growers have both the precision technology and agronomic support they need to maximize crop productivity.

As the world’s second largest agriculture market, Brazil leads in soybean, corn, sugarcane and cotton production. With its favorable topographical and climate conditions, Brazil's agriculture industry is one of the most rapidly expanding markets in the world. By widely deploying its field-centric precision technology throughout the country’s diverse growing regions, ranging from São Paulo to Mato Grosso and Rio Grande do Sul, Farmers Edge is empowering Brazilian growers to continually and sustainably improve yields. This announcement comes as Brazil’s agriculture markets reach new growth records, with the 2016 soybean market expected to hit 100 million tons.

“In just two years, Farmers Edge has made a significant impact for growers throughout Brazil,” said Lucas Trindade, General Manager, Brazil at Farmers Edge. “The team already has a strong track record of delivering exceptional service to farms, and we will continue to accelerate progress for growers while expanding our customer base in Brazil.”

With nearly 140,000 acres under management in Brazil, Farmers Edge is enabling more productive and sustainable farming in the Bahia and Mato Grasso states. Working with strategic partners like Mitsui, Farmers Edge is bringing its Variable Rate Technology and Precision Solutions to some of the largest farms within Brazil’s most fertile growing regions. Ultimately, this expansion will introduce precision agriculture to the data-sparse environments that have traditionally lacked the information needed to make agriculture more sustainable, reliable, and profitable.

“As we continue to expand globally, Brazil represents another market that is in need of precision tools to enhance sustainable agriculture,” said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. “Our success in highly disparate regions, ranging from Brazil to Eastern Europe and the Midwestern United States, demonstrates that growers worldwide all need the same robust, accurate, and adaptive data technologies, and Farmers Edge is dedicated to meeting this global demand.”

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedge.ca.

Demonstrates investor confidence in company's innovative financial products, service delivery, and capital-efficient approach

SANTA ROSA, Calif., March 10, 2016 -- Ygrene Energy Fund, a leading multi-state provider of residential and commercial property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, today announced it has raised$30 million in operating capital led by new and existing investors, bringing its total operating and project capital raised to over $530 million. The operating capital will fund Ygrene's continued national expansion of its YgreneWorksTM program, including business and call center operations that service the company's high growth in project volume, a new solar operations arm, and entrance into new states including Georgia,Arkansas, Missouri, Virginia and others. Ygrene is the largest commercial PACE provider in California andFlorida and has funded more than 90 percent of the PACE projects in the Sunshine State.

Ygrene continues to drive innovation in PACE through a commitment to world-class service delivery and innovative financial products that provide equitable access to property owners across the U.S. Since its inception, YgreneWorks has approved more than $1 billion in applications for over 21,000 buildings and has completed $300 million in contracts nationally, producing more than $750M in economic stimulus, 4,500 jobs and 19MW of energy. Together these projects have saved 1.3 billion gallons of water and enough energy to power 300,000 homes for a full year, while also keeping 360K metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

"The need for affordable, accessible financing options for clean energy property improvements is increasing across the country and we believe Ygrene stands alone as the true financial innovator in the PACE sector," said Mack McNair, a Founding Partner at Virgo Investment Group. "Ygrene's capital-efficient model has enabled it to become one of the fastest growing PACE administrators in the market, servicing rapidly growing project demand with the most efficient operations and world-class service quality."

Now available in more than 200 communities across the U.S., YgreneWorks provides financing for energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy and hurricane protection retrofits for homes and businesses. PACE financing programs such as YgreneWorks are authorized by local governments in an effort to stimulate local economies, generate jobs, address climate change and provide communities wider access to low-cost, money-saving home improvement funds.

"This is a time of explosive growth for PACE, as property owners, investors, cities and states signal the need for sophisticated clean energy finance vehicles that meet their unique requirements," said Stacey Lawson, President and CEO of Ygrene. "We are expanding rapidly to serve the growing market demand while remaining steadfastly committed to providing world-class service to our customers and positive returns for our stakeholders."

About Ygrene Energy Fund

Ygrene Energy Fund is a leading residential and commercial provider of clean energy financing throughout the United States. The award winning, privately funded YgreneWorks™ program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at www.ygreneworks.com.

About Virgo Investment Group

Virgo is an opportunistic, value investor. Virgo invests in market dislocations and areas of corporate change targeting both less efficient market segments and identified themes (or "market seams") in the firm's core industries. A theme-based approach to idea generation, coupled with proactive sourcing, a flexible mandate and creative transaction structuring skills, allows the firm to create differentiated opportunities and target optimal risk-adjusted returns across market investment cycles. Virgo is an actively engaged investor that seeks to contribute ideas and human capital to the harvesting of value post-investment and has a successful history of partnering with founder entrepreneurs and management teams, like the team at Lease Corporation of America ("LCA") and Zippy Shell Incorporated, to support their growth initiatives. Founded in 2009, Virgo has invested $784 million, completing 43 investments to date. For more information, please visit www.virgo-llc.com

CCA Will Purchase Electricity on Behalf of 90,000 Homes and Small Businesses in Westchester County

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., March 9, 2016 --Today, Sustainable Westchester and 17 of the 20 Westchester County municipalities that comprise Westchester Smart Power announced that they have selected the winner of a $150M contract bid that aims to transform the way we buy and use energy. ConEdison Solutions, the deregulated subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc., has been selected to provide electricity on behalf of 90,000 residential and small business customers throughout Westchester County. Under the CCA, each of the 17 municipalities now has a choice in whether to opt for a 100% renewable energy supply, greened through Green-e certificates, or a slightly lower priced energy supply that includes a standard mix of traditional and renewable energy sources. The contract is a milestone in what Westchester Smart Power intends to be a deep contribution of distributed energy resources (DER) in the state.

A Program That Redefines How We Purchase, Consume and Generate Energy

In 2015, Sustainable Westchester Inc., a local non-profit representing 40 communities in Westchester, was selected by New York State to manage the first Community Choice Aggregation pilot program under Governor Cuomo's Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) strategy. Together, the state's first consortium of local governments joined to create Westchester Smart Power, giving municipalities the ability to contract directly with energy suppliers, acting as a single buyer, in order to realize bulk discounts on retail rates and to choose power from clean, renewable sources. 

The Westchester Smart Power program unifies environmental and consumer interests as, for example, it achieves peak load reductions that may save as much as 100 Megawatts at peak hours, holding the potential to save residents and businesses an additional $10 million per year.  

Richard Kauffman, Chairman of Energy and Finance for New York State, said, "As the first Community Choice Aggregation in New York State, Westchester Smart Power holds the potential to transform how consumers purchase, use and choose the energy for their homes and businesses. We congratulate the communities inWestchester County who have embraced Governor Cuomo's Reforming the Energy Vision strategy for a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system ensuring 50% of electricity consumed in New Yorkcomes from renewable power by 2030."

20 of Sustainable Westchester's 40 members have joined the Westchester Smart Power program. Municipalities that have joined the program include Bedford, Greenburgh, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington,Larchmont, Lewisboro, Town of Mamaroneck, Village of Mamaroneck, Mt. Kisco, New Castle, New Rochelle,North Salem, Town of Ossining, Village of Ossining, Pelham, Pleasantville, Rye Brook, Somers, Tarrytown andWhite Plains. Communities interested in participating should reach out to Sustainable Westchester for details about timing and participation in phase two of the program.

The Electric Service Agreement, drafted by Sustainable Westchester and attorneys and other representatives of the 20 participating municipalities, is a powerful document in its own right, emerging with 42 pages of protections for residential consumers and participating municipalities.

All residents and small businesses will be receiving letters from the municipalities outlining the details about Westchester Smart Power. Service for Westchester Smart Power customers will begin on May 1st.  For more information about Westchester Smart Power, go to www.westchestersmartpower.org.

"Westchester Smart Power will give consumers the opportunity to source clean power at more competitive rates. Unprecedented access to our consumption information and a commitment to buy together have been critical in enabling smarter, more informed and more powerful choices," said Mike Gordon, Co-Chair of Sustainable Westchester.  "The success of Community Choice enables a transformative shift in the way we buy and use electricity, and soon energy, in New York. As the program goes forward, consumers will also benefit from savings attributed to peak demand reductions, local renewable energy generation and energy efficiencies." 

Bedford 2020, a Westchester-based environmental non-profit, is partnering with Sustainable Westchester to spread the word about the opportunity Westchester Smart Power represents to convert the county to renewable energy sources. According to Ellen Rouse Conrad, Co-President of Bedford 2020, "The choice to 'opt up' to 100% renewable energy is a game-changing opportunity for residents and small businesses inWestchester County. At long last, government has presented a viable solution for all consumers who care about clean energy, clean water and clean air."

About Sustainable Westchester:

Sustainable Westchester is a membership organization with more than 85% of all Westchester municipalities participating, representing 800,000 county residents. The action group is designed to turn environmental challenges into opportunities to improve the quality of life, economy and future prospects of county citizens. For more information visit: www.sustainablewestchester.org.

About Bedford 2020:

Bedford 2020 is partnering with Sustainable Westchester to assist with education, outreach and implementation of the 100% "opt up" to renewable energy feature of Westchester Smart Power. Bedford 2020 is a non-profit organization leading a grass roots effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% by the year 2020 in the town of Bedford, NY and beyond. Since their formation in 2010, they have piloted projects that have subsequently been replicated throughout the region. Their focus is on energy efficiency, solar energy and renewable energy. In addition, they have community programs in four other areas: Food & Agriculture, Transportation, Waste & Recycling, and Water & Land Use. For more information visit:http://bedford2020.org/.

Industry Alliance Gives Growers Nationwide Access to Big Data at the Field-Level

SHAKOPEE, MN, March 4, 2016  - Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, today announced it has partnered with Grower Information Services Cooperative (GiSC). With a shared stance on data privacy, security concerns and sustainable agriculture goals, the partnership between GiSC and Farmers Edge provides grower members in 37 states access to the company's Precision Solutions package. GiSC growers will now have the flexibility to view data on both the AgXchange™ and Farmers Edge platforms, bringing together the cutting edge hardware and software with trusted advisors to facilitate the transition from intuition-based to data-based decision making on the farm.  

Yield is the scorecard of precision agriculture, and Precision Harvest Map is a core part of Farmers Edge Smart Solutions™ farm management platform. Utilizing patent pending calibration and industry-leading yield processing technology, Precision Harvest Maps provide an accurate view of yield variability across a field even where multiple combine units are operating. Through this partnership, GiSC and the AgXchange are offering these maps to new members free of charge.  These maps will also be included in an introductory offer to those who opt for the Smart Solutions package from Farmers Edge to increase access for growers looking for a fully integrated platform.

"The agriculture industry is in the midst of a transformation and, now more than ever, it is in need of an agnostic data aggregator that can help companies, such as Farmers Edge, drive and improve productivity on the farm," said Jason Ward, Executive Director of GiSC. "One of the reasons we chose to partner with Farmers Edge is because of its track record of providing personalized service to growers as they seek to generate valuable insights from the increasing volumes of data generated on their farms."

Currently, GiSC growers are in the nation's most prominent agricultural markets with a focus on wheat inKansas and Oklahoma, corn in Ohio and Minnesota, and cotton in Texas and Georgia. To date, soybean, corn and wheat growers have been the primary benefactors of precision agriculture, but Farmers Edge and GiSC believe there is an opportunity to bring similar innovation to cotton growers. As an early initiative, Farmers Edge and GiSC will work together to develop technology that will deliver new solutions to improve productivity and increase yield in the U.S. cotton market, an industry valued at nearly $6 billion.

"Currently, we are working throughout the largest and most quickly emerging markets – from Brazil throughRussia - to optimize on-farm inputs and maximize yields," said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. "With GiSC, we are furthering this commitment and continuing to pioneer precision agriculture in new regions, including Texas and Georgia, bringing industry-leading hardware, software and agronomy to improve sustainability in new crops, including cotton. Ultimately, we're proving our platform is globally scalable  – capable of being tailored to new regions, with new crops and with disparate conditions."

About Growers Information Services Cooperative (GiSC)

GiSC is a grower owned coop founded on the growers' interests in controlling farm data and ensuring grower ownership of that data and chartered with the vision to empower growers in the digital age by leveraging the value of the data from their farm operations. GiSC is governed by a Coop Board made up of growers diversified by commodity & geography committed to the principles of grower data ownership. GiSC brings growers together – from across the country, with different operations, commodities, and farming practices – and provides its members a FREE platform, AgXchange™, that facilitates your ownership rights and allows you to realize the value of the data produced on your farm.GiSC members can use AgXchange™ to collect and store data, control what information is shared, and who it is shared with. GiSC and AgXchange enables GiSC growers, and their input providers and commodity marketing associations, to synergize farm information through the multiple channels utilized to collect your data on ONE PLATFORM.

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedgeUSA.com 

Equivalent to a bus traveling coast to coast 855 times, from San Diego, California to Jacksonville, Florida

BURLINGAME, Calif., March 1, 2016 -- Proterra Inc., the market leader in North America of zero-emission battery-electric buses, today announced that its national fleet has surpassed two million miles of revenue service, providing communities coast to coast with clean, quiet transportation. With 63 buses on the road today in Texas, California, Massachusetts, Nevada, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolinaand Washington, Proterra is ramping up production in 2016 to meet the market's growing need for clean, quiet, efficient transit solutions. These highest-performing electric buses are making both an economic and environmental impact on the communities they serve today. In aggregate, Proterra has saved transit agencies across North America over 420,000 gallons in fuel and prevented more than 7.6 million pounds of CO2emissions.

In 2014, Clemson Area Transit (CATBUS) in Seneca, South Carolina became the first transit system in North America to completely electrify its entire fleet, following the deployment of Proterra battery-electric buses. "We're proud of the precedent we set early on and are pleased to see our transit agency peers begin to adopt transit solutions like Proterra's that address the economic and environmental hurdles we're facing as a nation," said Al Babinicz, executive director at CATBUS.

Doran Barnes, Executive Director at Foothill Transit in Pomona, Calif. is equally satisfied with results. "For the last five years, we've been operating Proterra zero-emission buses and are excited to expand our electric fleet with 13 new Catalyst® vehicles coming into service," said Barnes. "With the latest round of Catalyst buses, nearly 10 percent of our fleet will be all-electric, a fact we're extremely proud of."

This year, Proterra will nearly double its production capacity as an increasing number of transit agencies see zero-emission buses as a credible and proven alternative to diesel, CNG and hybrid buses. With 30 percent fewer parts than alternative technologies, the Proterra Catalyst dramatically reduces maintenance and operating costs and is more cost-effective over the 12-year life of each bus, saving customers around$450,000 over the vehicle's lifetime. The Proterra Catalyst is also the most efficient 40' transit vehicle, with the longest range per kWh of energy storage and the lowest fuel cost per mile, at 22 MPGe and 1.7 kWh/mile.

"This latest milestone exemplifies the economic, environmental and civic value of electric mass transit and demonstrates to the transit agencies that diesel—often viewed as a necessary evil—is no longer necessary," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "By democratizing electric mobility through zero-emission mass transportation, we are providing both our customers and their passengers alike the best transit technology on the road today."

About Proterra:

Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 122 vehicles to 15 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley andSouth Carolina. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc

HONOLULU, Feb. 25, 2016 -- Greenlots and Hawaiian Electric Company are working to show how an electric vehicle (EV) fast charger combined with energy storage can support EV initiatives on the road to a clean energy future for Hawaii.  

Greenlots has implemented its pioneering SKY platform — a scalable, vehicle-grid integration (VGI) technology — in an EV fast charger owned and operated by Hawaiian Electric Company as part of a joint research, development and demonstration project with the Electric Power Research Institute.

The innovative fast charger is located at Kapolei Commons, a popular shopping mall in West Oahu. By giving residents and visitors in the area a convenient place to quickly charge their EVs with minimal impact on theOahu grid, the goal is to encourage EV adoption.

The fast charger's integrated energy storage allows it to remain in full power using electricity stored at times when generation is abundant, such as mid-day when many rooftop solar panels are sending power to the grid.  Stored energy is then available later in the day during peak use times when electricity is in high demand.

The fast charger allows electric vehicle owners to get up to an 80 percent charge in as little as 30 minutes. Drivers can easily locate the fast-charge stations and charge using the Greenlots mobile app and pay for a charge through the app or by using a credit card, much as at a self-service gasoline pump.

"With our state's 100-percent renewable portfolio goals, we are working to support the build out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure to provide EV drivers with range confidence," said Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president for customer service. 

"We're pleased to be working with Greenlots on this battery-backed fast charging initiative, because in conjunction with VLI-EV Partners, Greenlots helped provide a demand-side management system to meet our evolving power grid needs. An advantage of the Greenlots open standards system is that it can be used with a variety of fast chargers built by different companies."

A similar fast charger system will also be used when Hawaiian Electric opens its fifth utility-owned fast charger at its Ward Avenue facility next month. By harmonizing electric vehicles with the grid, Greenlots has created a flexible grid management platform to meet the specific electricity demand needs of Hawaiian Electric and electric vehicle drivers alike.

In leveraging the industry's leading open standards for demand response and price communications, OpenADR and the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), the Greenlots SKY Smart Charging™ platform can respond to demand response load modification requests and allow HECO to remotely control grid loads through demand response actions. 

"Increasingly, utilities are looking toward open standards-based charging to be utilized in energy management strategies," said Brett Hauser, CEO of Greenlots. "We are particularly excited about this storage-backed fast charge initiative with Hawaiian Electric, because we see vast opportunities to support electric vehicle mobility while also managing energy loads more reliably as the industry expands."

About Greenlots

Greenlots is a global provider of open standards-based distributed energy resource solutions. Its award-winning SKY Smart Charging™ charge management platform bridges electric mobility, demand side management, and behind-the-meter energy storage markets for the built environment. Greenlots operates the largest open fast charging network in North America, and provides utilities the ability to remotely control grid loads through smart charging, demand response, and energy storage initiatives. Visit www.greenlots.com for more information or follow us on Twitter @greenlots.

About Hawaiian Electric Companies

Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light, serve the islands of Oahu, Maui,Lanai, Molokai and Hawaii Island, home to 95 percent of the people of Hawaii. Hawaiian Electric's parent company is Hawaiian Electric Industries (NYSE: HE). In a changing world, the Hawaiian Electric Companies are taking the lead in adding renewable energy and developing energy solutions for its customers to achieve a lower cost, clean energy future for Hawai'i. For more information, visit www.hawaiianelectric.com.  

Cities and counties in Florida cite climate concerns as key driver behind more than $50M in retrofit projects

MIAMI, Feb. 18, 2016  -- Ygrene Energy Fund Inc., a leading multi-state provider of residential and commercial PACE financing, today announced a major milestone in Florida, underscoring the state's position as one of the most active PACE markets in the nation. As the first and largest PACEprovider in Florida, Ygrene, through its zero upfront financing program YgreneWorks™, has now funded more than 2000 projects in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, enabling renewable energy efficiency and hurricane resiliency retrofits for businesses, homeowners and multifamily housing across the state.

"When Ygrene first brought PACE to Florida in 2013, it had to work uphill in terms of education. For those of us working within the municipalities, PACE was such a new funding option that most of our cities and counties had never heard of it and couldn't get their heads around the promise and benefits of PACE financing," said Francis Suarez, City of Miami Commissioner, District 4. "That's all changed quickly as we rally as a state to protect our property and livelihoods. After utilizing YgreneWorks to finance the retrofits on my own home, I can attest to the affordability and ease of the program and count myself as an advocate."

As rising sea levels and climate threats reach new levels of urgency, Ygrene revealed that more than 50% of YgreneWorks projects in 2015 in Florida were for what it deems "hurricane preparedness," including impact resistant windows, doors and roofing, foundation strengthening and secondary water barriers. In the Miami-Dade district, hurricane resilience projects are even higher, accounting for close to 75% of retrofit projects.

Available in more than 200 communities across the U.S., YgreneWorks provides financing for energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy and hurricane protection retrofits for homes and businesses. In Florida, new cities such as Gainesville,Tallahassee and Hollywood steadily continue joining the Program's growing list of areas serviced, adding to an established, core base of communities, including Miami and Coral Gables, which now covers a population of approximately 1.5 million people. PACE financing programs such as YgreneWorks are authorized by local governments in an effort to stimulate local economies, generate jobs, address climate change and provide communities wider access to low-cost, money-saving home improvement funds. Since its inception, YgreneWorks has approved more than $1 billion in applications and closed $300 million in projects nationally, producing more than $750M in economic stimulus, 4,500 jobs and 19MW of energy. Together these projects have saved 1.3 billion gallons of water and enough energy to power 300,000 homes for a full year, while also keeping 360K metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

"Ygrene is bringing highly accessible and affordable financing options to combat climate change and reduce energy consumption in Florida," said Stacey Lawson, CEO and President of Ygrene. "Today marks a noteworthy milestone for our program as we expand to help more property owners invest in environmental resiliency for their homes and businesses."

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is a leading residential and commercial provider of clean energy financing throughoutthe United States. The award winning, privately funded YgreneWorks™ program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at www.ygreneworks.com.

The European Commission is providing €1.7 million to Joule Assets Europe to develop the SEAF Tool, which will improve access to funding for energy efficiency projects, spurring job creation and the growth of SME service providers.

BRUSSELS, Feb. 17, 2016 -- Joule Assets Europe successfully hosted the Kick-Off meeting for its newest project, the Sustainable Energy Asset Evaluation and Optimisation Framework (SEAF) February 3rd and 4th. The €1.7 million SEAF project is funded by the European Commission's Horizon 2020, the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme. Joule Assets' SEAF project aims to enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by providing energy efficiency and other energy-related services to gain access to project finance. This will be done through a streamlined software platform that enables independent project valuation, insurance and design standardisation. The overall objective of the SEAF tool is to support millions in energy efficiency investments for European SMEs, job growth and increased energy and CO2 savings.

Jessica Stromback, Chairman of Joule Assets, Europe states, "With over €8 billion of viable energy efficiency projects left undone in Europe, we are truly excited to develop this platform to support market development by lowering barriers to project finance. We look forward to supporting SME contractors and other small enterprises to reach their potential, for energy efficiency, job creation and healthier working environments."

Dave Worthington, Managing Director of Verco says, "We're excited to be working on the SEAF tool. Verco's involvement in the Investor Confidence Project (ICP) Europe complements this effort, and shows the European Commission's commitment to scaling up the market for energy efficiency retrofit across Europe."

Paul Cullum, Product Development Manager at HSB Engineering Insurance commented, "This is a great opportunity to bring energy efficiency projects and investors together.  By providing access to asset performance insurances, we will be looking to enhance the credit worthiness of projects and improve investor confidence."

Led by Joule Assets Europe AB, SEAF gathers together expertise from the University of Manchester, the insurance company HSB Engineering Insurance Limited, and Verco from the UK, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and Servizi Energia Ambiente S.r.l (SEASRL) from Aquila, Italy. The kick-off meeting included presentations from each member as well as a presentation on best practices for H2020 projects from Björn Zapfel of EASME (the European Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises).

About Joule Assets Europe AB:  Joule Assets delivers financing solutions for energy efficiency and demand management initiatives and projects. Through its first-in-kind Joule Energy Reduction Asset (ERA) tool Joule Assets leverages its proprietary database, market analysis software, and extensive industry expertise to deliver a secure financing option for vendors and untapped revenue streams for investors. You can learn more about Joule Assets Europe and the ERA Fund at:http://www.jouleassets.com/

About Verco: Verco is an award winning sustainability and climate change consultancy focusing on low carbon growth, energy efficiency & clean energy development. We have over 26 years' experience in high-level policy and strategy work, deep technical analysis and project implementation. http://www.vercoglobal.com/

About Investor Confidence Project (ICP) Europe: ICP Europe is developing a suite of Commercial and Multifamily Energy Performance Protocols that aim to reduce transaction costs by assembling existing standards and practices into a consistent and transparent process. The purpose of ICP Europe is to enable a marketplace for building owners, project developers, utilities, public programmes and investors to trade in standardised energy efficiency projects.

About HSB Engineering Insurance (HSB): HSB Engineering Insurance, as part of Munich Re, is a leading specialist provider of engineering insurance and inspection services. We help clients reduce risk through a range of innovative engineering insurance products tailored specifically for the renewable energy, construction and manufacturing industries, as well as for the general retail, commercial and public sectors. HSB is the UK-based arm of Hartford Steam Boiler, one of the world's leading equipment breakdown insurers.   http://www.munichre.com/HSBEIL

Ygrene has secured $520 million in cumulative project and operating capital to support 800% year-over-year increase in applications

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Feb. 11, 2016 -- Ygrene Energy Fund Inc., the leading multi-state provider of residential and commercial PACE financing, today announced it has reached more than $1 billion approved applications and $300M in closed contracts for energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy projects. With an 800% year-over-year increase in applications, Ygrene is providing unprecedented access to clean energy and climate resilience upgrades through its zero upfront cost financing program, YgreneWorksTM. As a result, the award-winning program will reduce carbon emissions and save property owners across the nation upwards of $600 million on their utility bills over the life of the improvements—energy savings equal to powering nearly 300,000 homes for one year.

Investor Community Demonstrates Strong Appetite for PACE
While policymakers embraced the benefits of PACE on economic, energy and environmental fronts, institutional investors committed billions in capital to fund PACE initiatives. Ygrene has raised $520 million in cumulative project and operating capital to date, including a $150M securitization of PACE assets, the first securitization to blend commercial and residential into a single asset pool. With more securitizations on the near horizon, Ygrene is well equipped to support ongoing growth while investors continue to realize above market yields and near-perfect repayment rates.  

200+ Communities Across California and Florida Choose YgreneWorks
Ygrene, the only multi-state PACE administrator, is now authorized in more than 200 cities and counties across the U.S., and is seeing PACE hit the tipping point in California and Florida—two regions that have served as the proving ground for its model. In California, new jurisdiction wins include 7 of the 10 largest cities (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Fresno, Sacramento, Oakland, Santa Ana), and 4 of the 6 largest counties (Sacramento, Riverside, San Diego and Kern) in the state. Ygrene has trained over 2800 contractor companies in communities across its service territory, a 95% year-over-year growth rate.

Demand for Multifamily Projects Doubles
As the only PACE provider to complete energy upgrade projects for the underserved multifamily housing sector, Ygrene has now funded 54 multifamily projects, an increase of 100% in the last year. The growth in this sector shows the need for energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate resilience options for this historically underserved market.

PACE Policy Reaches the Tipping Point
PACE policy gained traction regionally and nationally in 2015. With the federal endorsement of President Obama and the FHA, PACE is now one of the most powerful financing vehicles for the nation's shift to a clean energy future. At the state level, Florida, one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the country, ruled in favor of PACE in its Supreme Court, expanding the role PACE is playing in critical hurricane preparedness and other property improvements. Ygrene has pioneered the effort in Florida and is the leading PACE provider in the state having funded $50M in energy efficiency and climate resilience improvements. These victories mark a turning point for PACE, positioning 2016 as a landmark year for communities across the nation to join the PACE movement.

"The strong growth curve for PACE is being driven by both commercial and residential property owners who are increasingly demanding alternatives to traditional credit-based financing that allow them to make upgrades to their property, save money and do good for the environment.  It's a win-win-win," said Stacey Lawson, Ygrene President and CEO. "We remain focused on long term market engagement and will continue to take a people-first approach to energy efficiency financing as we expand into new states in 2016."

Ygrene by the Numbers

• $1B in applications approved for over 21,000 residential and commercial properties
• $300M in completed contracts for over 13,000 residential and commercial properties
• 54 multifamily (MFH) housing projects completed, making it the largest MFH funder
• $520M secured in project and operating capital
• 200+ community partners across CA & FL
• $750M in local economic stimulus
• 4,500 jobs created & sustained
• $600M energy saved (utility bill savings)
• 19 MW energy produced
• 360,000  Mtons CO2 avoided
• 1.3B Gal water saved

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is a leading residential and commercial provider of clean energy financing throughout the United States. The award winning, privately funded YgreneWorksTM program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at www.ygreneworks.com.

Updated CBECS data changes in 2016 may affect buildings through increased energy efficiency baseline, impacting ENERGY STAR certification eligibility for some

OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 4, 2016 -- MACH Energy, a leading provider of commercial real estate (CRE) energy management solutions, revealed today that coming updates of energy consumption data could increase energy efficiency baseline standards, leaving commercial buildings possibly vulnerable to ENERGY STAR score reductions and other impacts. A reduced ENERGY STAR score could jeopardize their ability to reapply for their annual ENERGY STAR and LEED certification.

Due to this impending baseline modification using 2012 CBECS data, property teams will need to pinpoint new energy-saving initiatives within their existing building management systems. By utilizing MACH's EnergyInsights, Commercial properties will be able to mitigate risk and reduce possible negative impacts. In 2015 alone, MACH identified energy savings for their customers of over $60 million, or 15,000 ENERGY STAR points.

"Thanks to MACH's Insights solution, which we've used for over 7 years to sustain and improve our ENERGY STAR scores across our portfolio, these imminent changes don't pose a great risk to us," said Rich Greningerof Carr Properties, a longtime MACH customer that has seen one of its marquee properties achieve a 7.6% energy reduction and $24,000 in cost savings over a single year with MACH. "We've realized you don't need cost-intensive or invasive installations to minimize a property's environmental footprint, you just need actionable data from a top-tier EMS platform. And that's precisely what MACH offers."  

The ENERGY STAR score of commercial buildings is predicated on baseline data from the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS), which is conducted once every four years by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). However, an absence of CBECS reporting in both 2007 and 2011 means that the scale is no longer an accurate measure of current building efficiency. Because overall energy usage in the CRE sector has fallen 7% since the last report, and ENERGY STAR scores have increased by 6 points, the new 2012 CBECS data will likely institute a much higher baseline for buildings seeking ENERGY STAR or LEED certification.

"Much in the same way investors and others look to ratings agencies to assess credit and other risks, commercial property owners, tenants and other CRE stakeholders rely on ENERGY STAR scores as one way to evaluate energy efficiency," said Jon Moeller, CEO of MACH Energy. "Additionally, many states and cities such as New York, San Francisco, or Washington DC now require commercial buildings to be benchmarked through ENERGY STAR.  Because institutional investors and advisors are now often 'graded' on their sustainability compliance and benchmarks when raising capital or attracting/retaining tenants, we expect to see a dramatic adoption of EMS solutions to anticipate the challenges posed by CBECS 2012.  Fortunately, we provide property owners and building teams the tools they need to ensure their portfolios are benchmarked and more importantly scores are increasing."

About MACH Energy

MACH Energy Inc. is a leading provider of CRETech energy management solutions for commercial real estate property managers, operators, engineers, and owners. With some of the nation's most iconic buildings under management, MACH counts hundreds of commercial, REIT, hotel and corporate building owners as customers encompassing hundreds of millions of square feet of properties across the country.

Media contact
MACHEnergy@missionC2.com

As ITC decision creates certainty for industry, Ygrene and Solar Roof Dynamics expect unprecedented growth in rooftop solar

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Feb. 4, 2016 -- Ygrene Energy Fund Inc., a leading multi-state provider of residential and commercial PACE financing, announced today a strategic partnership with Solar Roof Dynamics LLC, a premier distributor of best-in-class solar solutions for California's roofing industry. Leveraging Ygrene's unique PACE financing model, YgreneWorks™, Solar Roof Dynamics can now offer consumers through its broad base of commercial and residential partners the ability to pay for their rooftop solar upgrades over time through property taxes.

Via Solar Roof Dynamics' roster of expertly trained solar contractors, YgreneWorks is now making California's cleanest, least expensive and most abundant renewable resource—solar—affordable for an even greater percentage of California's businesses and homeowners, creating the potential for unprecedented growth. This is an exciting addition to Solar Roof Dynamics' already innovative, value-added business model. Solar Roof Dynamics is transforming the solar industry by working directly through its network of authorized roofing contractors with extensive experience in installing both roofing and solar systems. This network of contractors gives consumers the opportunity to install solar panels at the same time that they are replacing their existing roof.  

"We have a long history of introducing best-in-class solar products and services to local roofing contractors," said Aaron Nitzkin, CEO of Solar Roof Dynamics. "With YgreneWorks, we can offer one of the best financing options for solar and roofing available on the market, reach more consumers, and most importantly, generate more clean, cost-effective solar energy to enhance California's sustainable infrastructure."

Available in more than 180 communities throughout California and Florida, YgreneWorks provides financing for energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy and climate retrofits for homes and businesses. PACE financing programs such as YgreneWorks are authorized by local governments in an effort to stimulate local economies, generate jobs, address climate change and provide constituents with access to low-cost, money-saving home improvement funds. Since its inception, YgreneWorks has approved more than $1 billion in funding nationally for upgrades to the built environment, producing more than $2.6B in economic stimulus, 15,500 new and sustained jobs and 65MW of energy, as well as conserving 4.5B gallons of water and enough energy to power 1,026,635 homes for a full year and keep 1.2M metric tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

"California remains at the forefront of renewable energy innovation and the Solar Roof Dynamics partnership will ensure that PACE-financed solar power will be made available to as many homes and businesses as possible," said Stacey Lawson, CEO of Ygrene. "We're proud to support California's most accessible and cost-competitive solar installation platform."

About Solar Roof Dynamics
Solar Roof Dynamics is a premier distributor of solar products throughout California. Combining extensive solar and roofing expertise, a strong commitment to innovation, and industry-leading products and services, Solar Roof Dynamics helps roofing contractors integrate solar into their business quickly and easily so their customers can enjoy the best possible solar installation. For more information, see www.SolarRoofDynamics.com.

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is a leading residential and commercial provider of clean energy financing throughout the United States. The award winning, privately funded YgreneWorks™ program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at www.ygreneworks.com.

The University of Montana Cleans Up Campus Commuting with Proterra Zero-Emission, Battery-Electric Buses

BURLINGAME, Calif., Feb. 2, 2016 -- Proterra, the leading provider of zero-emission, battery-electric buses, today announced that it will begin supplying buses to campus locations nationwide as university systems, both urban and suburban, realize the economic viability and environmental necessity of sustainable transport. Its first university customer, the Associated Students of the University of Montana(ASUM) Transportation, has ordered two Proterra 40-foot Catalyst Fast Charge buses and one semi-autonomous fast charger for its UDASH routes. This procurement marks a new era for ASUM as it prioritizes electric vehicle mass transit and begins to replace its diesel vehicles with Proterra's state-of-the-art technology. Notably, ASUM is one of a handful of student-led transit agencies in the United States, demonstrating that the next generation of transit market leaders will regard sustainable transport as a priority rather than a luxury.

"On behalf of everyone involved at ASUM, I'd like to express our enthusiasm for Proterra's zero-emission electric buses," said Jordan Hess, ASUM Office of Transportation Director. "As part of our ongoing effort to innovate service, align with student advocacy and reduce our carbon footprint, we take great pride in our decision to go electric. We hope this encourages – and challenges - other universities to seriously consider the economic and environmental benefits of zero-emission buses."

Founded in 1999 by a student referendum, ASUM Transportation has a unique history of fostering student governance and tackling critical issues to ensure a safe and efficient transit experience for the university's population. Since its inception, ASUM's weekly ridership has grown to nearly 15,000; last year alone it provided more than 400,000 complimentary rides to students, faculty and visitors and 14 percent of all trips to campus occur on ASUM's UDASH service. ASUM's purchase of zero-emission, battery-electric buses is a testament to its community leadership and environmental stewardship and will help the UM meet its goals of carbon neutrality by 2020. When the Proterra buses enter service in September 2016, ASUM Transportation expects them to immediately improve local air quality, reducing emission by 1,392 tons over their 12-year lifespan.

Proterra's Total Cost of Ownership was a major selling point for ASUM, given the transit agency's size and limited resources. In addition to financing the buses through the state of Montana's INTERCAP program, ASUM received a Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for$163,191, which aims to improve public health through reducing emissions and particulate matter.

"Bringing more zero-emission buses to university campuses around the U.S. will be an integral part of Proterra's next stage of growth, and we couldn't be happier to announce ASUM as our first university customer," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "Millennials are driving less and seeking out transit more. With this increase in demand, our mission is to guarantee that younger riders have clean, quiet, emission-free public transportation. Proterra is taking state-of-the-art EV technology and deploying it into the most accessible transportation asset in the country."

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 110 vehicles to 15 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley andSouth Carolina. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

Proterra Media Contact: PR@proterra.com

About The Associated Students of the University of Montana (ASUM): 
ASUM provides services to enhance the student experience, advocates for the rights of all University of Montana (UM) students as a unified body and builds a system of trust and transparency among students, faculty and staff. ASUM works to benefit the diverse UM student population and address their concerns. ASUM informs and connects the student body and the greater community at the local, state and national level through agency services, student group support and community outreach. You can find more information about ASUM here: http://life.umt.edu/asum/about_asum/default.php

EV transit innovator honored as one of the top private companies in clean technology

BURLINGAME, Calif., Jan. 27, 2016 -- Proterra, the leading provider of zero emission battery-electric buses, today announced it was named in the prestigious 2015 Global Cleantech 100, produced byCleantech Group, whose mission is to connect organizations to sustainable innovation through its i3 Connect platform and global events.

The Global Cleantech 100 represents the most innovative and promising ideas in cleantech. Featuring companies that are best positioned to solve tomorrow's clean technology challenges, Global Cleantech 100 is a comprehensive list of private companies with the highest potential to make the most significant market impact.

"We are honored to be named to the Global Cleantech 100 list," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "2015 marked a banner year for Proterra, as we expanded our facilities coast to coast, increased sales from 2014, broke four records at federal testing, and launched our flagship bus platform, the Catalyst. We look forward to scaling zero-emission transit across the nation in 2016."

This year, a record number of nominations were received: 6,900 distinct companies from 60 countries. These companies were weighted and scored to create a short list of 323 companies. Short-listed nominees were reviewed by Cleantech Group's Expert Panel, resulting in a finalized list of 100 companies from 17 countries.

"The Global Cleantech 100 provides us with insight into the collective opinion of key market players on which megatrends and innovation companies are most likely to have a significant impact in the next 5-10 years," said Michele Parad, Senior Manager at Cleantech Group and lead author of the Global Cleantech 100 Report. "Now in its 7th year, the Global Cleantech 100 program reveals which themes are staying relevant and which sectors are taking center stage."

About Cleantech Group                                                                                                

Founded in 2002, Cleantech Group's mission is to accelerate sustainable innovation. Core to this mission is i3, an online platform that connects corporates with innovation, at scale, by allowing them to find, vet, and connect with start-ups—efficiently building an innovation pipeline. The i3 platform comes to life at our global Events, which convene corporates and start-ups, along with other players shaping the future of sustainable innovation. Cleantech Group is headquartered in San Francisco and has offices in London. For more information, visit; www.cleantech.com

About Proterra, Inc.

Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 115 vehicles to 14 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley andSouth Carolina. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

Field-Centric Approach to Digitizing Farms Takes Root Across Russia, Brazil, Australia, Canada and the U.S.

WINNIPEG, Jan. 27, 2016 - Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, announced today it has received a $58 million CAD raise led by existing investors, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers' Green Growth Fund and Osmington Inc. The investment will go towards the expansion of the data science team, new product development and global growth into South America, Australia and Eastern Europe. Kenji Otake, General Manager, First Business Dept., IT Platform Div. of Mitsui & Co., Ltd. will join the Farmers Edge Board of Directors.

"Today, Mitsui is responsible for the procurement of 17.5 million tons of food resources each year, including grains, corn and soybeans, and we are committed to increasing those levels, in a sustainable manner, as global population rises," said Kenji Otake of Mitsui & Co., Ltd. "Meeting that global goal is what drove our first investment in Farmers Edge. Today, as Farmers Edge demonstrates its ability to operate in regions like Brazil, that lack traditional infrastructure to support technology-enabled agriculture, our strategic alignment deepens."

"There's a huge shift underway in agriculture as technology continues to enable the digitization of farming," said Brook Porter, Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers' Green Growth Fund. "Traditional incumbents are struggling to keep pace with this disruption, as farmers seek better tools to enable increased yields and profitability across multiple crops, in wide geographic regions around the world. Reducing costs while also reducing environmental impact is more important than ever – and Farmers Edge is leading this transformation."

Today's investment comes on the heels of a significant growth period for Farmers Edge, marked most notably by the opening of its U.S. headquarters in Minnesota, as well as its entrance into three of the world's most prominent, emerging breadbaskets. In Brazil alone, there are nearly one billion acres of arable land that represent a significant and largely untapped market opportunity, primed for increased agricultural productivity. With partnerships across the industry, that bridge large multi-nationals to leading, regional agribusinesses, Farmers Edge has emerged as the prominent technology provider in the world's largest agriculture markets. 

"Global agriculture companies are looking for scalable business solutions to efficiently increase sustainability and traceability throughout the supply chain, and Farmers Edge has emerged as that market mover," saidBrian Hayward, Chairman of Farmers Edge. "This investment signifies the confidence that Mitsui and existing investors place in Farmers Edge to tap into previously underutilized agriculture regions around the world."

"Over the past decade, we've become the largest independent agricultural network in the world. As we move into this next high growth period, we will continue to expand into lucrative markets like the U.S., as well asRussia, Australia and Brazil, where our field-centric approach to predictive modeling is generating high yields even in data-sparse regions," said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. "At the end of the day, our goal is to bring the precision agriculture movement to the largest broad acre markets in the world, creating a new generation of breadbasket regions in previously untapped land."

About Mitsui

Mitsui & Co., Ltd. is one of the most diversified and comprehensive trading, investment and service enterprises in the world, with 141 offices in 66 countries as of March, 2015. Utilizing its global operating locations, network and information resources, Mitsui is multilaterally pursuing business that ranges from product sales, worldwide logistics and financing, through to the development of major international infrastructure and other projects in the following fields: Iron & Steel Products, Mineral & Metal Resources, Infrastructure Projects, Integrated Transportation Systems, Chemicals, Energy, Food Resources, Food Products & Services, Consumer Services, IT & Communication, Corporate Development Business. Mitsui is actively taking on challenges for global business innovation around the world.

About Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers

Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB) partners with the brightest entrepreneurs to turn disruptive ideas into world-changing businesses. The firm has helped build and accelerate growth at pioneering companies like Amazon, Google, Lending Club, Nest, Twitter, Uber, and Mandiant. KPCB offers entrepreneurs decades of operating experience, puts them at the center of an influential network, and accelerates their companies from success to significance. KPCB invests in all stages from seed and incubation to growth companies and operates from offices in Menlo Park, San Francisco, Shanghai and Beijing. For more information, visit www.kpcb.com and follow us on Twitter @kpcb. 

About Osmington Inc.

Formed in 1995, Osmington is a private commercial real estate company, owned and controlled by David Thomson, Chairman of Thomson Reuters. Osmington operates with the highest degree of integrity and has a stellar reputation in the Canadian real estate market. The Company's investment focus has been and continues to be focused on value creation. Signature projects for the Company include the retail redevelopment of Toronto's Union Station and the purchase and relocation of NHL's Atlanta Thrashers toWinnipeg to become the Winnipeg Jets.

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedge.ca.

Following positive Florida Supreme Court decision, PACE financing saves businesses and homeowners thousands in climate-proofing retrofits

MIAMI, Jan. 14, 2016 -- On the heels of President Obama's Climate Action Plan and the COP21 Paris agreement,Ygrene Energy Fund announces today that Alachua County has joined the ranks of 25 other Florida municipalities in the adoption of the state's leading property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing program, YgreneWorksTM. The program, administered by Ygrene, gives residents access to private funds necessary to achieve energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate resiliency upgrades in the face of rising sea levels and hurricane activity. Alachua businesses and homeowners interested in Ygrene's zero-down financing, please visit ygreneworks.com.

"Florida faces more extreme weather scenarios than almost anywhere else in the country, which is why access to smart financing for a wide array of energy-conserving home and business retrofits is more important than ever," said Stacey Lawson, CEO of Ygrene. "Every new community that joins is another step closer to securing a more vibrant, climate-resilient future for the Sunshine State."

With the YgreneWorks program, residential, commercial and multi-family property owners have the ability to make the necessary structural retrofits and upgrades needed to increase energy efficiency and combat the effects of climate change, including impact-resistant windows and doors, siding, roofs and HVAC improvements—with no up-front costs.

Ygrene is the only PACE provider in Florida to reach scale with over $50M in project contracts and more than 1,000 projects completed. Since its founding, Ygrene has approved $900M in funding nationally for upgrades to the built environment, which produces more than $2.3B in economic stimulus, 13,500 new and sustained jobs and 56MW of energy, as well as saving 1.1M metric tons of CO2 and enough energy to power 890,000 homes for a full year.

Following the recent Florida Supreme Court PACE decision, Ygrene continues to expand its reach to help residents prepare for severe climate events, such as hurricanes and rising sea levels, threatening $390B worth of Florida properties. PACE provides Florida home and business owners a proven solution that enables them to upgrade their properties, while cutting utility costs and increasing property value. Home to the University of Florida, Alachua County is sending a strong message of its commitment to mobilize around this critical issue by allowing property owners access to financing through the YgreneWorks program in order to get the job done.

How it Works
YgreneWorks offers zero down, 100% financing, terms of up to 20 years and repayment through property taxes to finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and climate resiliency upgrades. Once cities and counties like Alachua opt in, property owners have access to Certified Ygrene Contractors who are trained to educate owners on the benefits of the Program, as well as tackle a wide range of upgrades. Ygrene currently administers PACE programs in more than 150 communities across the U.S.    

*Clean Energy Green Corridor, the geographic district where YgreneWorks is operational, is currently in the process of finalizing its agreement with the tax collector.

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is a leading residential and commercial provider of clean energy financing throughout the United States. The award winning, privately funded YgreneWorksTM program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy and hurricane protection. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at ygreneworks.com.

Leveraging Farmers Edge technology, growers are capitalizing on untapped market opportunities

WINNIPEG, MB and YOUNG, NSW, Jan. 14, 2016 - Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, announced today it has partnered with Delta Agribusiness, the leading force in independent rural services and in the retail of agricultural inputs in regional New South Wales (NSW). Under the exclusive agreement, Delta Ag will introduce the new precision agriculture platform from Farmers Edge to Australia's dryland growers, bringing them data-driven strategies to optimise on-farm profitability and sustainability.

While traditionally ahead of the curve in adopting steering and guidance technologies, the broader Australian market has lagged in utilizing precision agriculture tools relative to the comparable North American agriculture markets. Challenged by adverse weather and volatile commodity and input expenses, precision agriculture in NSW – Australia's most lucrative farming state – represents a virtually untapped market, primed for increased production. Farm owners and managers in this region are well placed to adopt this technology as it becomes increasingly more cost-effective, seamless and proven. As NSW's premier agriculture retailer, Delta Ag's broad customer base has led the state on progressive farming practices and, already, growers from over 60,000 hectares throughout NSW have adopted 'Harvest More Results' from Farmers Edge, which includes: imagery, analysed field-centric yield data and real time fleet management.

"Agriculture in Australia – and across the world – has been plateauing as productivity gains are largely achieved through improved crop varieties and genetic research and development, and growers need to look elsewhere for the productivity gains needed in coming decades," said Delta Ag Managing Director, Gerard Hines. "What we're introducing to Australia is an absolute game changer – an integrated package of software, hardware and 'boots on the ground' support that makes precision farming accessible and achievable for all farmers. This is not just about driving yield; it's about driving total farm performance."

Through the field-centric technology approach from Farmers Edge, Delta Agribusiness will enable more productive and sustainable farming, ultimately increasing yields for key crops. Under the terms of the agreement, Delta Ag's network of customers will have access to the Farmers Edge Precision Solutions package, a comprehensive turnkey system that includes: Variable Rate Technology, soil sampling and analysis, field-centric weather monitoring, in-field telematics and data transfer, high-resolution satellite imagery, field-centric data analytics, access to integrated farm management platform and a network of highly experienced, trusted advisors on the ground.

"As one of the largest broad acre cropping markets in the world, Australia has led the way in technology on the farm, but it is now poised to see another renaissance with the introduction of precision agriculture strategies," said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. "Our partnership with a world-class agribusiness leader like Delta Ag, which has distinguished itself as a pioneer in New South Wales' sustainable agriculture movement, is the next step in advancing better farming throughout the state. By utilizing our field-centric approach to farming, growers will be able to achieve stronger yield performance across the region."

About Delta Agribusiness

Since 2006, Delta Agribusiness has become a leading force in the supply of farm inputs, delivery of farm advisory services and marketing agricultural commodities in NSW, Australia. Delta's growth has been driven by a very clear strategy of adding value to farming clients in their operating footprint.

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge™ is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm since 2005, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedge.ca

It's not just about big data, says Farmers Edge, as it expands Precision Solutions™ in major markets

SHAKOPEE, MN, Dec. 16, 2015 - On the heels of its entrance into the U.S. market earlier this year, Farmers Edge, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, today announced it is expanding its sales and operations teams throughout the nation and will have a presence throughout the nation's major growing regions, including: Iowa,Illinois, Nebraska, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri and Kansas.

Whereas blue-chip agriculture giants and big data startups rely heavily on existing public data and have stagnated in major growing regions, Farmers Edge stands alone in providing growers not simply high-quality and accurate data, but also field-level analysis, predictive modeling and a world-class team of farm data scientists in established and emerging growing regions. This approach has enabled Farmers Edge to secure customers throughout the world, signaling the market's appetite for solutions that can accurately gather and analyze field-level data to enhance sustainable farm practices.

"We've seen Monsanto and a recent surge of new start-ups targeting the Midwest, which has a plethora of free and historical data that already exists, but trying to sell digital data in these well-established markets is a commodity game that offers growers very little in the way of new information," said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge. "Their challenge is compounded when you move out of data-rich environments like the Midwest to a state like North Dakota where the data simply doesn't yet exist. Our strength lies in our ability to extrapolate fresh, field-level data in both data-rich and data-sparse regions. This is why we're thriving."

With this U.S. expansion, growers throughout the country will have access to the Farmers Edge Precision Solutions package, a comprehensive turnkey system that includes: Variable Rate Technology, soil sampling and analysis, field centric weather monitoring, in-field telematics and data transfer, high-resolution satellite imagery, field-centric data analytics, access to integrated farm management platform and real boots on the ground. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm, Farmers Edge allows farmers to collect, store and transfer data, enabling them to make advanced management decisions and measure results.

"In most of the world's agricultural regions, and the U.S. is no different, existing big data solutions are falling short of what field-centric tools and talent can add. In expanding our boots on the ground here, we're further establishing ourselves as an on-farm necessity," continued Barnes. "In the U.S. markets, we're ensuring growers that they have the data they need to maximize profitability, optimize on-farm inputs and ultimately improve growing practices through increased sustainability."

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge is a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm, Farmers Edge is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit: http://www.farmersedgeUSA.com

Data in public domain signals new levels of market transparency for consumer choice

WESTCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 25, 2015 -- The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) announced a pivotal decision, authorizing Sustainable Westchester access to a treasure trove of necessary data for the state's very first Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program. This is a significant milestone for New York's CCA program, Governor Cuomo's strategic Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) and, more generally, for consumers and local public servants alike, representing a huge shift inNew York's power industry.

By putting data and choice in the hands of communities, local advocates aver that benign markets can function on behalf of consumers, grow bigger and operate more efficiently with greater transparency.

"Most notably, the contractual structure and the opportunity it represents will set national precedent. Sustainable Westchester'sCCA program will serve as a replicable energy model for New York State and other CCA enabled communities around the nation," said Mike Gordon, Co-Chair of Sustainable Westchester. "By enabling community contracts versus individual contracts, communities are empowered to make smart energy choices as a group, allowing for valuable, intelligent contract features and for economies of scale."

Since being approved in February, CCA has been enacted in 25 municipalities throughout Westchester County, with roughly 150,000 homes and nearly all of the small businesses in these communities participating. Each municipality has passed a local law authorizing its participation in the CCA program.

Sustainable Westchester will issue an Energy Service Agreement (ESA) that municipalities will have agreed on, for signature with an energy service company (ESCO). The winning ESCO bid is estimated to include buying electricity in bulk for more than $100 million, with a similarly significant purchase of natural gas, to follow. Sustainable Westchester is projecting it will achieve a secure price for electricity that is less than the utility has charged on average over the last year. Further, the contracts are expected to allow annual price reimbursements to customers with smart thermostats, and other energy efficiency home improvements that consistently reduce consumption during peak hours.

"The efficiency feature of these contracts is very powerful," said Mr. Gordon "This is one feature that allows only for price de-escalation, when the community achieves reduction in consumption at the few annual hours that the power system is most stressed."

The national cost of power at peak hours is estimated at $19.5B in the residential sector and is one component of the electricity bill that is growing rapidly. "Increasing electricity consumption at peak hours is a critical problem for the state and for the nation," saidKarl Rabago, Executive Director at Pace Energy and Climate Center. "If Sustainable Westchester can get private suppliers to bite at a peak demand reduction contract feature, they have created a private sector solution to a major challenge. An efficiency solution would address reliability issues, and add substantial economic value with an environmentally beneficial approach," Mr. Rabago continued.

Early data releases suggest, by Sustainable Westchester's calculation, that the aggregation will spend more than $30 million simply on its consumption during the one peak hour each year. "That's an expense we can reduce through smart management of when we consume," Mr. Gordon noted. "This is an approach that can be applied anywhere in the United States." The organization expects to develop contracts to buy renewable electricity supply and aims to award these in the next two months. These contracts will also be structured to provide cost rebates over time.  

Sustainable Westchester is further trumpeting that its CCA process offers residents a tax cut and resolves a longstanding loophole in New York State's tax collections. With CCA, Westchester residents and small businesses will save sales taxes, resolving the loophole that ensures local municipalities collect the gross receipts tax and are therefore held nearly or entirely whole. The organization maintains that the tax impact is not revenue neutral; taxpayers pay less in taxes, the state collects less in taxes, and the municipalities break roughly even. 

"When you ask the Public Service Commission, they'll tell you that this kind of information has never been available before; it has resided, to date, only with the utilities. The CCA pilot, and the specific data release upends this system, allowing for the commercial sector to step in and support consumers as consumers choose to be supported. Ultimately this will allow consumers to become prosumers – investing in and benefitting from the smart energy consumption infrastructure they create. For example, smart thermostats can become piggybanks creating documented savings and even earnings," said Mr. Gordon.

Sustainable Westchester has received data from participating municipalities and will use it to size the market and project how consumers can save energy and money on their bills through smart buying, augmented by the intelligent application of social media and new technology. Sustainable Westchester will not only share Westchester data, it will also project potential markets that this data will enable, and it will amplify the data to calculate this opportunity for New York State as a whole, for the six other states that have enabled Community Choice Aggregation, and for 14 other states that hold the near-term potential to enable Community Choice Aggregation.

About Sustainable Westchester:
Sustainable Westchester is a membership organization with more than 85% of all Westchester municipalities participating, representing 800,000 county residents. The action group is designed to turn environmental challenges into opportunities to improve the quality of life, economy and future prospects of county citizens. For more information visit: www.sustainablewestchester.org.

Hundreds of gigafactories already exist for lead-based storage, says Kubis

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 2, 2015 -- Today, Gridtential Energy, Inc., developer of a proprietary technology for advanced lead-based batteries, announced it has appointed industry luminary Ray Kubis to its Board of Directors. He brings 35 years of management and technology experience worldwide with market leaders in the industrial and automotive sectors of the battery industry and will support Gridtential as the company mobilizes hundreds of existing lead-based gigafactories worldwide.

For a cumulative 15 years, Kubis served as President of Hawker and EnerSys, leading the companies' industrial battery business development across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He has also worked in senior leadership positions with Johnson Controls and Exide in the automotive battery industry. Most recently, Kubis has served as President of EcoBat Technologies, Ltd., the global leader in the recycling and supply of lead for batteries. As Gridtential continues to license its Silicon Joule™ platform to battery manufacturers, Kubis' past experience will play a significant role in scaling the innovative platform worldwide.

"Energy storage markets are expanding with new and more challenging battery application requirements across the industrial, automotive and specialty markets," said Ray Kubis. "Gridtential's product innovation offers a real chance for step-change improvements in battery performance. By leveraging the mature manufacturing processes for lead and silicon with the existing lead-based battery plants, the innovation is practical and affordable when contrasted to new billion dollar super- or giga-scale investments."

Leveraging two mature industries – lead and silicon – Gridtential is able to target a $100/kWh installed price for its drop-in lead-based battery replacement. The company's unique licensing model allows battery manufacturers worldwide to adopt the silicon-based technology using existing infrastructure, allowing every lead-based battery manufacturer to access higher energy density and longer cycle life under more demanding conditions than incumbent products. Lead batteries are also one of the most sustainable products used today, as over 99% are recovered and completely recycled.

"Ray is an invaluable addition to our team as we work to mobilize hundreds of existing gigafactories globally," said Christiaan Beekhuis, CEO of Gridtential. "After decades of technical and supply chain success within the lead-based industry, he has the experience and the vision we need as Gridtential enables the industry to meet the performance and scale required for the coming massive deployment of grid storage."

About Gridtential Energy
Gridtential Energy has developed a low-cost, scalable battery architecture that significantly improves energy density, cycling performance and battery life. To date, the company has signed four US and two international battery manufacturers as development partners. Gridtential will license the technology to global battery manufacturers to leverage their existing high-volume battery production capabilities. Gridtential Energy is located in Santa Clara, California. To learn more, visit http://www.gridtential.com/

Media contact:
Gridtential@missionC2.com  
1-415-529-5740

Building Management Systems, Real-Time Monitoring and Cost Emerge as Key Issues

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 15, 2015 -- Today MACH Energy, a leading provider of commercial real estate (CRE) energy management solutions, revealed the results of one of the largest industry surveys of commercial building professionals to date. The four-month long poll garnered 800 participants including some of the top names in commercial real estate from BOMA, IFMA, IREM, NAIOP and NPMA.

Chief among MACH Energy's survey goals was to assess how property owners, managers and engineers are prioritizing their energy management spends and addressing their energy-related priorities for buildings in the nation's CRE sector. The results revealed widespread confusion amongst property managers, facility managers and directors on the difference between energy management software (EMS), which provides low-cost analytics and reporting software platforms, and building management systems (BMS), which are costly projects that physically control equipment.

"This survey was designed with the goal of getting a more nuanced understanding of challenges faced by building professionals at all levels," said Wei-En Tan, Ph.D., Vice President at MACH Energy. "We've found that although REITs and property owners understand the ROI potential of EMS across their portfolios very early on, the day-to-day decisions and implementation fall upon the people in the trenches - the property managers and chief engineers - who are clearly overwhelmed in what is still an early-adopter period."

While a market survey in July by Ecova, a bill-based software company, found 82% of 200 multi-site companies have installed some form of energy management software (EMS), MACH's survey of over 800 professionals found that 44% had installed EMS, but almost 70% of the 44% erroneously listed BMS as their software. Despite benchmarking mandates and other market forces, reducing costs, not increasing Energy Star scores, was still widely identified as the number one reason for implementing EMS. Additional take-ways from the survey included:

Top three most important EMS benefits

• 26% identified real-time monitoring as the most important benefit of EMS
• A close second was energy cost, cited by 22% of participants
• 13% indicated they valued easier fulfillment of reporting requirements

EMS Must-haves & Improvements

• 21% of respondents cited automated tenant billing/sub-metering as a must-have
• 16% complained their EMS was only designed for electricity, not water/gas/steam
• 14% reported expense and dollar impact reporting as key and needed EMS functions

"This is a time of rapid change in the commercial real estate sector and we're seeing those growing pains reflected in these results," said Jon Moeller, President of MACH Energy. "Over the last decade our team has worked closely with some of the nation's most iconic buildings and the personnel that manage them, integrating CRETech solutions like EMS. We are applying this marketplace feedback by addressing primary concerns such as easy set-up and usage, while also anticipating future needs."

To download the complete report, please visit: http://contact.machenergy.com/whitepaper/

About MACH Energy
MACH Energy Inc. is a leading provider of CRETech energy management solutions for commercial real estate property managers, operators, engineers, and owners. With some of the nation's most iconic buildings under management, MACH counts hundreds of commercial, REIT, hotel and corporate building owners as customers encompassing hundreds of millions of square feet of properties across the country.

Media contact
MACHEnergy@missionC2.com

As Florida's largest PACE provider, Ygrene offers property owners powerful financing to secure critical improvements

SANTA ROSA, Calif. and MIAMI, Oct. 15, 2015 -- Ygrene Energy Fund Inc., Florida's leading property assessed clean energy (PACE) provider and national provider of residential and commercial PACE financing, commends today's decision by the Florida Supreme Court to uphold the constitutionality of the PACE statute in Florida. As Florida takes a proactive stance to mitigate extreme weather events, rising sea levels and volatile energy prices, privately funded Ygrene PACE financing provides an easy and simple way for property owners to obtain funds. Updates ranging from energy efficient windows and doors to large environmental retrofits such as seawall reinforcements make the state more resilient in the face of climate and resource risks.

Ygrene is the only PACE provider in Florida to reach scale with over $50M in project contracts. Since its inception, Ygrene has approved $537M in funding nationally for upgrades to the built environment. This financing produces over $1.34B in economic stimulus, 8,000 new and sustained jobs and 34MW of energy as well as saving 644,000 metric ­tons of CO2 and enough energy to power 530,000 homes for a full year.

In partnership with Florida cities like Miami, Hollywood and Coral Gables, Ygrene's Clean Energy Green Corridor program provides 100% financing with zero out of pocket costs for residential, commercial and agricultural property owners to deploy energy efficiency and hurricane protection improvements. Currently approved in over 150 cities and counties across Florida, California and Georgia, Ygrene is a leading multi-state provider of residential PACE financing and the largest commercial PACE originator in the U.S.

"Today PACE in Florida has been validated at the highest level. This ruling is a win for Florida, for its residents and its local businesses and contractors, and the many cities who have been eagerly awaiting this decision," said Ygrene President & CEO, Stacey Lawson. "We're excited to continue our work in Florida as the state fortifies itself against climate change and rising energy prices."

The Supreme Court of Florida ruling was based on Florida Bankers Association v. Florida Development Finance Corporation.

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is a leading residential and commercial provider of clean energy financing throughout the United States. The award winning, privately funded Clean Energy Green Corridor program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy and hurricane protection. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, Clean Energy Green Corridor is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at Clean Energy Green Corridor.

Startups show how tech provides sustainability solutions, from clean energy to sustainable agriculture

OAKLAND, Calif., October 13, 2015 - GreenBiz Group has selected 12 startups that will compete in VERGE Accelerate, a program hosted by VERGE 2015 that assembles a lineup of innovative early-stage companies operating at the intersection of technology and sustainability.

Historically serving as a launchpad for entrepreneurs who have engineered a unique solution to a sustainability challenge, VERGE Accelerate offers an opportunity to pitch to potential investors and corporate partners, securing both customers and capital. This year’s contestants will join an elite group of more than two dozen companies that have premiered products, services, or technologies at VERGE and subsequently found market traction and acclaim.

One 2013 VERGE Accelerate participant, Owlized, has continued to attract the industry spotlight with its infrastructure visualization platform. “VERGE Accelerate opened doors to strategic partnerships and advisors that in turn helped us close our first few significant deals. For any early-stage startup, it offers crucial, unfiltered advice from an A-list of knowledgable people," said Aaron Selverston, founder and CEO of Owlized.

The finalists were selected from a diverse pool of applicants representing innovations and disruptions in area such as urban mobility, food production, or energy management.

The 12 finalist companies are: Swiftmile, FreeWire Technologies, Kakaxi, TransitScreen, EiP Technologies, Inc., Ibis Networks, Rogue Rovers, Voyage Control, FarmX, Foodful.ly, and 10 Power.

“VERGE Accelerate finalists embody the innovation, resourcefulness, and vision of the potential of smart technology to address some of the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges,” said Shana Rappaport, director of engagement at GreenBiz, who directs VERGE Accelerate. “We are excited to share this group of future-oriented thinkers and market-disrupters with the VERGE audience.”

VERGE, the flagship of a global event series produced by GreenBiz Group, focuses on how technology accelerates sustainability solutions across industries and sectors in a climate-constrained world. VERGE 2015 will be held October 26-29, 2015 at the Fairmont San Jose. For the latest information on VERGE visit: www.greenbiz.com/events/verge/san-jose/2015

ABOUT GREENBIZ GROUP
GreenBiz Group’s mission is to define and accelerate the business of sustainability. It does this through a wide range of products and services, including its acclaimed website GreenBiz.com and e-newsletters, GreenBuzz and VERGE; webcasts on topics of importance to sustainability and energy executives; research reports, including the annual State of Green Business; the GreenBiz Executive Network, a membership-based, peer-to-peer learning forum for sustainability executives; and conferences: the annual GreenBiz forum and VERGE.

Media contact: verge@missionc2.com

Northwest transit agencies, universities and institutions can now bypass RFPs to purchase Proterra Catalyst™ buses

BURLINGAME, Calif., Oct. 2, 2015 -- Proterra, the leading North American provider of zero-emission battery electric buses, announced it has been selected by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) in a significant RFP solicitation for a statewide master contract for Heavy-duty Transit Vehicles and a multi-vendor contract for the purchase of multiple public transportation vehicles. As a result, Washington State transit agencies and members of the Oregon Cooperative Purchasing Program (ORCPP) can now bypass future RFPs to purchase Proterra's Catalyst™ through the region's new innovative Master Contracts Usage Agreement (MCUA).

Proterra and seven other manufacturers were chosen as WSDOT's "pool of providers" in order to dramatically streamline local transit agencies' access to the vendor and vehicle that best meets their specific transit system's needs. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. Proterra was the only provider selected offering both long-range and fast-charge transit vehicles capable of recharging in less than 10 minutes. 

The resulting contract has a possible life of five years, and it is estimated that the contract could reach up to 800 buses at approximately $480 million dollars. Moreover, the contract seeks to match and qualify contract users with federal grant and/or stimulus funds. Although this RFP includes all types of heavy-duty transit vehicles, it was created in support of Governor Jay Inslee's initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to increase transportation choices for the future. Last year, Proterra was selected by King County Metro in Washington State to supply buses for its zero-emission bus demonstration program. This new RFP selection enables other Pacific Northwest transit fleets to begin similar or larger programs.

"This is a huge win not only for Proterra and transit agencies, universities and institutions across the Northwest, but for EV adoption in the U.S.," said Proterra CEO, Ryan Popple. "We applaud WSDOT and DES on this innovative RFP approach and hope that other states will follow suit, accelerating public access to zero-emission transportation."

About Proterra:  
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 108 vehicles to 14 different transit agencies throughout North America. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley and South Carolina. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

$3.1M project is second for BrandsMart and Ygrene in Florida

MIAMI, Oct. 8, 2015 -- Ygrene Energy Fund Inc., a national provider of clean energy and hurricane protection financing, and BrandsMart USA, one of the largest appliance retailers in the country, today announced the completion of the largest commercialPACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) project in the nation's Southeast. The project site, BrandsMart's Miami Gardens store, was funded with $3.1M in PACE financing via Ygrene's Clean Energy Green Corridor program. This is the second project in Florida for the partners and is expected to generate $310,000 in annual energy, operations and maintenance savings for BrandsMart.

Environmental concerns around extreme weather events have reached an all-time high in Florida as the state grapples to become more resilient in the face of rising sea levels and rising energy costs. Miami in particular has become ground zero for these conversations, as elected officials seek to upgrade the city's infrastructure in anticipation of climate and resource risks. BrandsMart USA, one of the leading Consumer Electronics and Appliance Retailers in the Southeast, has been an active proponent of energy efficiency upgrades and of PACE, the nation's most accessible capital source for clean energy upgrades.

"PACE's credibility and proven track record make it the clear choice to upgrade our stores from both a business and an environmental perspective," said Lary Sinewitz, Executive Vice President, BrandsMart USA. "This is our second successful multi-million dollar project in Florida using the Clean Energy Green Corridor program administered by Ygrene as we work together to make ours a more resilient region in the face of weather threats and volatile resources."

On the heels of a successful 2014 $2.1M project at its Palmetto Bay Store, which is expected to result in $195,000 in energy, operations and maintenance savings this year, BrandsMart identified its Miami Gardens store as next in line to be upgraded. New additions to the Miami Gardens store include LED lighting, a new energy-efficient roof and replacement of all HVAC equipment. Partners ABM Industries and Tremco were instrumental in both the Palmetto Bay and Miami Gardens projects. 

In partnership with local municipalities like Miami-Dade, Ygrene's Clean Energy Green Corridor program provides 100% financing with zero out of pocket costs for residential, commercial and agricultural property owners to deploy clean energy and hurricane protection upgrades to their buildings.  Currently approved in over 150 cities and counties across Florida, California and Georgia, Ygrene is the largest commercial PACE originator in the U.S.

"Florida's robust appetite for PACE continues to grow as climate change threatens the state's resilience," said Ygrene President & CEO, Stacey Lawson. "Last year's Palmetto Bay project was the largest in the state and in short order, we've eclipsed that, underscoring our commitment to Florida and to pioneers like BrandsMart that are forging a safer, more adaptive future for the Southeast."

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is a leading residential and commercial provider of clean energy financing throughout the United States. The award winning, privately funded YgreneWorksTM program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at www.ygreneworks.com.

Pledges to Help Drive Continuous Improvement in Sustainability of U.S. Agriculture

SHAKOPEE, MN and WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 3, 2015 - Farmers Edge USA has joined Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, a multi-stakeholder initiative working to unite the agricultural supply chain in defining, measuring and advancing the sustainability of food, fiber and fuel production.

"We are proud to be influencing change within agriculture by joining Field to Market," said Farmers Edge™ founder and CEO Wade Barnes. "We look forward to working with other members of the Alliance to harness the opportunity that advanced technology provides in creating a more productive, progressive and sustainable agriculture model."

Working together with grower organizations, academia, conservation groups, public sector partners and leading companies, Farmers Edge USA will help to catalyze opportunities for continuous improvement in productivity, environmental quality and human well-being across the agricultural value chain.

"We are pleased to welcome Farmers Edge USA to Field to Market and look forward to identifying opportunities for greater collaboration," said Rod Snyder, president of Field to Market. "Precision agriculture is not only driving more efficient and profitable production for farmers but is also delivering improved environmental outcomes and contributing to increased sustainability."

About Farmers Edge USA
Farmers Edge USA is a division of Farmers Edge™, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions. Leading the development and application of new technologies on the farm, Farmers Edge™ is defining the future of agriculture through innovation. For more information, visit www.farmersedge.ca.

About Field to Market
Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture brings together a diverse group of grower organizations; agribusinesses; food, beverage, restaurant and retail companies; conservation groups; universities; and public sector partners to focus on defining, measuring and advancing the sustainability of food, fiber and fuel production. Field to Market is comprised of more than 80 members representing all facets of the U.S. agricultural supply chain, with member companies employing more than 4.1 million people and representing combined revenues totaling over $1.3 trillion. For more information, visit www.fieldtomarket.org and follow us on Twitter attwitter.com/FieldtoMarket.

Establishing Silicon Valley Headquarters to Service Growing Demand for Electric Buses in California

BURLINGAME, Calif., Oct. 5, 2015 -- Proterra, the leading provider of zero emission battery-electric buses, today announced the opening of its headquarters in Silicon Valley. The move positions Proterra to extend its market leadership by taking greater advantage of the region's innovation culture and to serve the rapid growth in customer demand on the West Coast. Proterra expects to find new opportunities for collaboration with other transportation innovators in the Bay Area as it launches its new headquarters.

"Proterra's new headquarters further demonstrates an auspicious future for advanced transportation in California, as more companies choose to manufacture electric vehicles here," said Panorea Avdis, Chief Deputy Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).

Driven by increasing urbanization and strict air quality regulations, California is leading the transition to electric mass transit. With the 2016 opening of Proterra's new Southern California manufacturing facility, Proterra is expected to double its production capacity, placing Proterra in an even stronger position to serve its growing list of California customers. The company's firm orders are now at 123 units, with 317 options contracted, for a total of 440.

"Proterra's opening of a California headquarters in Burlingame and a new manufacturing facility in the San Gabriel Valley shows thatCalifornia continues to lead the nation in job creation and electric vehicle production," said state Senator Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo andSanta Clara counties. "These new buses will be 'Made in America' and 'Made in California' and they'll reduce our dependence on oil so we can meet our emissions reduction goals."

By expanding its footprint in Silicon Valley, Proterra aims to be at the apex of transit innovation. The 34,440 square foot Burlingameheadquarters will include a mix of management and support teams from the Advanced Engineering, Finance, Sales, Marketing, and HR departments with 40 employees initially. Proterra's Greenville facility in South Carolina will continue to manufacture Proterra's zero-emission electric buses to meet East Coast demand, while Proterra taps the robust high-tech talent pool in the Bay Area.

"The U.S. is in the midst of a complete reinvention of how we transport people and cargo and Silicon Valley is at the center of innovation in new powertrains and energy storage systems," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "As younger generations forgo car ownership and cities demand clean and quiet transit solutions, our goal is to help pioneer this movement."

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 108 vehicles to 14 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley andSouth Carolina. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

First Customer, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), adds 7 new 35-foot Catalyst buses

BURLINGAME, Calif., Oct. 5, 2015 -- Proterra, the leading provider of zero-emission battery electric buses, today announced it has expanded its Catalyst platform to accommodate increased customer demand for advanced mass transit buses, by introducing a new 35-foot vehicle based on the same technology platform as its current 40-foot Catalyst vehicle. Closely tracking the broader transportation trend towards advanced safety systems, the new 35-foot Catalyst electric bus provides customers with nimble maneuvering and enhanced automated features, including collision avoidance and traction control in a smaller model for dense urban areas, building on the performance of the 40-foot Catalyst vehicle.

Proterra is also announcing that Dallas Area Rapid Transit will be the first customer to receive seven, 35-foot Catalyst FC buses and two overhead semi-autonomous fast chargers. The seven buses will reduce DART's emissions footprint while providing a clean, quiet ride for the agency's 250,000 daily riders. "We believe in staying at the forefront of transit, so Proterra's high performance zero-emission electric buses were an easy decision for us to make. These buses will give our riders and drivers the most modern bus transit experience on the road," said DART president and executive director Gary Thomas.  

Built from the ground-up to be completely optimized as an EV, the Catalyst is the only purpose-built bus in its class, recently proving its industry-leading performance by breaking four national records with the 40-foot vehicle in efficiency, gradeability, weight and acceleration at the Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center. "The modular approach we have taken with the Catalyst design enables us to stay at the forefront of innovation and enable our customers to optimize their fleets over the average 12-year life of the bus," saidJohn Sleconich, Chief Engineer at Proterra. "Road safety is paramount to our design, so we've integrated a collision avoidance system that offers both safety benefits as well as potential customer savings."

The modular configuration is a part of Proterra's tech-centric approach to electrifying mass transit routes across the United States. It offers customers the flexibility to change or upgrade the energy storage and charging systems as their transit needs evolve. By choosing from two base vehicle sizes, then configuring each bus with the right type of energy storage and charging systems, transit agencies can meet each route's daily range requirements, remain adaptable to future changes, eliminate fossil fuel emissions in their communities and ultimately save money over the lifetime of their vehicles.   

"The overwhelming success of our 40-foot Catalyst bus continues to drive new demand. We're pleased to have Dallas as our first customer as they redefine their urban core and invest in a Smart City vision, prioritizing infrastructure, mobility, and connected living," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "With Texas' growing wind capacity, we're pleased to provide a complementary clean mobility solution that will help Dallas improve its local air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 108 vehicles to 14 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley andSouth Carolina. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

Ability to create a reliable, low-risk yield from small projects is a game changer, says Joule Assets

BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y., Sept. 29, 2015 -- Today Joule Assets Inc., the leading provider of financing solutions for the energy efficiency and demand management industries, announced the industry's first portfolio-wide insurance offering with Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB), a global leader in equipment insurance and part of Munich Re. The performance insurance product provides scalable energy savings insurance solutions for Joule contractors by underwriting at the portfolio level.

Joule Assets has sought to bring sophisticated financing products to the large and untapped market for efficiency upgrades in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and this insurance offering represents a significant step in that regard for both Joule and the industry overall. The implications of this product are especially significant for Joule's contractors who will now be able to offer their customers no upfront cost solutions backed by performance insurance. For investors in Joule's ERA Fund, insurance on energy performance cash flows provides a path to securitization for Joule's portfolio with corresponding benefits of increased velocity of capital, reduced portfolio risk and amplified portfolio returns.

"The market for efficiency retrofits for small and medium enterprises presents a significant opportunity for new and creative approaches to financing," said Dr. Richard B. Jones, HSB senior vice president for engineering and research. "Products developed for this market, however, must be cost-effective. HSB's portfolio underwriting approach to developing this new product enhances the value of energy efficiency projects, without adding burdensome costs."

"HSB's innovative insurance product will allow Joule Assets to lower their loan loss reserves and deploy more capital in an underserved market," noted Dennis Quinn, Joule Assets' COO. Joule Assets ERA Fund serves a critical, unmet need in the market by connecting investors with the next wave of energy efficiency projects generated by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Deutsche Bank estimates a market size of $279 billion in the U.S. alone, 97.5% of which sits in SMEs. This market is virtually untapped due in large part to market barriers including lack of access to sophisticated financial products. The symbiotic nature of the fund allows investors to reap the benefits of the attractive returns associated with energy efficiency, while providing smaller-scale contractors with the same quality of financing that large-scale energy efficiency projects have enjoyed. This insurance product sends an important signal for a number of counterparties in these transactions including the contractor, customer and Joule ERA Fund investor alike.

"One of Joule's differentiators is its strength in onboarding and vetting contractors and their projects and monitoring project health through ongoing measurement and verification of performance. We're proud to have developed a due diligence process that is strong enough to attract world-class partners like HSB," Mr. Quinn added. "In a market that has been historically underserved, this is yet another milestone in our long term effort to create a strong capital source for the small and medium commercial sector and to provide investors an investment vehicle with compelling risk adjusted returns."

About HSB
Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB), a member of Munich Re's Risk Solutions family since 2009, is a leading engineering and technical risk insurer providing equipment breakdown insurance products, other specialty coverages, and related inspection services and engineering consulting. Founded in 1866, HSB's difference is grounded in extensive technical knowledge with over 50 percent of its staff engineers, inspectors and technical personnel around the globe. We leverage our knowledge to anticipate future risks and develop a range of specialized solutions that enable our clients to build deeper and more profitable customer relationships. HSB holds A.M. Best Company's highest financial rating, A++ (Superior). For more information, visit www.hsb.com and connect on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

About Joule Assets
Joule Assets delivers financing solutions for energy efficiency and demand management initiatives and projects. Through its first-in-kind Joule Energy Reduction Asset (ERA) Fund, a global private equity fund initially targeting $100M, Joule provides previously unavailable, upfront financing to energy efficiency projects, cycling returns from monetized energy savings back to Fund investors. Joule Assets leverages its proprietary database, market analysis software, and extensive industry expertise to deliver a secure financing option for vendors and untapped revenue streams for investors.  You can learn more about Joule Assets and the ERA Fund at: http://www.jouleassets.com/ or apply for a consultation here. You can also follow us on Twitter @JouleAssets.

Second Order from Nashville's Metropolitan Transit Authority brings Proterra® fleet to nine

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept.15, 2015 -- Today Proterra, the leading provider of zero-emission, battery-electric buses, announced that Nashville's Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has purchased two additional 35-foot Proterra EcoRide™ electric buses. MTA expects its first electric fleet of nine Proterra fast-charge vehicles to be on the road later this year, jumpstarting Nashville'szero-emission mass transit system. Nashville is the latest U.S. city to deploy Proterra battery electric buses, joining Louisville, Seneca, Worcester, Tallahassee, San Antonio, West Covina, Stockton, Reno and Seattle. Proterra transit vehicles are now in more cities, with larger deployments, than any other zero-emission transit vehicle technology in North America. 

"The nine Proterra buses will serve the Music City's 659,000 metropolitan population and be integrated into MTA's Music City Circuit, which is free to ride for all passengers and offers easy access to many of Nashville's historic landmarks," said India Birdsong, Chief Operating Officer at MTA. MTA funded the purchase of the buses and two accompanying charging stations with a combination of federal Clean Fuels grants and local match funding. Over the 12-year life of a bus, Proterra customers dramatically reduce fuel and maintenance costs, saving around $462K vs. diesel and $404K vs. CNG, making the vehicles 64% more cost-effective to operate than diesel or 60% more cost-effective than CNG.  

Proterra aims to help every U.S. city improve transit performance, save money, improve local air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by cutting dependency on fossil fuels. With long range and the fastest recharge time of any battery electric transit vehicle, Proterra products are designed to be a drop-in replacement for legacy fossil-fuel buses. The company's firm orders are now at 123 units, with 317 options contracted, for a total of 440. And with an exacting approach to vehicle design and engineering, Proterra offers the highest performance vehicle in the transit bus industry—recently setting all-time records at the Federal Testing Program in urban acceleration, energy efficiency, hill climb capability and vehicle weight savings.

"Nashville is an iconic deployment for zero-emission, battery-electric transit buses. The city is already setting a great example in urban sustainability and is experiencing strong local growth as people are choosing to live closer to work, school and entertainment. We're proud to be a technology partner in their strategy to create a smart city that preserves the local environment, while offering exceptional service and amenities to locals and tourists alike," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "Nashville is a great illustration of what we're seeing on the national level, and we're happy to support the Music City in its swift adoption of electric transit."

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 120 vehicles to 15 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in South Carolinaand Silicon Valley. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

Company recognizes industry demand for open standards-based electric vehicle charging

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 9, 2015 -- Based on its recent independent analysis of the North American electric vehicle (EV) charging market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Greenlots with the 2015 Frost & Sullivan Award for Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership. A pioneer in grid management and leveraging open standards to future-proof EV networks, Greenlots enables utilities, automakers and site hosts to deliver a superior customer experience. Its flagship SKY Smart Charging solution uses Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), the de facto open standard in accessible, affordable and scalable EV charging.

Greenlots has adopted the energy and EV industry's open-standards protocols (OpenADR 2.0b) and Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), bridging charging stations and network management software. The company's strategy has established it as an innovator, as open standards allow global customers to easily mix and match charging stations from various manufacturers without the risk of obsolescence or vendor lock-in. Greenlots preserves a seamless experience by leveraging various open standards on a single platform and offers a future-proof solution that utilities can integrate with demand-management initiatives.

"Greenlots operates truly intelligent EV-charging infrastructure," said Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Prajyot Sathe. "Its charging solutions have found application across residential, workplace and public locations in more than 13 countries. Importantly, these systems are tailored to meet the specific needs of site hosts, including utilities, municipalities, workplaces and retail properties."

Illustrating the broad-based, cross-industry support for open standard-based solutions, Greenlots' global partners include major automakers, utilities, charging station manufacturers, and infrastructure operators. Pilot projects with leading utilities, such as Southern California Edison and BC Hydro, highlight Greenlots' successes in demand-side management, while the company's partnerships with large automakers, such as BMW Asia, Kia Motors America, and Nissan, exemplify the emphasis automotive suppliers are placing on charging interoperability. 

"We are honored to be recognized by Frost & Sullivan," said Greenlots CEO Brett Hauser. "This award underscores the value that current industries are placing on an open model as a means of accelerating a clean energy and mobility future."

For its overall value and keen understanding of customers' requirements, Frost & Sullivan is pleased to present Greenlots with the 2015 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has leveraged competitive intelligence to successfully execute a strategy that results in stronger market share, competitive brand positioning and customer satisfaction. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Greenlots

Greenlots is a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks and grid management. Designed to answer the needs of site hosts offering workplace and public charging applications, Greenlots' SKY Smart Charging™ platform is a robust network management solution that utilizes Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), the largest open standard for charger-to-network communications. SKY is the only charging network to be OpenADR 2.0b-certified and enables utilities and site hosts to work together on demand response programs, leveraging EVs as a grid resource and avoiding costly energy infrastructure upgrades. Greenlots is headquartered in San Francisco and has deployed solutions in 13 countries around the globe. Visit www.greenlots.com for more information or follow us on Twitter @greenlots.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants.

Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.

• The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation.
• The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.

For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?

Catalyst aims to be a drop-in replacement for any bus route in the U.S.

BURLINGAME, Calif., Sept. 3, 2015 -- Proterra, the leading provider of zero-emission battery electric buses, announced today that the company's 40-foot Catalyst XR bus drove 258 miles on a single charge under test conditions at Michelin's esteemed Laurens Proving Grounds (LPG). The Catalyst's range demonstration marks a significant step toward Proterra's goal of providing a high-performance bus that can serve any typical transit route in the United States. A video documenting the achievement can be viewed at this link: https://youtu.be/zERKJIeA3F4.

The Catalyst XR configuration included eight battery packs, with a total energy capacity of 257kWh. Based on these test results, Proterra predicts its ten pack XR configuration (321kWh) will achieve 300 miles on a single charge. According to available General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data, typical urban and rural bus routes in the United States run less than 200 miles a day, bringing most routes within reach of Proterra's current technology.

"The purpose-driven Catalyst design affords the best efficiency rating ever for a 40-foot transit bus, at 22 MPG equivalent," said John Sleconich, Chief Engineer at Proterra. "Proterra buses are the only mass transit vehicle built from the ground up as an electric vehicle. With a unique aerodynamic body made from carbon fiber and advanced composite materials, we are able to reduce mass for maximum efficiency."

Beyond meeting a given route's minimum range requirements, Proterra electric vehicles are poised to make a significant impact on the transit market because of the Catalyst's low operational cost per mile compared to diesel, CNG, and diesel-hybrid buses. Over the 12-year life of a bus, Proterra customers will dramatically reduce maintenance costs, saving around $135K. The environmental benefits are also making an impressive impact. Collectively, Proterra customers have logged more than 1.3 million miles of revenue service to date, preventing more than 4.7 million pounds of emissions.

"The U.S. is quickly waking up to the economic, environmental, and performance benefits of zero-emission electric buses," said Proterra CEO, Ryan Popple. "While diesel buses pollute our communities and are increasingly more costly to own and operate, Proterra is pushing the bounds of EV technology and steadily driving down costs. Achieving this range is validation for our technology and gives us the confidence that Proterra is capable of what we initially set out to accomplish - replacing every fossil fuel bus in the United Stateswith a fully electric one. "

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold more than 110 vehicles to 14 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in South Carolinaand Silicon Valley. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

Proterra Media Contact: Lauren Burke, PR@proterra.com

Mayors and Councilmembers see PACE as a critical path to making cities and counties more resilient to climate change

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Aug. 26, 2015 -- Ygrene Energy Fund Inc., a national provider of clean energy and water conservation financing, announced that its YgreneWorksTM program goes live today in 90+ additional cities and counties acrossCalifornia. Now, more than 9 million home and business owners, including small-to-midsized businesses (SMBs), industrial and agribusinesses in California, have access to immediate financing for energy, water and seismic upgrades. This comes on the heels of the National Clean Energy Summit where President Obama announced new actions to address climate change and promote clean energy and energy efficiency to households across the country.

Included in the list of new territories are the Counties of Marin, San Diego, Solano and 11 additional counties, as well as the Cities ofBuena Park, Concord, Escondido, Hayward, Lancaster, San Diego, San Jose and Santa Ana, among others.

"It's time to get moving," said San Jose Mayor, Sam Liccardo. "Welcoming YgreneWorks to the city's line-up of PACE providers will give our residents additional choice in how they finance water conservation and energy efficient home improvements, and as the leading provider of multifamily and commercial PACE, Ygrene is uniquely positioned to help San Jose meet its Green Vision goals of building or retrofitting 50 million square feet of residential and commercial properties and creating 25,000 clean-tech jobs."

Ygrene's expanding portfolio demonstrates the company's dedication to providing universal access to PACE financing. With the largest number of multifamily units funded, Ygrene sees its financing model as a way for the greatest number of people to ensure their buildings and homes are resilient to climate change. With YgreneWorks, property owners receive 100% financing for building upgrades with no upfront costs and repayment terms of up to 30 years, allowing them to make timely upgrades without significant financial burden.

"Access to Ygrene funding and choices in PACE programs is important to my constituents and residents throughout the City of San Diego by helping gain access to critical tools to pay for energy efficiency retrofits to their homes and commercial buildings," said San Diego Councilmember David Alvarez. "I have been an advocate for helping make our cities cleaner and less reliant on traditional energy sources that produce greenhouse gas effects, and Ygrene and other PACE providers will help residents make wiser choices in energy consumptions and efficiency."

"Supporting cities and counties is our number one priority," notes Stacey Lawson, Ygrene's CEO. "As California's drought worsens and seismic concerns persist, we've seen a significant uptick in demand for retrofits. The activation of our YgreneWorks program in these additional communities allows us to serve a greater number of people looking to protect their homes and businesses against the effects of climate change."

A complete list of the expanded Ygrene territories can be found at ygreneworks.com.

About Ygrene Energy Fund
Ygrene Energy Fund is a leading residential and commercial provider of clean energy financing throughout the United States. The award winning, privately funded YgreneWorksTM program provides immediately accessible financing with no upfront costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation and, in certain areas, hurricane protection, electric vehicle charging stations and seismic upgrades. Ygrene is committed to making it easy for families to invest in their future and a healthier environment. Over the next five years, YgreneWorks is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at www.ygreneworks.com.

Developing the foundation for electric mobility in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Sept. 2, 2015 -- Greenlots, a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks, today announced it is working with BMW Group Asia to provide Singapore's growing population of electric vehicle (EV) and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) owners with additional charging stations at CapitaLand properties in the Central Business District (CBD) and beyond. Greenlots is overseeing the installation, operation and maintenance of the charging stations.

This rollout marks a new era for Singapore, as it signals the commitment to expand open standards-based electric vehicle charging for public use in the city-state. It is also the largest collaboration between a leading real estate developer and a premium automobile manufacturer to install public EV charging infrastructure. This will bring the total number of Greenlots' public EV charging stations in Singapore to 47 in 31 locations.

"This installment marks a significant milestone for electric mobility in Singapore, as we lay a sustainable foundation for the sector to thrive. We are dedicated to accelerating EV adoption in the city-state and a robust charging network needs support from car companies and the real estate sector. We are pleased to be partnering with industry leaders as we bolster open standards-based public EV charging for Singapore," said Mr. Lin Khoo, Senior Vice-President of Greenlots.

On the heels of the all-electric BMW i3 and BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car launched in Singapore, BMW Group Asia and Greenlots teamed up for the first phase of deployment to install public charging stations at five strategic CapitaLand locations in the CBD which are already operational today.  The six operational charging stations at the CapitaLand properties are located at Capital Tower, CapitaGreen (two stations), One George Street, Raffles City Singapore and Six Battery Road. The second phase is currently being implemented at four of CapitaLand's shopping malls: Bedok Mall and The Atrium@Orchard, and The Star Vista and Westgate (two stations each).

Leading the real estate industry in supporting sustainable mobility, CapitaLand will offer an extensive public EV charging network inSingapore with 12 charging stations across nine strategic locations. Out of the 31 public EV charging locations, CapitaLand properties make up nearly one-third of the entire island-wide network. This makes CapitaLand the developer with the largest network of public EV charging stations in Singapore. It is also the first and only developer in South-east Asia to introduce a network of charging stations for EVs and PHEVs that spans properties across the integrated development, shopping mall, serviced residence, office and residential sectors. The EV charging stations available at CapitaLand properties will be accessible to all owners of EVs by any manufacturer.  EV owners simply have to register via the Greenlots mobile app in order to start using the public charging network.

Mr. Tan Seng Chai, Group Chief Corporate Officer, CapitaLand Limited and Chairman of the CapitaLand Sustainability Steering Committee, said, "As a responsible developer, CapitaLand is committed to operating our buildings in a sustainable manner.  We understand that the availability of charging stations is key to greater adoption of EVs, which helps reduce carbon emissions. As property owners, we therefore recognize the instrumental role we can play in helping to make charging infrastructure more accessible. CapitaLand is set to offer over 100 EV charging stations at more than 40 properties throughout Asia and Europe, across integrated, shopping mall, serviced residence, office and residential developments. This will form an integrated CapitaLand network of charging stations, where our customers who are EV owners can plug-in and charge their cars easily and seamlessly when they live, work and play at our properties."

Public Charging

ChargeNow, BMW i's public charging program, enables BMW i drivers with access to a network of public charging stations located in various office buildings, shopping malls, hotels, industrial parks and buildings in Singapore. Greenlots administers ChargeNow inSingapore and enables local BMW i customers to access its vast and expansive network of AC charging units by using the BMW i ChargeNow card and Greenlots mobile app. Real-time information about the availability and location of these stations is provided to BMW i drivers via the car's BMW Navigation system Professional to assist them in locating the nearest available charging point.

About Greenlots

Greenlots is a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks and grid management. Designed to answer the needs of site hosts offering workplace and public charging applications, Greenlots' SKY Smart Charging™ platform is a robust network management solution that utilizes Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), the largest open standard for charger-to-network communications. SKY is the only charging network to be OpenADR 2.0b certified and enables utilities and site hosts to work together on demand response programs, leveraging EVs as a grid resource and avoiding costly energy infrastructure upgrades. Greenlots is headquartered in San Francisco and has deployed solutions in 13 countries around the globe. Visitwww.greenlots.com for more information or follow us on Twitter @greenlots.

About CapitaLand Limited

CapitaLand is one of Asia's largest real estate companies headquartered and listed in Singapore.  The company leverages its significant asset base, design and development capabilities, active capital management strategies, extensive market network and operational capabilities to develop high-quality real estate products and services.  Its diversified global real estate portfolio includes integrated developments, shopping malls, serviced residences, offices and homes.  Its two core markets are Singapore and China, while Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam have been identified as new growth markets.  The company also has one of the largest real estate fund management businesses with assets located in Asia. CapitaLand's listed real estate investment trusts are Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaLand Commercial Trust, CapitaLand Mall Trust, CapitaLand Retail China Trust and CapitaMalls Malaysia Trust.

www.capitaland.com

Media contact: greenlots@missionc2.com

Dolby is to sound what Silicon Joule could be to storage, says Schummer

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 24, 2015 -- Gridtential Energy, Inc., an innovator in low-cost, high-performance energy storage technologies, today announced that it has appointed one of Dolby Laboratories licensing pioneers, Ed Schummer as Chief Licensing Officer. A nearly thirty-year Dolby veteran, Schummer was instrumental in shaping Dolby's first-in-kind licensing model, widely credited for parlaying a once obscure, but novel, noise reduction technology into a global quality mark. The Schummer win represents a major talent acquisition for Gridtential as the company advances its global licensing strategy for its patented Silicon Joule™ battery technology.

Under Schummer's leadership, the Dolby team created and refined an influential and much imitated licensing model program and made the Dolby brand synonymous with best-in-class entertainment systems. Dolby's licensing footprint spans 40 countries with 100's of licensees from consumer electronics manufacturers to software vendors.

"When I joined Dolby more than 30 years ago, we'd developed a high quality audio system, constrained in a niche market. But our small team then saw what I see in Gridtential now – an opportunity to reinvigorate a conventional market, in this case battery manufacturing, with a best-in-class platform, " said Ed Schummer, Chief Licensing Officer at Gridtential Energy. "Knowing what I know now, I'm looking forward to working closely with Gridtential's expanding portfolio of battery manufacturer licensees to tap their existing gigawatt-scale factories and help them leverage the Silicon Joule platform into one of their most lucrative new revenue streams."

For decades, battery manufacturers in the $31B lead-acid sector have sought an advanced storage solution that extends beyond the current benefits of the chemistry in order to serve in-demand sectors like stationary, mobility and now distributed energy. Yielding higher energy density, longer cycle life and deeper depth-of-discharge than incumbent lead-acid, while offering a safe alternative to lithium ion, Gridtential's Silicon Joule platform is an economic solution to enable these existing and emerging sectors.

"The addition of Schummer to the team is a major coup for us. Anyone familiar with Dolby's success will recognize the impact Ed had in transforming a novel technology into an unprecedented brand and sales driver," said Christiaan Beekhuis, CEO of Gridtential Energy. "Under Ed's leadership, Dolby became the gold-standard for sound – regardless of the system's size, location or application – and I know he will be instrumental in supporting new and existing battery manufacturers as we grow our customer program and IP portfolio."

About Gridtential Energy
Gridtential Energy is developing a low-cost, scalable battery architecture that significantly improves energy density, cycling performance and battery life. Gridtential has relationships with key suppliers to accelerate development of highly repeatable, high-volume battery production capabilities. Gridtential Energy is located in Santa Clara, California. To learn more, visit http://www.gridtential.com/.

Illustrating Sustained Momentum for Proterra® Zero-Emission Electric Buses

SAN BRUNO, Calif., Aug. 18, 2015 -- Proterra Inc., the leading provider of zero-emission battery-electric buses, today announced that it has been named to the 2015 Inc. 500 list, an exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. Ranked number 425, Proterra has been recognized for a 1,119% growth in the last three years, adding 108 jobs, and establishing itself as North America's electric bus leader with over 70 percent of the U.S. battery-electric transit bus market.

This award speaks to the mounting demand for Proterra Catalyst™ zero-emission electric buses. Just in the last year the company has announced: national expansion plans that include doubling production with the addition of a West Coast manufacturing line, $55 millionin strategic financing, the company's largest bus order to date by four-time returning customer Foothill Transit, breaking four performance records at the Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center, and a number of other customer orders. Proterra's firm orders are now 110 units, with 323 options contracted, for a total of 433.

"We are honored to be named to the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "To be recognized by Inc. underscores the momentum we are seeing for zero-emission mass transit. With public transit agencies coast-to-coast driving demand for electric vehicles, our focus during this next phase of growth is to get our new California manufacturing line up and running to service this industry's increasing appetite for Proterra zero-emission electric buses."

The 2015 Inc. 500|5000 ranks companies according to percentage revenue growth from 2011 to 2014. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generated revenue by March 31, 2011, and have revenue no less than $2 million in 2014. Additionally, companies have to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent. 2015 Inc. 500|5000 winners will be honored at the Annual Inc. 500|5000 Conference and Awards Ceremony on October 21-23, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. To see the full list of winners, please visit: http://www.inc.com/inc5000/list/2015/

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold over 100 vehicles to 14 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well suited for a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in South Carolina and Silicon Valley. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/  and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

HONOLULU, H.I., Aug. 13, 2015 – The Hawaii State Energy Office has selected California-based GreenBiz Group to bring its annual VERGE event series to Hawaii. Long regarded as ground-zero for next-generation energy issues, the island state will serve as host in 2016 and 2017 as the best minds in energy identify and advance next-generation practices for sustainable energy solutions in Hawaii and beyond.

“VERGE Hawaii gives Hawaii a unique opportunity to leverage its role as an energy innovation leader and international test bed,” said Luis Salaveria, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. “We are excited about the opportunity to bring together some of the brightest minds in the clean energy and sustainability movements.”

The recent passage of three ambitious energy bills have made Hawaii the first state to adopt a 100 percent renewable energy portfolio standard and have cemented it at the forefront of global renewable energy efforts. Offering a real-world glimpse into our future as a more resilient world, the VERGE Hawaii: Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit, June 21-23 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu, will gather influencers from the world’s largest corporations, as well as entrepreneurs, utility executives, public officials and representatives of nonprofits and academia.

“Hawaii represents the transformational change we’d all like to see and be a part of. With a well-defined goal of accelerating renewable energy to 100 percent, Hawaii is the perfect place for bringing together innovators, policymakers and market leaders for next-generation climate solutions,” said Eric Faurot, CEO of GreenBiz Group. “We see VERGE Hawaii playing an instrumental role in providing the platform for ideating and sharing best practices that others can replicate.”

Mark Glick, Hawaii State Energy Office Administrator, said bringing VERGE to Hawaii highlights the state’s emergence as a global clean energy leader. “”Hawaii has been able to attract international investment from governments and corporations that see the state as a bellwether for clean energy, and a place where the next generations of energy solutions will be born.”

VERGE takes the premise of sharing insights, promoting collaborative learning, and inspiring higher rates of renewable energy and energy efficiency. With a focus on practical, scalable solutions, VERGE Hawaii program tracks will include: Grid 2.0, Next- Gen Buildings, Circular Economy, Connected Transportation, Intelligent Supply Chains, Food & Ag Tech, and Sustainable Water Systems. The conference also will provide an opportunity to showcase Hawaii’s rich portfolio of renewable resources, clean-energy projects, sustainable development and investment opportunities.

# # #

The Hawaii State Energy Office is leading the state’s charge toward clean energy independence. The State Energy Office is committed to developing and deploying high impact solutions that will maximize Hawaii’s renewable energy resources and improve efficiency and transportation standards. Through effective policies and innovative programs, the State Energy Office has positioned Hawaii as a leading proving ground for clean energy innovation, which will generate quality jobs, attract investment opportunities and accelerate economic growth. The State Energy Office is a division of the state’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. For more information, visitwww.energy.hawaii.gov.

As CCA model is adopted by cities across New York, partnership provides replicable blueprint for implementation

BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y., Aug. 5, 2015 -- Joule Assets Inc., the leading provider of financing solutions for the energy efficiency and demand management industries, today announced that it has partnered with Good Energy, a national consultant of large-scale community energy aggregation. As part of the strategic partnership, the two will manage the growing number of CCA programs across the state, many of which are modeled on the Public Service Commission-approved blueprint created by Joule's CEO, Mike Gordon.

New York becomes the 7th state in the country to allow for this type of energy aggregation for residents within a city or municipality. States like Massachusetts,Ohio, Illinois, and California have implemented large scale electricity aggregations that have provided significant savings for residents and small commercial businesses. Community Choice Aggregation shifts energy supply services for all residents who were previously buying from the utility to an energy services company that is determined by the municipality. The utility continues to provide poles, wires, maintenance and reliability, even to bill consumers. The only change to consumers is the price they pay.

"Commercial energy consumers have realized the benefits of competitive energy markets, but residential consumers are underserved in deregulated states," saidJavier Barrios, Managing Partner of Good Energy and Northeast President of The Energy Professionals Association (TEPA). "This type of collective purchasing program offers another choice for residents. Now, residential energy consumers can band together, create an economy of scale, and save money."

Joule Assets' CEO, Mike Gordon is generally recognized as a key pioneer in the demand response industry, which currently pays consumers more than $2 billionannually for their willingness to slightly cut back consumption during the few hours each year that the power grid is under stress. Mike Gordon was the first in New York to petition for, then be granted the right to form the state's first ever Community Choice Aggregation—he knows exactly how to ensure success in theNew York environment. Gordon also serves as Co-chair for the Non-profit organization, Sustainable Westchester, which is currently delivering on the state's first CCA demonstration project.

"We're approaching this in a targeted manner," said Mr. Gordon. "Through CCA, we're greening the energy buy, even as we save money for consumers. That's why both consumer groups and environmental organizers are on the same page, with respect to this offering. Good Energy is the perfect partner to ensure this process goes smoothly for any municipality."

With more than 200 Community Energy Aggregation programs representing over 600,000 households (a large majority of which selected renewable energy as their default energy product), Good Energy manages energy procurement for 1 percent of the U.S. population. This extensive involvement in energy aggregation makes Good Energy an extremely valuable partner in streamlining the process for communities throughout the New York State that want to take advantage of this timely opportunity.

"We are very excited to work with Joule Assets," said Mr. Barrios. "CCA is just the start for the organization. Initiatives such as Micro-Grid, Demand Response and other Distributed Energy Resources will provide innovative energy solutions to consumers throughout New York State."

About Joule Assets  
Joule Assets delivers financing solutions for energy efficiency and demand response initiatives and projects. Through its first-in-kind Joule Energy Reduction Asset (ERA) Fund, a global private equity fund initially targeting $100M, Joule provides previously unavailable, upfront financing to energy efficiency vendors and cycles returns from monetized energy savings and vendor revenues back to Fund investors. Joule Assets leverages its proprietary database, market analysis software, and extensive industry expertise to deliver a secure financing option for vendors and untapped revenue streams for investors.  You can learn more about Joule Assets and the ERA Fund at: http://www.jouleassets.com/ or apply for a consultation here. You can also follow us on Twitter @JouleAssets.

About Good Energy  
For more than two decades, Good Energy has been a national leader in structuring and implementing community and government energy aggregation programs. Good Energy now serves more communities and residents than any other single energy consultant in the nation. Good Energy supplies the latest efficiency applications to the market and has pioneered a community-centric buying approach that has achieved hundreds of millions of dollars in savings to the households and businesses throughout the nation. Good Energy delivers a variety of regional services involving local laws such as Benchmarking, Retro Commissioning, Predominant Use Studies, and Municipal Energy Tax assessments. Learn more about Good Energy at www.goodenergy.com and follow us on twitter @MunicipalChoice.

First Securitization to include both Residential and Commercial PACE Assets

SANTA ROSA, Calif., July 23, 2015 -- Ygrene Energy Fund Inc., the leading provider of residential and commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, today announced the completion of a $150 million private securitization transaction with a large insurance partner by issuing Class A notes rated AA by Kroll Bond Rating Agency with a 97% advance rate. The transaction represents a first in many ways for PACE. It is the first to combine both residential and commercial assets, the first to combine projects in multiple states including California and Florida, and the first to include both special taxes and assessments in a single securitization.

In partnership with local municipalities, Ygrene provides 100% financing for residential, commercial and agricultural property owners to deploy energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation upgrades to their buildings.  Currently approved in over 150 cities and counties across California, Florida and Georgia, Ygrene is the only multistate provider of PACE in the U.S. and the largest commercial PACE originator. Ygrene offers the only PACE program with repayment terms of up to 30 years, resulting in lower monthly payments and potentially making even the most expensive upgrades affordable. 

This securitization will help fund 6,210 energy and water conservation projects, providing home and business owners with over $300 million in savings on energy and water bills, and eliminating over 180,000 metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.

PACE has come a long way in the past several years with a growing number of investors recognizing the high credit quality that PACE securities represent. "We are excited to pioneer the first-ever PACE securitization to include both commercial and residential PACE assets from multiple states," said Ygrene President & CEO, Stacey Lawson. "Achieving a AA rating while accomplishing these milestones speaks volumes about the credit quality of this new asset class. We are thrilled to offer such a powerful tool for property owners to save energy and money, for communities to protect the environment and create jobs, and for investors to make a high quality return. Everyone benefits with PACE."

Since 2010, thousands of home and business owners have utilized the simple and affordable PACE financing mechanism to improve the value of their properties and to save millions of dollars on their energy and water bills. Ygrene has approved over $370 million in water conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy improvements, which translates into an estimated 5,500 local jobs and$925 million in annual economic stimulus for local communities.

Ygrene's PACE program has won a number of national and international awards including the 2012 Edison Award for Best Clean Energy Finance Model, the Climate Change Business Journal Innovation Award, and a Business Excellence Award from Richard Branson's Carbon War Room presented at Rio+20. Ygrene has been selected as a "financial ally" by the Better Buildings Challenge which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

About Ygrene Energy Fund

Ygrene Energy Fund is the leading developer and administrator of clean energy financing programs throughout the United States. The fully funded Ygrene Works program provides immediately accessible financing for renewable generation, energy efficiency and water conservation upgrades to both residential and commercial property owners at no upfront costs. Over the next five years, the Ygrene Works program is projected to create tens of thousands of local jobs and invest hundreds of millions into local economies. Learn more at www.ygreneworks.com.

Independent tests verify it -- Gridtential boosts lead acid performance at 1/3 the cost of lithium-ion

SAN JOSE, July 13, 2015 -- Gridtential Energy, Inc., a provider of low-cost, high-performance energy storage technology, today announced that it has been selected by the Department of Energy (DOE) as one of a handful of companies to pursue validation analysis at Sandia's Energy Storage Analysis Laboratory. The grant is designed to further the DOE's strategic mission in the area of grid storage and coincides with Gridtential's completion of 140 alpha units based on its Silicon Joule™ technology.

Flying in the face of Tesla's recent declaration that lead acid is "dead", recent independent tests have confirmed that Gridtential's silicon-based approach to advance traditional lead acid significantly improves performance, while utilizing 40% less lead. The results point to Gridtential as an ideal solution for solar's urgent need for 2 to 4 hour grid storage applications. At Sandia, the test plan is designed to address two use case scenarios:

• Peak Shaving cycling. In compliance with Sandia's standard test protocols, Gridtential's batteries will run through a standard peak shaving application. Gridtential expects each to reach nearly 100% SOC after each charge cycle and 80-100% depth of discharge. 
• Partial State of Charge (PSoC) cycling. To gain a view of Gridtential's long-term performance in a PSoC environment, Sandia will charge the battery to 100% SOC and then begin cycling it at a medium rate which is designed to bring sulfation issues to light very quickly. 

Gridtential Energy has also been funded in part by an award from the California Energy Commission's Energy Innovations Small Grant Program. The company has developed and tested internal prototypes of an advanced battery design that has 75% lower LCOE of traditional lead acid, 2x cycle life improvement at 80% depth of discharge and 2x greater available energy at same weight as current products. The seed funding will be used to develop full-scale demonstration units for field tests within the next year.

"Tesla is not the only company capable of producing a smart, sexy battery; the difference is ours is safe and scalable today. Via our battery manufacturing partners, we have access to hundreds of operating 'gigafactories' that can bring our Silicon Joule™ technology to market without retooling or massive investment," said Christiaan Beekhuis, President and CEO of Gridtential Energy.

About Gridtential Energy 
Gridtential Energy is developing a low-cost, scalable battery architecture that significantly improves energy density, cycling performance and battery life. Gridtential has relationships with key suppliers to accelerate development of highly repeatable, high-volume battery production capabilities. Gridtential Energy is located in Santa Clara. To learn more, visit http://www.gridtential.com/

Grants from San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District to improve Central Valley air quality through clean bus rapid transit

SAN BRUNO, Calif., July 21, 2015 -- Proterra, the leading provider of zero-emission battery-electric buses, today announced that the cities of Stockton and Porterville have each placed orders with Proterra for its new Catalyst bus with funding from the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District. Four new zero-emission, battery-electric Proterra® buses will replace diesel buses in a concerted effort from the Valley to enable the proliferation of clean-air fleets, significantly reduce emissions and improve ambient air quality and public health. Notably, the Proterra Catalyst is the most efficient 40' transit bus on the market, nearly six times more efficient than the diesel buses it will be replacing, at 22 MPGe.

San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD), which serves more than 687,744 people in San Joaquin County, will be ordering an additional two Catalyst buses to provide clean, reliable, and efficient bus rapid transit for the region. "As the first transit agency inNorthern California to have operated fully-electric buses, we're grateful for the District's funding and the opportunity to expand our electric bus fleet with Proterra," said, Donna DeMartino, General Manager/CEO at RTD.

Tulare County's Porterville Transit also has plans to procure two Proterra 40' Catalyst buses to inaugurate the Southern Valley's first electric transit bus service for approximately 650,000 passengers per year. "With perpetual air quality challenges in the Valley, we're grateful for the funding provided by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and pleased to integrate Proterra's zero-emission buses into our transit system. These 100% electric buses will provide a clean, quiet transit solution for our residents and business owners in Porterville," said Richard Tree, PTS Transit Manager.

On the heels of announcing national expansion plans and breaking four records in efficiency, gradeability, weight and acceleration at the Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center, these additional customer orders from Stockton and Porterville will bring the company's firm orders to 110 units, with 323 options contracted, for a total of 433.

"With California representing nearly half of the U.S. bus market and the Air Resource Board setting a goal of operating 100% zero-emission bus fleets by 2040, the state is inaugurating a quiet electric vehicle market transformation," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "We're pleased to be in a position to scale production to meet growing demand for zero emission vehicles and ultimately enable transit agencies to go electric."

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold over 100 vehicles to 14 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well suited to a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in South Carolina and Silicon Valley. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

Greenlots rolls out SKY Smart Charging™ platform in CA, TX, GA, OR, & WA for KMA

SAN FRANCISCO, July 8, 2015 -- Greenlots, a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicles (EV), announced today that is has expanded its existing partnership with Kia Motors America (KMA). Building on the companies' partnership in 2014 to provide Kia dealerships in California with SKY-enabled fast charge stations, the companies have launched a second rollout phase of DC fast-chargers (DCFCs) at select Kia dealerships in four new states, as well as in California.

Greenlots will support the build out of charging infrastructure in Kia's expanded California EV dealer body and four new markets--Texas, Georgia, Oregon and Washington-- which is key to providing EV drivers with a seamless experience to charge and go. This second rollout brings over thirty additional DC charging stations to 21 Soul EV-certified Kia dealers. Of the Kia EV dealers in the Pacific Northwest region, 12 will be located in Washington and eight in Oregon, shaping a critical charging network and increasing DCFC availability by 40 percent in the Seattle metro area and 15 percent statewide. The Kia dealerships that will receive DC fast chargers will increase Greenlots' overall network of fast charging to close to one-third of the DCFC North American market.

"As more and more Soul EV drivers hit the road, Kia will remain committed to delivering both flexible and convenient access to public charging," said Orth Hedrick, VP of Product Planning, Kia Motors America. "This continuing partnership illustrates the growing importance of supporting electric vehicle drivers with convenient fast charging infrastructure to build range confidence."

Kia has expanded its partnership with Greenlots to continue offering flexible, on-the-go access to large networks of charging stations. Through the Greenlots partnership, Soul EV owners will be provided with a "Kia ChargeUp Card," giving them interoperable access to chargers across participating networks.

"Consumer demand for Kia's Soul EV has extended well beyond California now, so we're pleased to be moving alongside Kia into new markets and dealerships, supporting their expansion with our open standards-based network," said Brett Hauser, CEO of Greenlots. "As demand continues to grow, interoperability will be essential to scaling EV infrastructure."

The Greenlots SKY Smart Charging™ network has been designed to meet evolving needs for automakers and site hosts alike. Main features include: a variable pricing engine, a dashboard with real-time usage, tailored reports, easy payment options, and comprehensive support.

About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea, and in 2014 was the #1 ranked mainstream brand according to Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index. KMA proudly serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA and set an all-time annual sales record in 2014, surpassing the 500,000 unit mark for the third consecutive year. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles, including the rear-drive K900i flagship sedan, Cadenza premium sedan, Sorento CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Soul Electric Vehicleii, Sportage compact CUV, Optima midsize sedan, Optima Hybrid, the Forte compact sedan, Forte5 and Forte Koup, Rio and Rio 5-door subcompacts and the Sedona midsize multi-purpose vehicle, through a network of more than 765 dealers across the United States. Kia's U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, builds the Optima and Sorento and is responsible for the creation of more than 14,000 plant and supplier jobs. 
Information about KMA and its full vehicle line-up is available at www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert.

About Greenlots 
Greenlots is a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks and grid management. Designed to answer the needs of site hosts offering workplace and public charging applications, Greenlots' SKY Smart Charging™ platform is a robust network management solution that utilizes Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), the largest open standard for charger-to-network communications. SKY is the only charging network to be OpenADR 2.0b certified and enables utilities and site hosts to work together on demand response programs, leveraging EVs as a grid resource and avoiding costly energy infrastructure upgrades. Greenlots is headquartered in San Francisco and has deployed solutions in 13 countries around the globe. Visit www.greenlots.com for more information or follow us on Twitter @greenlots.

Joule enters Texas ERCOT market, targeting commercial facilities under 100 kW and the contractors that serve them 

Bedford Hills, NY — June 15, 2015 — Joule Assets Inc., the leading provider of microcapital solutions for the energy efficiency and demand response industries, today announced it has entered the deregulated energy market in Texas as a registered demand response provider. Triggered by recent legislation in Texas, Joule will now act as the qualified scheduling entity for a variety of small-to-midsized commercial sites across Texas to register those facilities in demand response programs, beginning June 1.  

To date, the state's energy markets for demand response have been underutilized and are opportune for potential savings. According to a recent analysis by the South-Central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER), Texans would have saved over $200 million in electricity costs had more demand response been allowed to participate in the market on five days in 2012-13. Additionally, due to the heavy energy requirements of large commercial facilities, demand response in Texas has catered almost exclusively to large sites, often supported by the biggest names in DR, including EnerNoc, Comverge and Constellation. Unfortunately, demand response programs for small-to-midsized sites were non-existent, with large-scale providers considering them too time-consuming and lacking the level of financial returns that would incentivize them. Now, Joule Assets is offering sized-to-fit demand response programs for largely ignored commercial sites and a new source of revenue for contractors. By working with its growing Texas-based portfolio of contractors, Joule is enabling a win-win for smaller facilities and contractor firms alike.

"The challenge and opportunity that exists today in Texas is indicative of what we’re seeing in every state and every country right now," said Mike Gordon, CEO and co-founder of Joule Assets. “Overlooked due to an industry-wide lack of lucrative programs, small and medium-sized companies and sites are now poised to benefit from energy efficiency and demand response programs moving to wide-scale energy efficiency implementation," said Mike Gordon, CEO and Co-founder of Joule Assets. "  

About Joule Assets
Joule Assets delivers financing solutions for energy efficiency and demand response initiatives and projects. Through its first-in-kind Joule Energy Reduction Asset (ERA) Fund, a global private equity fund initially targeting $100M, Joule provides previously unavailable, upfront financing to energy efficiency vendors and cycles returns from monetized energy savings and vendor revenues back to Fund investors. Joule Assets leverages its proprietary database, market analysis software, and extensive industry expertise to deliver a secure financing option for vendors and untapped revenue streams for investors.  You can learn more about Joule Assets and the ERA Fund at: http://www.jouleassets.com/ or apply for a consultation here. You can also follow us on Twitter @JouleAssets.

Growth and working capital funds next phase of capacity expansion and technology development

SAN BRUNO, Calif., June 30, 2015 -- Proterra, the leading provider of zero-emission battery-electric buses, today announced the completion of Strategic Financing that will fund the Proterra business plan to cash flow positive results with the addition of $55 million of liquidity. This signals a new growth phase for the company, as Proterra scales production to meet growing demand and accelerates cash realization.

Proterra has closed a $30 million Series 4 equity round led by $19 million from several new strategic investors. The existing major investors in Proterra added $11 million of equity. "Increasingly Proterra's products and technology are earning industry credibility as fleet customers place second, third, and fourth orders for Proterra's zero emission transit vehicles. And while the company has made great strides within the last year, we're really looking forward to supporting Proterra through this next stage of expansion," said Michael Linse, a partner at KPCB and Proterra board member.

In conjunction with the equity financing, Proterra has completed a debt financing in an amount up to $25 million with Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC). The strategic debt financing will provide long-term debt capital to fully fund Proterra's new Advanced Manufacturing facility in California, which was recently awarded a California Energy Commission grant to support clean vehicle technology growth.  In addition, the Hercules debt facility expands Proterra's access to working capital, a critical component of growth financing as production volume increases.

By simultaneously securing a strategic debt facility and a large growth equity financing, Proterra will finish the second quarter of 2015 fully funded to expand into the West Coast markets through its new California manufacturing center, ramp production to meet growing demand, and continue to invest heavily in future generations of EV transit technology. "This is a pivotal time for Proterra as we launch the latest generation of our technology and double our production capacity," said Ryan Popple, Proterra CEO. "We're appreciative to have such strong investor interest and confident in the company's ability to deliver strong results for all.  Our new and existing investors are supportive of both our need to increase capacity as well as continue to lead the market in steadily improving and perfecting EV technology for transit.  These financings are a powerful source of growth capital and will accelerate the adoption of EV technology in transit."

About Proterra, Inc. 

Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating cost while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold over 100 vehicles to 14 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited to a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in South Carolina and Silicon Valley. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

About Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc.  

Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HTGC) is the leading specialty finance company focused on providing senior secured loans to venture capital-backed companies in technology-related industries, including technology, biotechnology, life sciences, and energy & renewable technology, at all stages of development. Since inception (December 2003), Hercules has committed more than$5.2 billion to over 320 companies and is the lender of choice for entrepreneurs and venture capital firms seeking growth capital financing. Companies interested in learning more about financing opportunities should contact info@htgc.com, or call 650.289.3060.

Achieving 22 MPGe, tests show the 77-passenger Catalyst is as energy-efficient as an average SUV

ALTOONA, Pa., June 10, 2015 -- Proterra, the leading provider of zero-emission battery-electric buses, announced today that it has not only completed the structural testing program at the Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center, the transportation industry's gold standard, but its new Catalyst bus has broken records for efficiency, gradeability, weight and acceleration.

While conventional diesel buses average 3.86 MPG, the Proterra Catalyst achieved the best efficiency rating ever for a 40' transit bus at 22 MPGe. Nearly six times more efficient than a diesel or CNG bus, the Catalyst is also 15% more energy efficient per mile than the closest competitors' electric bus on the same test, which translates to a lower lifetime energy consumption of 15%. Notably, Proterra's new 40' bus is more energy efficient per mile than most light-duty trucks and SUVs on the road today.

In addition to energy efficiency, the Proterra Catalyst broke records in gradeability, weight, and acceleration. Gradeability has been a historic obstacle for electric buses, which until now, weighed more and had less power, making steep inclines difficult if not impossible to climb. The Catalyst conquered a 15.5% grade, unprecedented in this test by an electric bus, making it an ideal option to serve metropolitan areas with challenging topography in West Coast cities including San Francisco and Seattle. Made of carbon fiber and advanced composite materials, Proterra's unibody design is a prime driver for its high performance with regard to weight and durability. With a curb weight of only 27,370 lbs., the Proterra Catalyst is not only lighter than any other electric bus, leading to greater efficiency, but is also more durable than buses made of aluminum or steel and less prone to corrosion. The transit industry has traditionally struggled with vehicle weight, especially for new technologies like hybrid, CNG and EV. By designing the vehicle from the ground-up, using the most advanced technology and materials, Proterra has eliminated the vehicle weight concern for EV. As proof of the vehicle's superior power-to-weight ratio, the Proterra 40' Catalyst also achieved 0-20 acceleration in just 6.7 seconds. Rapid acceleration is particularly critical for keeping routes running on time, allowing bus operators to move in and out of traffic with greater ease.

"To break not one, but four records at Altoona is a major milestone not just for us, but for the industry as a whole and is a testament to how far electric bus technology has come," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "In an industry hungry for innovation, to receive these kinds of results from rigorous testing organizations such as Altoona helps to assure transit managers and civic leaders that electric buses can outperform fossil fuel vehicles and are a durable and reliable investment."

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating cost while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold over 100 vehicles to 14 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited to a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in South Carolina and Silicon Valley. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

Proterra Media Contact: 
Proterra@missionctrlcommunications.com

€17M E-SEDRA Project expands Joule’s ERA platform to modernize Europe’s electricity grid

BRUSSELS – May 26, 2015 – Joule Assets Inc., the leader of microcapital solutions for the energy efficiency and demand response industries, recently won the European Union Flexiciency Grant to advance energy efficiency investment opportunities in Europe. On the heels of establishing Joule Europe in the Brussels, the company, along with its European partners, will offer energy efficiency upgrades to the industry’s leading Fortune 500 companies and hundreds of small European project developers. The win signals Europe’s commitment to modernizing its electricity grid.

The EU Flexiciency Grant awarded Joule Assets and its 16 European partners, including Siemens, ERDF Vattenfall and others roughly €17 Million for the Energy Services demonstrations of Demand Response, flexibility and energy efficiency based on metering data Project. The Flexiciency Project aims to augment consumers’ relationship with the grid by providing the ability to monitor and modify local energy consumption in real time. Joule Europe and its partners will identify and expand additional cash flows for energy-saving project installations and technologies on the Energy Reduction (ERA) platform. Increasing consumers’ access to grid data will promote smarter energy usage and enable residential and small commercial energy customers to play an integral role in the decarbonization of the power sector.

Joule Europe recently convened in Rome with Flexiciency partners to review the platform structure and pilot structures. Jessica Stromback, Chairman of Joule Assets Europe noted, “This cross- collaboration is a meaningful initial step in achieving the European Commission’s 2020 decarbonization targets and ensuring that energy efficiency continues to be an instrumental part of the process. This enables us to expand our ERA platform’s capabilities in Europe and provide small project developers with new financing opportunities to leverage additional cash flows for their own customer base.”

Just as the new financing vehicles are heralding in a new FinTech era, energy efficiency markets have emerged as one of the most lucrative sectors in the United States and Europe. Joule Assets’ ERA Fund in concert with the ERA platform will drive new energy efficiency and demand response investment opportunities and address this enormous, untapped market for small-to-midsized project upgrades.

Joule's financing and data solutions enable small-to-mid-sized contractors access to capital, significantly shortening their sales cycles and extending project pipelines and ERA Fund investors are projected to earn low-risk base returns of 6-10% with additional mezzanine returns of 5-15%.

About Joule Assets Inc.

Joule Assets delivers financing solutions for energy efficiency and demand response initiatives and projects. Through its first-in-kind Joule Energy Reduction Asset (ERA) Fund, a global private equity fund initially targeting $100M, Joule provides previously unavailable, upfront financing to energy efficiency vendors and cycles returns from monetized energy savings and vendor revenues back to Fund investors. Joule Assets leverages its proprietary cloud-based ERA platform, market analysis software, and extensive industry expertise to deliver a secure financing option for vendors and untapped revenue streams for investors.  You can learn more about Joule Assets at: http://www.jouleassets.com/ and follow us on Twitter @JouleAssets.

Media Contact:

jouleassets@missionCTRLcommunications.com

Resulting 'Feedstock Processing Facility' (FPF) Enhances Plantrose Technology Assets & Enables Efficient Supply for Renmatix's IPC Cellulosic Sugar Operations

PHILADELPHIA, May 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Renmatix, the global leader in affordable cellulosic sugars for renewable chemicals and fuels markets, announced that it has acquired existing assets of the former Mascoma corporation's 56,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Rome, NY. The new Feedstock Processing Facility (FPF) is dedicated to the first step in conversion to cellulosic sugar (from different types of biomass materials) utilizing proprietary Plantrose® process conditions. The FPF opened officially on April 20, 2015, as the third U.S. location for Renmatix. This move creates a secure supply for Renmatix and its development partners at the IPC in Kennesaw, GA., where the second step in production of Plantro® sugars is performed.

The deal is the most recent in a series of strategic moves and prominent milestones for Renmatix over the last nine months, including: a Series D investment from French energy group, Total, the acquisition of Sweden-based REAC's intellectual property portfolio, and a significant expansion of the company's Integrated Plantrose Complex (IPC) facility in Georgia.  Each of these transactions advance Renmatix on its path to commercialization of the Plantrose technology, including fulfillment and execution of previously announced JDAs with key licensing partners. Expansion of biomass processing, on-going partner production runs, and integration across the supply chain, serve in anticipation of commercial biorefinery investment activity by Plantrose licensees.

"This acquisition strengthens the company and our value proposition for investors and partner licensees," saidMike Hamilton, CEO of Renmatix. "In addition to standard technical or IP based investments & acquisitions, the opportunity to acquire the former Mascoma location and equipment allows us to economically utilize a broad range of biomass, and further optimize the operating conditions in our Plantrose process. This new equipment in our Rome location gives us increased flexibility and quality control that can be applied across multiple feedstocks."

The company has hired 12 full-time employees locally, as it begins operations in Rome. "We're pleased to welcome Renmatix, an accomplished leader and enabler of bioindustrial technology," said Anthony J. Picente, Jr., Oneida County Executive. "This is a real positive for the City of Rome and the County as we continue to build our economic vitality through an increasingly diversified industrial hub."

About Renmatix
Renmatix is the leading technology licensor for the conversion of biomass into cellulosic sugar, an enabling feedstock for petroleum alternatives used in the global biochemical and biofuels markets. The company's proprietary Plantrose® process challenges conventional sugar economics by cheaply converting cellulosic biomass – from wood waste to agricultural residue – into useful, cost-effective sugars. Renmatix's supercritical hydrolysis technology deconstructs non-food biomass an order of magnitude faster than other processes and enhances its cost advantage by using no significant consumables. www.renmatix.com

Media Contact:  Duncan Cross
Vice President, Corporate Development
renmatix@missionctrlcommunications.com

One of the most significant automotive innovations in the last 25 years

SAN JOSE, CA - May 4, 2015 - Today Wrightspeed Inc., the leading manufacturer of range-extended electric vehicle powertrains, announced the Fulcrum, a turbine generator. Utilizing a proprietary set of advancements, the Fulcrum’s simple, but innovative design represents a breakthrough that challenges today’s piston engines and leaves existing turbine generators wanting. Powerful like a jet, and clean like a windmill, the 80kW Fulcrum turbine generator sets a new standard as Wrightspeed continues to evolve electric vehicle propulsion.

Each component of every Wrightspeed powertrain is engineered from the ground up to systematically deliver ideal performance and with the Fulcrum, Wrightspeed now owns 100% of the Intellectual Property of its powertrain products. In Wrightspeed’s range-extended architecture, unlike in parallel hybrid architectures, the Fulcrum will not provide direct propulsion to the drive wheels, but be used to re-charge the battery system. This means that the Fulcrum is only used when it is needed, and can run at the cleanest and most efficient operating point. Weighing in at 250 lbs., the Fulcrum is approximately 1/10th the weight of its piston generator counterparts and it is designed to have a 10,000 hour lifetime. While piston generators rely on catalytic converters to reduce their emissions by 10x to meet ever-increasing California Air Resources Board standards, the Fulcrum turbine generator is so much cleaner, that it meets emissions standards without adding to its weight and complexity.

A two-stage compression process and unique recuperation design make the Fulcrum 30% more efficient than existing turbine generators, while tripling usable power. Its multi-fuel capabilities allow it to burn diesel, CNG, LNG, landfill gases, biodiesel, kerosene, propane, heating oil, and others.  In addition, the Fulcrum will make for a smooth, comfortable ride for drivers and a quiet, clean experience for neighborhoods because of its ultra-low vibration.

“The automotive industry is in the midst of a fundamental disruption, with electric vehicles merely symbolizing the beginning of the movement. The Fulcrum, together with our range-extended EV architecture, is perfectly suited for achieving maximum efficiency in extremely high-power stop-and-go applications, such as garbage trucks,” said Ian Wright, CEO and founder of Wrightspeed. “For many of the same reasons that aviation changed from piston engines to turbines decades ago, we believe turbines will begin to replace piston engines in range-extended electric vehicle applications.”

 About Wrightspeed Inc.
Wrightspeed Inc. is the leading manufacturer of range-extended electric vehicle powertrains. Built on a tradition of quality systems engineering, Wrightspeed’s powertrains are the next step in the evolution of vehicle propulsion. Its flagship product, the Route™ was designed to transcend commercial truck efficiency and performance, providing unlimited range and dramatically reduced fuel costs. Located in Silicon Valley, Wrightspeed was founded by Ian Wright, co-founder of Tesla Motors. For more information about Wrightspeed visit: http://wrightspeed.com/ and follow us on Twitter at @GOWrightspeed.

SmartCity EIS Portfolio targets lucrative returns with 30% growth from investments

LONDON – April 27, 2015 –Today Joule Assets and Quantum Origination have joined forces to launch the SmartCity EIS Portfolio. Joule Assets Inc., a leading provider of project finance solutions for the energy efficiency and demand response industries, running the successful ERA Fund in the USA, while Quantum Origination Ltd. is a provider of strategic corporate advisory services. The partners therefore hold deep sector expertise and considerable experience in providing pragmatic corporate support, including funding, to technology companies and in navigating energy markets in Europe and the USA.    

The function of the SmartCity EIS Portfolio is to identify, invest in and support innovative companies within the Smart City technology sector. These innovative green technologies seek to optimise energy consumption across different sectors of a city’s infrastructure, such as lighting, buildings, renewables, and transport in cooperation with real energy market values. In doing so, they create sustainable sources of economic growth for society and investors alike.

The SmartCity EIS Portfolio

The team has identified potential investment opportunities and provides investors ground floor access to SMEs within the Smart City technologies and energy sectors. The investment objective for the SmartCity EIS Portfolio is to target lucrative returns with 30% growth from investments. Minimum investment per investor is £25,000. Unlike typical energy funds that concentrate on investment silos, e.g. efficiency or generation or storage, the SmartCity EIS Portfolio creates additional returns, through investing in companies which access synergies between sectors - for example installing building automation to increase the value of renewable resources.

“Typically, EIS funds in the energy sector have focused on funding asset-based investments which have benefitted from government incentives, such as feed-in tariffs in solar farms. Our objective differs in that we are seeking to fund UK innovation in the equipment and services that can impact energy efficiency. More specifically, we are also supporting new projects that will deploy these technologies, such as building energy refits, new property developments, and Local Authority Street-lighting, etc.,” said Jonathan Evans, Managing Director of Quantum Origination and Portfolio Adviser of the SmartCity EIS Portfolio.

“Uncorrelated investments which are entirely independent of financial market fluctuation have always been the holy-grail for our industry and that’s the opportunity that the SmartCity EIS Portfolio represents,” said Mike Gordon CEO of Joule Assets Inc. “This also delivers a lower risk product for investors because the Joule Assets debt vehicle funds these companies’ direct costs of scaling their installed base. Therefore, their EIS investment goes toward growth rather than equipment installation.”

“Investment via the SmartCity EIS Portfolio is the perfect investment vehicle for me to scale,” said Sara Bell of Tempus Energy. “It provides operational experience to support my company’s growth. Beyond that, Joule Assets’ separate ERA investment fund means that I and EIS investors in the SmartCity EIS Portfolio both experience less dilution—it equates to better returns for all.”

“The SmartCity EIS Portfolio has the potential to be a more lucrative investment opportunity than the solar-focused EIS funds that came before it in the UK,” said Jessica Stromback, Chairman of Joule Assets Europe “Now that solar EIS funds have outperformed expectations well enough to be crossed off the list of eligible EIS investments, this opens the door for like-minded investors with an appetite for high yield investment vehicles to enter the energy efficiency market that has the potential to surpass solar as a growth market.”

NOTE:

The Smart City EIS Portfolio will be a stand-alone and independent portfolio of companies. It will receive direct critical support from Joule Assets Inc. (operating through its European subsidiary), and Quantum Origination Limited through their joint venture company, Smart City Management Limited.

About Joule Assets Inc.
Joule Assets Inc. seeks to deliver financing solutions for energy efficiency and demand response initiatives and projects. Through its first-in-kind Joule Energy Reduction Asset (ERA) Fund, a global private equity fund initially targeting $100M, Joule provides previously unavailable, upfront financing to energy efficiency vendors and cycles returns from monetised energy savings and vendor revenues back to fund investors. Joule Assets leverages its proprietary database, market analysis software, and extensive industry expertise to deliver a secure financing option for vendors and untapped revenue streams for investors.  You can learn more about Joule Assets at: http://www.jouleassets.com/ and follow us on Twitter @JouleAssets. 

Recognized as game-changer in the field of clean energy technology and innovation

SAN BRUNO, CA, April 20, 2015– Bloomberg New Energy Finance has announced Proterra Inc., the leading provider of zero-emission battery-electric buses, as a 2015 New Energy Pioneer – a game-changing innovator who is revolutionizing the energy sector – chosen from a diverse group that represents a broad range of industries including advanced transportation, bioenergy, energy storage, solar and wind. Proterra was recognized on stage at the eighth annual Bloomberg New Energy Finance Summit in New York City and Former Vice President of the United States Al Gore, addressed Proterra’s work in his keynote speech. And out of the ten BNEF New Energy Pioneers winners of 2015, Proterra was selected as an audience favorite at the Summit.

This announcement follows on the heels of the California Energy Commission awarding Proterra a $3 million grant to fund the design, development and construction of the company’s new state-of-the-art zero-emission, battery-electric transit bus manufacturing line in California, as well as Proterra’s largest bus order to date by four-time returning customer Foothill Transit.

“We are honored to be named a New Energy Pioneer,” said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. “This is a significant time for our company as we scale production nationally to meet growing customer demand. To be recognized by Bloomberg for this effort helps underscore the momentum we are seeing for zero-emission mass transit.”

An independent panel of industry experts, assisted by Bloomberg’s technology experts, selected the 10 winners from a high volume of applicants from around the world. Each candidate was assessed against three criteria: potential scale, innovation and momentum. Each New Energy Pioneer has a combination of innovative technologies and business models, the ability to demonstrate substantive progress in their activities, and the potential for global scale.

Michael Wilshire, Selection Committee Chair and Head of Analysis of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said: “This year, we were delighted to have a very strong set of candidates for the New Energy Pioneers program, drawn from a wide spectrum of sectors. We were struck by the amount of innovation that these organizations display and the impact that they are already having on the energy system of the future. We are again very grateful to our group of external judges who had the challenging task of narrowing this field down to a final set of 10 winners.”

For more information on the New Energy Pioneers program, visit: http://www.newenergypioneers.com/

About Proterra:
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating cost while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold over 100 vehicles to 14 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra’s configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited to a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in South Carolina and Silicon Valley. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

California Energy Commission Investment Accelerates Proterra's West Coast Manufacturing Facility

SAN BRUNO, Calif., April 8, 2015 -- The California Energy Commission today awarded a $3 million grant to Proterra, the leading provider of zero-emission battery-electric buses, at its April Business Meeting. The grant will fund the design, development and construction of Proterra's new state-of-the-art zero-emission, battery-electric transit bus manufacturing line in California.  Proterra's expansion was prompted by the strong growth in market demand for the new Proterra Catalyst™ vehicle.

The proposed facility, to be located in the San Gabriel Valley, is expected to be operational by the fourth quarter of 2015 and will create more than 70 new local jobs. During the grant term, Proterra plans to manufacture an estimated 424 buses, resulting in a reduction of 900M lbs of CO2 over the lifetime of those vehicles. Proterra was the only bus provider selected for CEC funding and today also announced that existing customer Foothill Transit in L.A. County has placed another order for additional Proterra buses to meet increased demand from its ridership base.

"California continues to be a dynamic center for innovation and business opportunities due in part to advanced transportation manufacturers like Proterra," said GO-Biz director Kish Rajan. "Furthermore, innovations like Proterra's zero-emission transit buses support the state's goal of achieving 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on California's roadways by 2025."

Proterra selected the San Gabriel Valley as an optimal location to serve existing and future transit customers throughout California. The manufacturing facility will benefit economically distressed communities throughout the San Gabriel Valley—providing good living-wage jobs in southern California's emerging center of high-tech manufacturing. Ultimately, implementing the California Zero-Emission Public Transit Bus Manufacturing Project will help further lower production costs, reduce the upfront cost of zero- emission buses and provide a strong spark to accelerate widespread deployment and adoption. The project will accelerate private investment in California, bringing in $5,411,352 in private investment to match the $3,000,000 Energy Commission investment, for a total project budget of $8,411,352.

"We're pleased to welcome American bus manufacturer, Proterra, to City of Industry and expect their new facility will spur both state and local investment, create new jobs, and potentially reduce bus maintenance and operation costs," said Commissioner Janea A. Scott of the California Energy Commission. "Zero-emission transit is a key element of the state's policies and programs for deploying advanced transportation technologies to help address climate change, improve our clean air, and reach our petroleum reduction goals."

"For decades, California has been a consistent leader on policy for the advanced transportation technologies that are now ushering the second wave of adoption for zero-emission transit options like ours," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "We applaud the California Energy Commission for its continued leadership and look forward to joining California's growing base of advanced transportation leaders."

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating cost while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold over 100 vehicles to 14 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited to a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in South Carolina and Silicon Valley. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

New order brings 13 new Proterra buses to L.A. County as Proterra announces local manufacturing hub to meet demand

SAN BRUNO, Calif., April 8, 2015 -- Today Proterra, the leading provider of zero-emission battery-electric buses, announced that Foothill Transit, the primary public transit provider of the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys, has placed its fourth order in just five years for Proterra's EV buses. Foothill Transit, which serves more than 14 million customers in Los Angeles County, ordered an additional 13 Proterra buses, to be delivered in 2016. The move makes this Foothill's largest order to date, bringing the all-electric fleet to nearly 10 percent of the transit agency's total. The news of Foothill's new order coincides with today's California Energy Commission announcement that it has awarded Proterra a $3M grant to break ground on a new state-of-the-art facility, expanding Proterra's EV bus manufacturing and service capabilities to West coast customers, including Foothill Transit.

Proterra's new manufacturing facility will be located in the San Gabriel Valley and will create more than 70 local jobs. During the grant term, Proterra plans to manufacture and sell an estimated 424 buses, resulting in a reduction of 900M lbs of CO2 over the lifetime of those vehicles.

'It's very exciting to be the first agency in the nation to add the new extended range Catalyst™XR to our fleet," said Doran Barnes, Executive Director at Foothill Transit.  "It's also thrilling that these buses will be the first off the assembly line at a new facility in our own backyard. Demand is high for zero-emissions technology that can handle the punishing demands of heavily traveled transit routes. We've been operating these vehicles for five years and are eager to see what the next generation of tech can do."

With this latest purchase, Foothill Transit extends its lead as North America's largest battery-electric bus fleet, and will become the first customer for Proterra's new extended-range vehicle, the Proterra Catalyst™XR. Foothill will also be building off of the success of the full electrification of Route 291, currently serving more than approximately 700,000 annual riders with clean, quiet transportation.

"Transit organizations like Foothill that just five years ago were considered brave new early adopters, are now being joined en masse by cities and municipalities across the nation, ushering in a new era of zero-emission transit solutions," said Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra. "Foothill Transit has been a clear leader in the transit community, and we look forward to expanding our relationship through the completion of our new LA County facility."

About Proterra: 
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission vehicles that enable bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating cost while delivering clean, quiet transportation to the community. Proterra has sold to 14 different transit agencies throughout North America. Proterra's configurable EV platform, battery and charging options make its buses well-suited to a wide range of transit and campus routes. With unmatched durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in South Carolina and Silicon Valley. For more information visit: http://www.proterra.com/ and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.

New York Public Service Commission Permits Local Advocacy Group, Sustainable Westchester, to Oversee Program that Allows Consumers the Choice to Bypass Their Utilities

WESTCHESTER, N.Y., March 5, 2015 -- In a pivotal decision last week, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) voted yes on a proposal submitted by a consortium of Westchester County governments, Sustainable Westchester, to usher in the state's first community choice aggregation (CCA) program. On Tuesday, March 10, more than 30 mayors from New York will join Sustainable Westchester in a webinar that will introduce the new program and its benefits to energy consumers. Please visit: "Navigating the Community Choice Aggregation Process, from Idea to Delivery" to join the conversation.

Since their inception in Massachusetts in 1997, CCA programs have seen rapid adoption in communities across the nation includingCalifornia, Illinois and Ohio as consumers seek an alternative choice to the single power provider lock utilities have had on cities and residents. Simply put, CCA turns the power equation on its face: the community becomes the default power supplier, rather than the utility. The model allows utilities to focus on what they do best: ensure that poles and wires are maintained, and that electricity flows reliably. Communities then focus on what they do best: providing real value for residents and small businesses.

Sustainable Westchester's CCA program will begin in Westchester County. The organization's Co-chair, Mike Gordon, has offered to work closely with mayors and municipalities outside of Westchester County, to create like programs in more than 50 cities, includingRochester, Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse, Binghamton, Ithaca Schenectady, Utica, Hempstead, Niagara Falls, Troy, and Freeport.

As one the first programs to execute on Governor Cuomo's strategic Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) plan, which aims to engender a clean energy future, by promoting investment in clean technologies and innovation and improving customer choice, the Westchester County pilot permits more than 800,000 county residents with more than 85% of all of Westchester municipalities to participate.

Gordon was recently elected Co-Chair of Sustainable Westchester and has played an instrumental role in creating the Community Choice Aggregation program. A globally recognized industry veteran and authority on the energy management sector, Gordon pioneered the inauguration of Energy Reduction Asset markets and has been an architect of new financing solutions for the energy efficiency marketplace, serving as counsel to U.S. and European governmental bodies and regulators including FERC, The European Commission and The United Nations' Conference of Parties on Climate Change.

"Last year New York, under Governor Cuomo's guidance, was the first state in the nation to take huge strides to encourage energy efficient buildings. Now with this grant by the Public Service Commission, New York, by way of Westchester, will again become a model for communities around the nation," said Mike Gordon, Co-Chair of Sustainable Westchester and CEO of Joule Assets. "This decision paves the way for customer choice and for substantial security against potential energy hikes."

About Sustainable Westchester: 
Sustainable Westchester is a membership organization with more than 85% of all Westchester municipalities participating, representing 800,000 county residents. The action group is designed to turn environmental challenges into opportunities to improve the quality of life, economy and future prospects of county citizens. For more information visit: www.sustainablewestchester.org.

First Large-Scale, Open Standards-Based pilot to leverage OpenADR 2.0b and OCPP 2.0 for EV Charging

SAN FRANCISCO, February 17, 2015 -- Greenlots, a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicles, and its partner EVSE LLC, a leading electric vehicle charging manufacturer, today announced that they are supporting a California Public Utility Commission-approved workplace EV charging pilot for Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the nation’s largest electric utilities.

To conduct the pilot, SCE recently deployed 80 Level 2 chargers for a consumer behavior study to test fee-based charging and demand response (DR) at various SCE work facilities. The project, which started in October 2014, is among the first large scale pilots to use open standards protocols OpenADR 2.0b and OCPP in combination for electric vehicle charging.

According to Navigant Research, annual sales for workplace charging  is expected to surpass 63,000 by 2020 in the United States. While residential charging remains the top location for EV charging, workplace charging provides electric vehicle drivers with the range confidence they need to reliably make their daily commute. With the increase of electric vehicle adoption rates, utilities will be looking for a cost effective solution to address additional loads in an effort to stabilize the grid.

“By embracing workplace demand response programs, utilities gain new opportunities to engage their customers and avoid disintermediation by third parties,” said Brett Hauser, CEO of Greenlots. “More and more utilities are adopting applications that use open standards which gives them the flexibility to scale their implementations without the risk of vendor lock-in from proprietary solutions.”

SCE’s study will examine how electric vehicle drivers respond to demand response events and dynamic pricing when charging their EVs at the workplace. The data collected will provide a better understanding of how consumer behavior changes in response to these signals and, ultimately, how EV demand response programs at the workplace will impact building loads, energy costs, and grid flexibility. Currently, SCE employees are able to plug-in when they arrive at work and opt into demand response using EVSE LLC’s chargers and Payment Kiosk integrated with Greenlots’ SKY OCPP system and SCE’s Demand Response platform. By the end of 2015, the data collected will provide valuable insights into customer responsiveness, DR technologies that support non-proprietary charging options, open communications standards, and the potential for using EV’s in demand response programs.

The SCE pilot leverages the demand response and EV infrastructure industry’s two de facto open standards, OpenADR 2.0b and OCPP, the foundation of Greenlots’ SKY Smart Charging™, to manage EV loads without requiring separate systems for charging management. The pilot aims to inform future EV charging initiatives in many key areas, such as:

• Evaluating the impact of EV charging on peak load and the effectiveness of managing the peak through automatic load curtailment. 
• Enabling consumers to opt-in or out of a demand response program
• Evaluating consumer response to a variety of pricing and DR strategies.
• Identifying cost-effective strategies related to system development requirements.
• Directly engaging customers in demand response programs through Greenlots applications.
• Evaluating DR as a means of mitigating local transformer overload risk in areas with EV clusters.
• Evaluating the potential for creating accurate load plans though site and region specific demand response management of EV charging.
• Lowering system costs via open standards.
• Enabling and evaluating charging system response to day-ahead and hour-ahead pricing and load curtailment signals.

“EVSE LLC’s implementation with Greenlots and SCE demonstrates the value of a flexible and smart EV charger platform that adapts to the specific needs of its customers,” said John Fahy, President of EVSE LLC. “As the EV infrastructure evolves more and more clients are looking to leverage existing in-place systems when deploying EV chargers. EVSE LLC is excited about this pilot with SCE and continues the company’s efforts with leading US utilities.”

“As more electric vehicles enter the market and more workplaces adopt charging for employees, it will be essential for utilities to cost-effectively manage periods of high demand on the electrical grid with demand response programs,” said Tom Walker, Director of New Program Development and Launch at Southern California Edison. “This project will help SCE determine how to extend demand response to thousands of EV drivers, will help SCE support California’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions and EV adoption goals, and allow workplaces to use power wisely.”  

ALAMEDA, Calif., Jan. 20, 2015 -- Today, the City of Alameda announced that Tesla Motors co-founder Ian Wright will relocate his company, Wrightspeed, from San Jose to Alameda Point.  Wrightspeed designs and manufactures electric powertrain units that can be easily installed in existing delivery and garbage trucks.  Once outfitted with Wrightspeed's technology, the trucks become near zero-emission, quiet, and efficient commercial vehicles. Wrightspeed is the leading manufacturer of range-extended electric powertrains for commercial trucks in the world, and counts FedEx among its growing list of customers. Backed by a California Energy Commission manufacturing grant, Wrightspeed will invest $3 million in the City-owned 110,000 square foot historic Hangar 41 at the former Alameda Naval Air Station.

"Wrightspeed's relocation to Alameda Point is part of the trend that is fueling Alameda's continuing growth as a hub of innovation in the alternative energy and advanced manufacturing sectors," said City Manager John Russo.  "As Wrightspeed has discovered, Alameda possesses all of the key business fundamentals companies need to succeed in today's competitive marketplace: superior location, affordability, high quality of life, and a supportive City government."

Moving to hangar 41 will facilitate Wrightspeed's creation of 280 new Bay Area jobs by 2018.  Wrightspeed joins a growing list of green-tech, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing companies choosing to call Alameda home, including: Google's Makani Power, Natel Energy, Imprint Energy, and Sila Nanotechnologies.

"This is a significant move for us and we thank both the City of Alameda and the California Energy Commission for their support in meeting our commercial scaling needs," said Ian Wright, CEO of Wrightspeed.  "Alameda Point has a rich transportation history, and we're pleased to be part of its next iteration as a hub of commercial innovation. I know our employees and partners will find that Alameda is a great business location and a great community to call home."

Financing to meet growing demand in energy management sector at no up-front cost to customer

AUSTIN, Texas and BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y., March 25, 2015 -- Incenergy LLC, a leading energy efficiency software and equipment manufacturer company, and Joule Assets Inc., the leading provider of microcapital solutions for the energy efficiency and demand response industries, today announced a new project finance partnership. Under the terms of the deal, Joule Assets will enable Incenergy to offer in-house financing to its global portfolio of clients, significantly shortening sales cycles and extending their project pipelines.

Based in Austin, Texas, Incenergy offers energy metering, lighting controls, energy management, HVAC retrofit solutions, and integration services globally for the commercial building market. Targeting commercial buildings under the 150,000 square foot range, Incenergy's potential customer base includes more than five million buildings, in the U.S. alone. Incenergy's advanced wireless, cloud-hosted platform delivers deep and rich control to building owners, operators and real estate portfolio managers through an intuitive web interface and mobile device applications. This energy management platform helps businesses achieve 15-30% energy reduction, substantially lower CO2 emissions and attract sustainability-minded tenants. Incenergy estimates that the advent of new financing options like Joule's, will significantly increase sales of Incenergy's energy management systems.

"We are pleased to provide our customers access to Joule Assets' unique financing structure," said Barry McConachie, founder and CEO of Incenergy. "Incenergy was created on a simple notion. Reducing electricity usage gives the biggest savings in the shortest amount of time, for the least amount of money. From this premise we work to find ways to deliver the simplest, easiest commercial energy management solutions to our customers. We have been working hard to make energy management as straightforward and financially accessible as possible and we believe the Joule financing relationship could translate to a 50 percent increase in customer buy-in."

Under the Master Services Agreement (MSA), Joule's energy reduction asset ("ERA") project financing will mitigate performance, credit risks, and high transaction costs that have hindered financing for small-to-midsize energy efficiency and demand response projects. Some of the benefits of Joule's ERA financing include:

• No upfront costs to the end-user, resulting in increased deal closure for vendors
• Greater flexibility with on or off-balance sheet options
• Quick underwriting process; projects can be financed in a week
• Ability to finance not credit rated customer through innovative mitigation tools
• Additional revenues are shared with customers, which reduces the effective rate by offsetting the interest repayment through demand response and rebates. Before, customers could not access these revenues on their own, because their energy savings were too small.
• Scalable structure- Joule Assets does the work once and then it scales

"Over the past two decades, small and medium enterprises have lacked access to the kind of financing large-scale energy efficiency projects have enjoyed. As a result, a large section of the market has not reaped the energy and financial benefits resulting from wide-scale energy efficiency implementation," said Mike Gordon, CEO and Co-founder of Joule Assets. "Our ERA Fund serves a critical, unmet need in the market by connecting investors with the next wave of energy efficiency projects. We're pleased to partner with Incenergy and help the company close more deals and increase profitability by enabling its customers the opportunity to substantially reduce energy consumption at no up-front cost and reap the benefits of the conditional cash flows associated with demand response."

About Incenergy
Incenergy, LLC is an Austin, Texas-based Smart Building Solutions company that offers affordable energy metering, lighting controls and energy management HVAC retrofit solutions and integration services for the commercial building market. The advanced wireless, cloud-hosted platform delivers deep and rich control to building owners, operators and real estate portfolio managers through an intuitive web interface, and mobile device applications for iOS and Android. The energy management platform helps businesses achieve 15-30% energy reduction, substantially lower CO2 emissions and attract sustainability-minded tenants. For more information about Incenergy, please visit www.incenergy.com.

About Joule Assets
Joule Assets delivers financing solutions for energy efficiency and demand response initiatives and projects. Through its first-in-kind Joule Energy Reduction Asset (ERA) Fund, a global private equity fund initially targeting $100M, Joule provides previously unavailable, upfront financing to energy efficiency vendors and cycles returns from monetized energy savings and vendor revenues back to Fund investors. Joule Assets leverages its proprietary database, market analysis software, and extensive industry expertise to deliver a secure financing option for vendors and untapped revenue streams for investors.  You can learn more about Joule Assets and the ERA Fund at: http://www.jouleassets.com/ or apply for a consultation here. You can also follow us on Twitter @JouleAssets.

With 4M+ acres under management, Farmers Edge increases Crop Profitability with Precision Agriculture

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Nov. 10, 2014-- Farmers Edge, a global leader in precision agriculture and independent data management solutions, announced today it has received an investment from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers' Green Growth Fund. With operations around the world, Farmers Edge provides a plug and play technology solution that helps farmers optimize crop inputs and maximize yield. The investment from Kleiner Perkins will fund expansion of Farmers Edge's technology platform and support the Company's continued growth in international markets.  

"We see a huge market opportunity for Farmer's Edge approach to precision agriculture.  They uniquely integrate real time satellite imagery and in-field telematics to maximize yield and minimize environmental footprint," said Kleiner Perkins Partner, Brook Porter."Farmer's Edge is leading the current disruption around how crops are grown, and ultimately how crops are valued as traceability becomes an increasingly important factor in the food supply chain."

On the heels of a recent acquisition, Farmers Edge has introduced FarmCommand, a comprehensive solution that provides farmers plug and play real time equipment diagnostics and logistics telematics to any brand of equipment. FarmCommand will become part of the Precision Solutions product line that incorporates field-centric data such as drone and satellite imagery, soil testing, weather stations and precision agronomy.  By coupling cloud-based software, Precision Solutions and FarmCommand, with an agnostic hardware solution, growers gain the ability to make comprehensive precision farm management decisions.

"We rely on Farmers Edge to function as an independent advisor, providing us with a no-hassle, turnkey solution to increase our profitability," said Jerry Machacek, Grower at Canora, SK. "They bring a level of hands-on service that is unique in the industry which is the reason we trust them with the management of our acres." 

"From seed selection to yield data analytics, we bring all the information together to make a meaningful impact on production and we stick by our customers to ensure the job gets done right," said Wade Barnes, President and CEO of Farmers Edge.  "We have an established history of partnering with both farmers and leading distributors to deliver products which will benefit the farmer and his trusted advisors."

About Farmers Edge

Farmers Edge provides global agribusinesses with the precision tools and services growers need to identify, map and manage farmland variability. Leveraging remote satellite imagery and precision technology, its flagship Variable Rate Technology dramatically increases sustainable crop profitability by managing data, measuring results and ultimately, minimizing risk. For more information on Farmers Edge, please visit http://www.farmersedge.ca.

Strengthening Interoperability with Layered Open Standards and Demand Response Protocols

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 29, 2014-- Greenlots, a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks, and Powertech Labs, a subsidiary of BC Hydro, today announced they are working together to develop a platform capable of layering multiple open standards and protocols to achieve rich smart grid features in the home. It's a collaboration that could reap big rewards for utilities that want to embed more renewables, but need to maintain grid loads and for consumers who are increasingly adopting smart home electricity products that take advantage of real-time electricity prices.

With the union of EV chargers, automated demand response, and a broadband connection, electric vehicles are now viewed as the next smart home appliance, taking the Internet of things to the next level. Greenlots, the first solutions provider to implement open standards protocols like SEP2.0 (with EPRI) and OpenADR across multiple EV hardware providers, is working closely with Powertech Labs on a platform that will forge new smart-charging pathways and bring interoperability into the home. Designed for Powertech Labs, Greenlots' SKY Smart Charging platform will network multiple energy management standards and protocols including SEP 2.0, OpenADR 2.0 b and OCPP with residential-based EV supply equipment. By performing smart charging from the cloud and on a home area network (HAN), The SKY Smart Charging platform can simultaneously speak to the utility back-end, while managing the EVSE.

"This partnership underscores the value utilities are assigning EVs as a new and long-term grid resource and their preference in utilizing open standards to future-proof their demand response assets," said Mark Dubois-Phillips, Director of Smart Utility Services at Powertech Labs. "This demand for an open standards approach made partnering with Greenlots an obvious choice."

EVs represent a new breed of smart devices, capable of using electricity from different points on the grid as well as a source of generation, storage and thus called upon to balance the grid. The value-add of EVs goes well beyond that of an emission-free vehicle, their nomadic abilities yield many communication pathways for interoperability.

To test the platform's interoperability, Powertech has incorporated it into their Smart Utility Lab environment, alongside other smart grid technologies such as smart meters, in-home-displays, and simulated utility communications infrastructure. Electric vehicles on average have over 60 microprocessors and this new access allows EVs to play a critical role in the internet of things, executing new demand response programs, comparing performance, de-risking technology pathways and incorporating residential EVSE seamlessly to the grid.

"As more EVs penetrate our transportation and energy ecosystems, demand response programs will be pivotal in smart charging and grid stabilization," said Brett Hauser, President of Greenlots. "Powertech Labs is paving the way for the future smart home and we're pleased to arm them with a platform that complements their smart appliance needs."

About Greenlots:

Greenlots is a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks and grid management. Designed to answer the needs of site hosts offering workplace and public charging applications, Greenlots' SKY Smart Charging™ platform is a robust network management solution that utilizes Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), the largest open standard for charger-to-network communications. SKY is the only charging network to be OpenADR 2.0b certified and enables utilities and site hosts to work together on demand response programs, leveraging EVs as a grid resource and avoiding costly energy infrastructure upgrades. Greenlots is headquartered in San Francisco and has deployed solutions in 13 countries around the globe. Visit www.greenlots.com for more information or follow us on Twitter @greenlots.

About Powertech Labs:

Powertech is a multidisciplinary consulting, research and testing facility located in British Columbia, Canada. For over 30 years, Powertech has provided specialized engineering services in the areas of clean energy consulting, independent testing services, and power system solution to support the utilities environment. Powertech supports a growing number of utilities and vendors seeking to develop, test and deploy their smart grid products and environments. Electric vehicles play an important role in the emerging smart grid landscape, and are therefore a key area of focus for Powertech's Smart Utility Services. Visit www.powertechlabs.com for more information.

City of Folsom, City of Los Altos Hills, and Pacifica Engage Residents with Timely Usage Alerts, Rebates, and Messages in all stages of the Drought

Redwood City, CA — October 27, 2014 — Within weeks of launching its flagship utility product CLEAR, Dropcountr, the leading provider of digital water conservation solutions, today announced that three California water districts have signed on as CLEAR customers. The City of Folsom, which relies on the visibly depleted Folsom Reservoir for its water, as well as Hetch Hetchy-fed Purissima Hills Water District (Los Altos Hills) and North Coast Community Water District (Pacifica) will offer close to nine thousand homes in their districts mobile access via CLEAR to monitor their daily water consumption. The move signals the utilities’ resolve to meet the state’s 20% water reduction goals by providing communities with the most impactful digital water-intelligence tools to effectively mitigate multiple stages of the drought. 

For water utilities in California, the top priority right now is to increase consumers’ access to conservation tools while continuing to provide residents with quality water in the most cost-effective, reliable, and environmentally minded ways. Until the introduction of Dropcountr’s digital platform, utilities were forced to rely on outdated water data, typically in the form of paper reports sent via mail on a quarterly basis to homeowners. Of the number of solutions available to water utilities, Folsom, Los Altos Hills, and Pacifica all opted for the Dropcountr platform. CLEAR’s custom-designed features uniquely address each district’s needs and for the first time, utilities can send real-time push notifications that alert residents to leaks before their bill skyrockets or causes property damage. Similar to a mobile data plan, residents can also opt in to be notified before a rate tier jump occurs. And utilities can target users with time sensitive information in seconds, rather than days or months, sending targeted drought conservation rebates, mandates and other messages to users through CLEAR. 

“Residents here in Los Altos Hills are eager to monitor their consumption and take a leadership role in the state’s conservation goals,” said Patrick Walter, General Manager of Purissima Hills Water District

. “We are ready to maximize the value of our smart meter deployment and give residents the daily transparency they’re looking for, enabling them to keep close-tabs on consumption.”

With the proliferation of smart phones, wearables and tablets, society is growing more accustomed to tracking consumption, from finance to fitness, and from energy to water. 89% of the time spent on mobile devices is in an app environment, so Folsom, Los Altos Hills, and Pacifica are all hoping to take advantage of this previously untapped opportunity to engage customers. By providing timely insights in a medium that reaches its targets, Dropcountr’s digital platform will save utilities and residents’ water, time, and money. 

“With unpredictable future supplies and water levels at an all time low at Hetch Hetchy and Folsom Lake, utilities are still expected to provide water to residents. This is not an easy task, so in an effort to help water utilities easily manage their service areas and get residents to conserve amidst the drought we created CLEAR.” said Robb Barnitt, CEO of Dropcountr. “In July, the State Water Control Board adopted an emergency water conservation regulation, which now requires urban water suppliers to report monthly water usage. CLEAR has an easy export function to help utilities comply with now mandatory reporting.” 

About Dropcountr

Dropcountr is the leading provider of digital water conservation solutions that empower consumers and utilities to save water and money. Its mobile-based water conservation platform provides daily water consumption data for smart-metered residences and analytics to consumers to change behavior, identify leaks, and take advantage of utility rebates. Dropcountr partners with water districts and utilities to engage consumers and meet efficiency goals through behavioral science strategies, leveraging CLEAR. Dropcountr’s mobile platform is now available for free on iOS, Android and the web. For more information about Dropcountr visit: http://dropcountr.com/ and follow @dropcountr on Twitter.

- Total invests in Renmatix – Takes equity and Board seat in Philadelphia based licensor of supercritical hydrolysis technology for conversion of biomass into economical cellulosic sugar

- Companies complete Joint Development Agreement to initiate distinct R&D programs to process selected lignocellulosic biomasses into sugars for use in Total's target biobased products

PHILADELPHIA, March 3, 2015 -- Renmatix, the leader in affordable cellulosic sugars, announced an investment by the New Energies Division of Total, and the signature of a joint development agreement (JDA) between Total [NYSE: TOT] and Renmatix. Under the agreement, Renmatix and Total will utilize Renmatix's proprietary Plantrose process with specific feedstocks to extract sugar for use in production of biobased products of interest to Total. In concert with the investment and R&D projects, Total also joins the Renmatix Board of Directors.

Existing Renmatix investors, including BASF and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, join Total in the initial tranche of this Series D fundraise.

"Renmatix's technology to extract second-generation sugars from biomass has the potential to significantly benefit cellulosic sugars economics and is one more milestone in Total's efforts to develop sustainable and profitable biomolecules for products of interest to Total," said Bernard Clement, Senior Vice President, Total New Energies.

The patented Plantrose process uses supercritical water to reduce costs in conversion of biomass to cellulosic sugars, the critical intermediary for second generation biofuels and biochemicals. With faster reactions and no associated consumable-expenses, Renmatix's supercritical hydrolysis economically enables a multitude of renewable process technologies to address the market needs for 'high volume, low cost, broadly sourced' cellulosic sugars that persists today.

"Having a global oil and gas major like Total join our ranks signals the important role cellulosic sugars play in enabling growth of the bioeconomy, and the transformative impact of Plantrose technology. Our licensing business model allows us to work with the pace-setters of the chemical, forestry, and fuels industries – namely BASF, UPM, and now Total," said Renmatix CEO, Mike Hamilton. "Total's investment, partnership, and leadership are integral links in helping Renmatix redefine the economics of second generation sugars that will fuel profitable biorefineries."

About Total 
Total is one of the largest integrated oil and gas companies in the world, with activities in more than 130 countries. Its 100,000 employees put their expertise to work in every part of the industry – exploration and production of oil and natural gas, refining, chemicals, marketing and new energies. Total is working to help satisfy the global demand for energy, both today and tomorrow. The Group holds majority stake in SunPower, a world leader in solar energy, and an approximately 18% stake in Amyris, an integrated renewable products company. Additionally, Total is actively engaged in a number of renewable R&D projects. www.total.com

About Renmatix
Renmatix is the leading technology licensor for the conversion of biomass into cellulosic sugar, an enabling feedstock for petroleum alternatives used in the global biochemical and biofuels markets. The company's proprietary Plantrose® process challenges conventional sugar economics by cheaply converting cellulosic biomass – from wood waste to agricultural residue – into useful, cost-effective Plantro® sugars. Plantrose supercritical hydrolysis technology deconstructs non-food biomass an order of magnitude faster than other processes, and enhances its cost advantage by using no significant consumables. Renmatix is privately held, with a world-class technical center in Pennsylvania and production operations at the Integrated Plantrose Complex (IPC) in Georgia. www.renmatix.com

Certificate marks new age of risk reduction, quality and safety for solar plant assets. "Plant-level" bankability certification reduces risk for PV power plant investors. 50 MW thin film PV power plant in New Mexico is first to meet extensive safety and performance requirements of VDE and Fraunhofer ISE.

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- SOLAR POWER INTERNATIONAL -- Today VDE Testing and Certification Institute (VDE), a globally recognized premium certification body, in conjunction with partner Fraunhofer ISE, a world leading applied solar research institute, announced the issuance of VDE Quality Tested (QT) Certification to First Solar, Inc. for its design, engineering and construction of the Macho Springs 50MW (AC) power plant located in Luna County, New Mexico. The plant, which went into commercial operation in May of 2014, utilizes First Solar's thin film module and balance of system technology.  A first for the industry, the successful QT certification of the complete PV plant marks the implementation of a strategic alliance to enhance technical bankability.

"The VDE Quality Tested Certification sets First Solar apart, as they have now passed the most rigorous quality assurance requirements at the PV plant/system level, thereby assuring a significant reduction of technical risk for the financial performance of First Solar systems. Certification of the Macho Springs facility documents that First Solar leads the industry in technical bankability at the PV power plant/system level," said John Sedgwick, President VDE Americas.

"First Solar is committed to providing the highest quality and the lowest risk products and systems in the solar industry. We have implemented rigorous, world-class quality assurance processes throughout our operations," said Azmat Siddiqi, Senior Vice President Quality & Reliability at First Solar.  "We are honored to be recognized by VDE for our relentless pursuit of high performance products and installed systems."

Holistic PV Plant Certification Heralds New Age of Risk Reduction, Quality and Safety
For years, certification of PV plant sub components according to international standards (such as IEC standards for PV modules and inverters) has been the basis for establishing technical bankability of PV plants. Leading the industry, the VDE QT Certification of Macho Springs verifies the plant as a bankable solar asset and affirms that independent experts have validated every step from initial design through to installation and operation.

"With the VDE Quality Tested certificate, VDE and Fraunhofer ISE strive to set a new benchmark in the global industry for PV power plant quality and reliability assurance, leading to greater risk reduction. We verify not only the quality of individual plant components, but also the safety and performance of the overall system," said Burkhard Holder, Head of Energy and Smart Technologies at VDE Institute Germany.  "Such a comprehensive approach, including both field and lab testing, leads to a significantly higher level of technical bankability and risk reduction for PV power plant investors and financial entities."

Highlighting the stringent, comprehensive level of quality assurance that the VDE QT Certification signifies, it was designed to deliver significant advantages in four key areas: electrical and mechanical safety of the system; system performance - through a highly accurate energy yield report; proper system operation; and independent verification for investors, lenders, insurance companies and other stakeholders. The VDE QT Certification is composed of comprehensive design review, sophisticated modeling and more than 300 testing points which must be passed in order to achieve the VDE Quality Tested Mark of certification.

"Independent quality Assurance for PV systems has played an important role ever since the earliest days of PV deployment," commented Klaus Kiefer, Head of Quality Assurance PV Modules and Power Plants at Fraunhofer ISE.  "We are very pleased to add our long-term expertise in precise performance evaluation as an integral part of the VDE QT certification. Our team worked closely with both VDE and First Solar staff to apply our experience and knowledge to assure the maximum quality and performance at the Macho Springs facility."

"This certification brings more than 30 years and 38GW of German PV experience to the US for the highest level of quality and superior confidence that the asset will provide long term financial returns," according to Mr. Sedgwick.  "The awarding of VDE QT Certification to the Macho Springs facility highlights the importance of professional certification procedures to ensure the highest plant quality and technical bankability. The Macho Springs plant represents the caliber of asset that the industry has been working towards—an independently-verified high quality PV plant that is providing power at prices competitive with traditional non-renewable base load power."

About VDE Americas

VDE Americas is a wholly owned subsidiary of the VDE Testing and Certification Institute, Germany. The new subsidiary is located in Silicon Valley and will service VDE markets and customers in North, South and Latin America. VDE Americas is staffed by highly experienced solar industry professionals. The subsidiary will serve as the hub for initial sales, marketing and technical service provision into the Americas regions.

About VDE Institute

The VDE Testing and Certification Institute is a significant part of the VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technology, which is one of the largest technical and scientific associations in Europe with more than 35,000 members. The VDE Institute is an independent institution which is responsible for testing and certifying the safety and performance of electronic devices, components and systems for the consumer and the general public using the highest standards of quality. Cooperation agreements in more than 50 countries ensure that the inspections of the VDE Institute are internationally recognized. Millions of electrical products worldwide carry VDE certification marks. www.vde.com

About Fraunhofer ISE

With a staff of 1300, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE is the largest solar energy research institute in Europe. Fraunhofer ISE is committed to promoting energy supply systems which are sustainable, economic, safe and socially just, thereby advancing the transformation of our energy system and the shift to renewables. To this end, the institute develops materials, components, systems and processes for energy efficiency, energy conversion, energy distribution and energy storage. Fraunhofer ISE has a wide range of expertise and many years of experience in the fields of energy efficient buildings, photovoltaics, solar thermal technology, hydrogen and fuel cell technology as well as smart grids and power electronics through to sustainable mobility and storage technologies. Energy system analyses and accredited test centers complete the range of services for the energy sector.  www.ise.fraunhofer.de

About First Solar, Inc.

First Solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) solar systems which use its advanced module and system technology. The company's integrated power plant solutions deliver an economically attractive alternative to fossil-fuel electricity generation today. From raw material sourcing through end-of-life module recycling, First Solar's renewable energy systems protect and enhance the environment.  www.firstsolar.com

Jessica Stromback, General Manager and Senior Vice President, to lead strategic business development in Europe.

BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y., Oct. 21, 2014-- Joule Assets Inc., the leading provider of financing solutions for energy efficiency and demand response projects, announced the expansion of its financing solutions in Europe, as well as the appointment of Jessica Stromback, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Europe. Stromback will lead business development strategy and create new opportunities in these growing markets. Joule previously announced the opening of Joule Assets BV in the Netherlands. The company has since also established operations in Finland and in Belgium. Growing political instability has led to adverse effects on the future of electricity supply in the region; as more countries across Europe phase out nuclear and gas-fired power plants to integrate more renewables, demand response and energy efficiency initiatives will play an integral role in balancing and stabilizing the grid in order to handle peak capacity.

As the founder and Executive Director of the Smart Energy Demand Coalition (SEDC), a Brussels-based not-for-profit industry group representing demand side programs in Europe, Stromback was instrumental in developing legislation essential for enabling demand–side flexibility, which will pave the way for EU Demand Response program development.  In her previous position as chairperson at VaasaETT, a global energy think tank, Stromback's leadership and expertise helped shape residential demand response (DR) and program design, commercial industrial DR, and market structure requirements.

"Joule has demonstrated leadership in the U.S. by offering attractive financing and partnership solutions to contractors, and we will similarly transform the European markets," said Stromback. "Our innovative financing solutions enable additional cash flows, providing additional value and significantly increasing the number of completed projects."

Though financing options have long existed for large-scale energy efficiency projects, smaller projects have faced significant challenges. Joule's financing and data solutions provide funding to projects well below US$1M, enabling small-to-mid-sized contractors to access capital, significantly shortening their sales cycles and extending project pipelines.

"We have seen increased demand for energy efficiency financing in Europe, as the European Union has placed it high on their agenda by creating a 30 percent target for energy efficiency by 2030," said Mike Gordon, CEO of Joule Assets. "Jessica's expertise in demand-side electricity programs and background, collaborating with some of the largest energy and electricity equipment suppliers in Europe, will be a valuable addition to Joule's European endeavors," Gordon said.

Stromback joins industry veterans and Joule Assets founders Mike Gordon and Dennis Quinn who both have extensive experience developing and running energy efficiency and demand response businesses. Together with Stromback, Gordon and Quinn will apply their expertise to provide previously unavailable financing solutions in the European markets for energy efficiency and demand response.

About Joule Assets Inc.

Joule Assets delivers financing solutions for energy efficiency and demand response initiatives and projects. Through its first-in-kind Joule Energy Reduction Asset (ERA) Fund, a global private equity fund initially targeting $100M, Joule provides previously unavailable, upfront financing to energy efficiency vendors and cycles returns from monetized energy savings and vendor revenues back to Fund investors. Joule Assets leverages its proprietary database, market analysis software, and extensive industry expertise to deliver a secure financing option for vendors and untapped revenue streams for investors.  You can learn more about Joule Assets at: http://www.jouleassets.com/ and follow us on Twitter @JouleAssets.

Bioindustry's Leading Cellulosic Sugar Producer Expands IP Portfolio for Plantrose Technology

PHILADELPHIA, PA, Dec. 16, 2014 -- Renmatix, the architect of affordable cellulosic sugars for the global renewable chemicals markets, today announced it has acquired the intellectual property rights and know-how of REAC Fuel. Based in Sweden, REAC has developed intellectual property that complements Renmatix's significant expertise and existing portfolio of supercritical technology patents and applications. The acquisition expands Renmatix's value proposition for licensing their Plantrose™ Process to produce cost-competitive cellulosic sugars.

The Plantrose Process utilizes supercritical water to convert biomass into cost-advantaged cellulosic sugars using primarily water, with no significant consumables.  An industry study, released in Alberta this year, identified Renmatix's Plantrose technology as a critical factor for enabling a larger bioeconomy "due to the potential to link its products to the production of multiple high value chemical products via numerous synthetic biology platforms." Access to cheaper sugars will allow many downstream partners to profitably commercialize their respective technologies for a variety of cellulosic applications.

Prior to the acquisition, in support of its licensing model, Renmatix had already established a robust Intellectual Property portfolio including: 25 patents, and 225 total applications, which include 176 national filings that can mature into patents; 16 of these 25 patents were issued in the past year. The REAC IP portfolio will expand Renmatix's current cellulosic technology holdings and rights on supercritical hydrolysis. The company acquired REAC's 68 applications, which include 54 national filings.

"REAC's technology package is complementary to Renmatix's already substantial intellectual property investments and expands the footprint of our lowest-cost biomass hydrolysis technology," said Mike Hamilton, CEO of Renmatix.  "This acquisition will accelerate the continued development and potential commercialization of REAC's pioneering work, while offering licensees of the Plantrose process additional options for breaking down global biomass resources into renewable materials."

About Renmatix
Renmatix is the leading technology licensor for the conversion of biomass into cellulosic sugar, an enabling feedstock for petroleum alternatives used in the global biochemical and biofuels markets. The company's proprietary Plantrose™ process challenges conventional sugar economics by cheaply converting cellulosic biomass – from wood waste to agricultural residue – into useful, cost-effective sugars. Renmatix's supercritical hydrolysis technology deconstructs non-food biomass an order of magnitude faster than other processes and enhances its cost advantage by using no significant consumables. www.renmatix.com

For Enabling Electric Vehicles to be a Grid Resource to Utilities in Demand Response Programs

SAN FRANCISCO – October 2, 2014 – Greenlots announced today that is has been selected as a winner in this year’s Fierce Innovation Awards: Energy Edition, a utility-reviewed awards program from the publishers of FierceEnergy and FierceSmartGrid. Greenlots was recognized as a “Best in Show: Most Impressive Cost Saver” winner in the category of Electric Vehicles.
Greenlots was selected as a winner for its innovative, industry-leading product, SKY Smart ChargingTM platform. SKY Smart ChargingTM is a fully operational open standards network that allows utilities to manage EV loads through OpenADR, an already established industry standard for demand response. This eliminates the need for utilities to develop separate systems for EV charging management and streamlines operations while saving implementation overhead.

With SKY Smart ChargingTM utilities can:

• Resolving peak load impact of EV charging through automatic load curtailment
• Enable consumers to opt-in or out of a demand response program
• Provide price incentives to users to charge their EV during off peak hours
• Resolve system integration challenges without incurring significant development costs
• Directly engage customers in demand response programs through Greenlots applications
• Mitigate local transformer overload risk in areas with EV clusters
• Create accurate load plans through site and region specific demand response management of EV charging
• Lower system costs via open standards, eliminating the need for separate systems

“Utilities need to be able to manage load without having to make expensive infrastructure upgrades, ” said Brett Hauser, CEO of Greenlots. “Providing utilities with an open-standards based platform allows utilities to take advantage of demand response programs and actually use electric vehicles as a grid asset to manage peak demand.”

All applications for the Fierce Innovation Awards: Energy Edition were evaluated based on the following criteria: technology innovation, financial impact, market validation, compatibility with existing networks, end-user customer experience, and overall level of innovation. Finalists’ applications were reviewed by an exclusive panel of executives from major North American utilities including CenterPoint Energy, Commonwealth Edison, Duke Energy, Florida Power & Light, National Grid, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Portland General Electric, and San Diego Gas & Electric.

About Greenlots

Greenlots is a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks. Designed to answer the needs of site hosts offering workplace, utility and public charging applications, Greenlots’ SKY platform is a robust network management solution that utilizes Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), the largest open standard for charger-to-network communications. SKY obsoletes the subscription-based model by providing drivers with flexible payment solutions including dynamic queuing and pay-by-phone. For site hosts running on SKY, that flexibility offers the freedom to mix and match charging stations, while setting station pricing to best suit their needs: by kWh, session or time length. Greenlots is headquartered in San Francisco and has sold networks in 13 countries. Visit www.greenlots.com for more information or follow us on Twitter @greenlots.

About FierceMarkets

FierceMarkets, a wholly owned subsidiary of Questex Media Group, is a leader in B2B emedia, providing information and marketing services in the telecommunications, life sciences, healthcare, IT, energy, government, finance, and retail industries through its portfolio of email newsletters, websites, webinars and live events. Every business day, FierceMarkets' wide array of publications reaches more than 1.3 million executives in more than 100 countries and can be found at: http://www.fiercemarkets.com/.

Officials from Tesla Motors, Solar City, and the California PUC Among Conference Speakers

BERKELEY, Calif., Sept. 22, 2014-- Energy Storage North America (ESNA), the most influential gathering of policy, technology and market leaders in energy storage, will feature nearly 100 speakers at this year's conference, including some of the leading newsmakers in the industry.

Mateo Jaramillo, Tesla's Director of Powertrain Business Development, will deliver a keynote presentation on Tesla's approach to the market and how the company views grid-scale storage opportunities. This month, Tesla announced plans to build what will be the largest lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in the world.

Peter Rive, Co-Founder and CTO of Solar City, is presenting in a session entitled "Energy Storage as the Driver of a More Resilient, More Efficient Grid." Solar City is the country's largest residential and commercial solar power provider, with tens of thousands of customers. Last week the company announced that within ten years every system it sells will be equipped with energy storage.

Carla Peterman, Commissioner of the California Public Utilities Commission, will speak on a panel entitled "Energy Storage Procurement in California: the Vision, the Plan, the Results." Commissioner Peterman was instrumental in establishing last year's historic 1.3 GW energy storage target for the state's investor-owned utilities.

"This year's ESNA Conference and Expo is an unprecedented event in terms of size, scope and relevance to what's happening in energy storage," said Janice Lin, Managing Partner of Strategen Consulting and Co-founder of the California Energy Storage Alliance. "Storage is in the headlines nearly every day, from technology developments to system deployments. ESNA speakers represent the organizations that are making that news and driving the industry forward."

Energy Storage North America will bring together more than 1,000 regulators, utility executives, and technologists from over 500 different organizations. It takes place from September 30th to October 2nd at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, California. To register, visit www.esnaexpo.com.

About Energy Storage North America

Energy Storage North America is part of the Energy Storage World conference series, which also includes Energy Storage Europe, Energy Storage China, Energy Storage India, and the new Energy Storage Summit Japan. ESNA 2014 is produced by Messe Duesseldorf, in association with Strategen Consulting and the California Energy Storage Alliance.

Comfy’s clever heating and cooling design gains commercial traction with Johnson Controls and Google

OAKLAND, CA — October 2, 2014 —Building Robotics, the leader in cloud-based software for comfortable commercial buildings, today announced a $5.5 M Series A financing round led by Claremont Creek Ventures (CCV) and The Westly Group. The company’s flagship product, Comfy, was designed to answer the impact of thermal comfort on increased productivity and workplace satisfaction. By putting a simply designed temperature control directly in the hands of occupants, Comfy is bringing productivity, health and happiness to office cubes and conference rooms.

“We are investing in companies that are integrating intelligent, comprehensive product design with innovative technology to drive productive experiences. Comfy does exactly that,” said Nat Goldhaber, Managing Director of Claremont Creek Ventures.

Tailoring the temperature at work, through Comfy’s intuitive design 

Comfy was designed to empower building managers and occupants alike, enabling people to adjust the temperature in their personal office space via the Comfy app or web platform. Comfy finds occupants’ thermal sweet spots and can dynamically adjust to make everyone happier by incorporating usage patterns into its machine learning algorithm. The software architecture is built on an open-source platform that seamlessly connects to existing heating and cooling systems while providing a convenient user experience. 

"Giving employees the ability to create a comfortable work environment while generating substantial energy savings places Building Robotics at the forefront of the next generation of software development for the built environment,” said Gary Dillabough, Managing Partner at The Westly Group. “We feel fortunate to be involved with an exceptional team and look forward to participating in their next stage of growth.”

Scalable design and energy savings for commercial buildings 

With the success of companies like Google’s Nest Labs, energy-saving software that gives people control of their environment is becoming pervasive in the home market and Building Robotics is leading the way for the “Internet of Things” at the office. Comfy has gained a lot of early traction with industry leaders, including a few notable pilots with: Google, building controls leader- Johnson Controls, and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the nation’s largest landlord, which currently manages 300 million square feet of office space for the federal government. Showing an initial 22% energy reduction in some pilots, Building Robotics is looking forward to empowering people to work comfortably, while saving kilowatts.  

“Over the past several years we’ve seen incredible innovation in what had become a fairly staid industry. Now, with Comfy we’re bringing the Internet of Things to where people work. By leading with the perspective of the end-user, we have measurable impact on productivity, health and happiness,” said Building Robotics CEO Andrew Krioukov.

About Building Robotics

Building Robotics is on a mission to harmonize energy use and comfort in commercial buildings with software that everyone in a building will love. Pioneering a unique approach to optimize building controls through elegant software and machine learning, the company develops intuitive occupant-facing controls that sit on top of existing HVAC and management systems in commercial buildings. The firm’s flagship product, Comfy enhances comfort and productivity while simultaneously achieving energy savings. For more information about Building Robotics and Comfy, visit http://buildingrobotics.com/ and follow us on Twitter @bldgrobotics.

About Claremont Creek Ventures 

Claremont Creek Ventures (CCV) is a seed and early stage venture firm that invests in companies that serve essential, broad-impact industries – including healthcare and energy – with digital solutions that increase operational efficiency to create high-growth, high-margin businesses. The firm partners with entrepreneurs and institutions, including UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley Labs, Stanford University and UC Davis. CCV has more than $300 million under management in two funds and is located in Oakland, California. For more information visit www.claremontcreek.com. 

About The Westly Group

The Westly Group is dedicated to building companies that will solve the world’s most pressing problems. From next generation electric vehicles to healthy school meals, we invest in exceptional teams scaling transformative technologies and business models. We believe in the power of the passionate entrepreneur—whether sitting in a modern office tower or a Silicon Valley garage—to change the world.

 For our entrepreneurs and partners, we are patient investors and experienced operating executives who are not afraid to roll up our sleeves to help get things done. We bring our extensive industry and government networks to accelerate sales and strategic partnerships. We work as an extension of our companies while giving our entrepreneurs the flexibility to pursue their dreams.

CLEAR Identifies User Trends, Water “Hogs” and Damaging Leaks for Strained Water Districts

Redwood City, CA — September 17, 2014 —Dropcountr, the leading provider of digital water conservation solutions, today released its first flagship utility product CLEAR, a meter-agnostic Meter Data Management (MDM) platform that enables utilities to efficiently meet increasing state and federal water conservation goals. Ushering in a new wave of smart monitoring and efficient reporting, CLEAR functions as a traditional MDM solution, but goes beyond to provide strained water utilities first-time access to visual monitoring and reporting, tailored customer care, meter-agnostic analytics and flexible filtering.

Purissima Hills Water District, a Dropcountr customer and user of CLEAR, sees the benefits of the platform. “We needed a simple, but powerful MDM solution to monitor our service area, so we chose to use CLEAR,” said Patrick Walter, General Manager, Purissima Hills Water District. 

Designed to meet the needs of utilities and municipalities across the U.S., Dropcountr is initially targeting the drought-stricken West with its first flagship utility product, CLEAR. Whether a utility is managing a service area of 5,000 residents or 5 million, CLEAR’s simple user interface visually maps daily, monthly and annual water consumption and identifies user trends, problematic water hogs and damaging leaks. And, utilities can now quickly aggregate and export monthly usage data for newly codified reporting regulation in a matter of a few clicks.  

Additional CLEAR Benefits:    

Active Consumer Engagement Translates to Happy, Proactive Customers: CLEAR allows utility staff to easily identify and engage specific customer segments, sending personalized messages, relevant rebates and targeted conservation tips via email or push messages. By leveraging Dropcountr’s mobile app, utilities can actively engage customers in a timely, cost-effective medium that wasn’t previously available with traditional snail mail campaigns. Smart meter homes can be notified before users exceed rate-tiers or experience costly leaks. And utilities can more easily access a customer’s profile, engagement history, and account records to better meet their needs. CLEAR also provides customer web screen mirroring, which makes customer support calls fast and easy for staff.

Big Meter Data is Manageable with Meter-Agnostic Analytics + Flexible Filtering: With CLEAR, utilities can harness the benefits of big data, with a single streamlined MDM solution that manages data analytics from multiple smart meter providers. CLEAR’s analytics are meter-agnostic and optimized for all metered data, so utilities can access their entire service area and filter data by customer segments, usage, and location to identify trends and abnormal use. By pre-packaging the analytics, utility staff can reliably manage their service area using CLEAR.

“The drought has continued to challenge utilities in new ways – now staff must quickly and effectively communicate with their customers, and assemble system data for mandatory reporting. In response, we consulted with utilities and designed CLEAR to be a turnkey solution for all utilities to save time and resources- making monitoring, outreach and reporting easy,” said Robb Barnitt, CEO of Dropcountr.

About Dropcountr

Dropcountr is the leading provider of digital water conservation solutions that empower consumers and utilities to save water and money. Its mobile-based water conservation platform provides daily water consumption data for smart-metered residences and analytics to consumers to change behavior, identify leaks, and take advantage of utility rebates. Dropcountr partners with water districts and utilities to engage consumers and meet efficiency goals through behavioral science strategies, leveraging CLEAR. Dropcountr’s mobile platform is now available for free on iOS, Android and the web. For more information about Dropcountr visit: http://dropcountr.com/ and follow @dropcountr on Twitter.

Kia to rollout Greenlots’ SKY Smart ChargingTM platform for seamless charging experience.

SAN FRANCISCO – August 26, 2014 – Greenlots, a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks, is partnering with Kia Motors America (KMA) and ABB, a global leader in power and automation technologies, to offer DC fast-chargers (DCFCs) at select Kia dealerships on the West Coast for the soon-to-launch 2015 Kia Soul EV. The partnership illustrates the increasing role interoperability among EV charging technology networks plays in meeting pricing flexibility demands from automakers and providing a seamless experience for EV owners. 

Unveiled in February 2014 at the Chicago Auto Show and rolling out in the third quarter of 2014, the Kia Soul EV is the centerpiece of Kia’s Clean Mobility program, and bolsters KMA’s line of environmentally conscious vehicles offering drivers an alternative to gasoline-powered transportation. The 2015 Soul EV is Kia’s first ever all-electric, zero-emissions car to be sold in the U.S. Beginning in the third quarter of 2014, Kia will roll out Greenlots’ SKY Smart ChargingTM platform to its dealerships in California. The new DCFC stations will allow Kia Soul EV owners to charge their vehicles from empty to 80 percent in approximately 30 minutes. Soul EV owners can find EZCharge locations via Kia's UVO EVServices app or the 8-inch touch screen inside the vehicle, and pay for charging with their Kia ChargeUp card.

"Kia is very excited for the launch of our first-ever all-electric vehicle in the United States, and we are confident that our partnership with Greenlots is connecting our customers to a seamless and reliable network, " said Steve Kosowski, manager of long range planning and strategy, Kia Motors America. "Soul EV owners will have their charging needs met not only through the growing number of DC fast chargers within the EZ-Charge networks, but also the capabilities that Greenlots is providing to our Soul EV dealers, allowing for convenience and range confidence in their charging needs." 

Leveraging Greenlots’ open standards-based platform, top automakers like Kia can determine their own pricing models, while allowing drivers to roam across a variety of networks through EZ-Charge, a network of public charging stations. Pricing structures and incentives for the Kia Soul will be announced in conjunction with its 2015 model rollout in September.

On the heels of its partnership with BMW to provide charging technology for its newly launched i3 and i8 EVs, this announcement with Kia for the widely-anticipated 2015 Soul EV positions Greenlots as the go-to platform for EV success worldwide with charging networks in more than 13 countries across the globe.

“Because SKY is open standards based, Greenlots offers its automotive partners the ability to protect infrastructure in the face of future changes with a more sustainable solution” said Brett Hauser, CEO of Greenlots.

“We’re honored to support Kia in offering Soul EV drivers a fun, hassle-free charging experience.”

About Greenlots

Greenlots is a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks and grid management. Designed to answer the needs of site hosts offering workplace and public charging applications, Greenlots’ SKY Smart ChargingTM platform is a robust network management solution that utilizes Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), the largest open standard for charger-to-network communications. SKY is the only charging network to be OpenADR 2.0b certified and enables utilities and site hosts to work together on demand response programs, leveraging EVs as a grid resource and avoiding costly energy infrastructure upgrades. Greenlots is headquartered in San Francisco and has deployed solutions in 13 countries around the globe. Visit www.greenlots.com for more information or follow us on Twitter @greenlots.

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA proudly serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA and surpassed the 500,000 annual sales mark for the second consecutive year in 2013 following the launch of seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles, including the flagship K900 rear-drive sedan, Cadenza premium sedan, Sorento CUV, Soul urban passenger vehicle, Sportage compact CUV, Optima midsize sedan, Optima Hybrid, the Forte compact sedan, Forte5 and Forte Koup, Rio and Rio 5-door sub-compacts and the Sedona minivan, through a network of more than 765 dealers across the United States. Kia’s U.S. manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, builds the Optima and Sorento and is responsible for the creation of more than 14,000 plant and supplier jobs.

Public Voting Opens to Select Three Most Innovative Energy Storage Projects in North America

BERKELEY, Calif., Aug. 18, 2014-- Energy Storage North America (ESNA), the most influential gathering of policy, technology and market leaders in energy storage, today announced finalists for its 2014 annual Innovation Award, recognizing excellence in energy storage project development. The nine Innovation Award finalists represent excellence in installed energy storage projects across three categories: utility-scale, customer-sited (commercial, industrial, or residential), and mobility (electric vehicle charging and surrounding infrastructure).

"This year's ESNA Award finalists represent a rich diversity of players and business models in rapidly developing energy storage ecosystems across the US and Canada," said Janice Lin, Managing Partner of Strategen Consulting and Co-founder of the California Energy Storage Alliance. "Energy storage as an asset class is a welcome addition to electric system planning toolkits in California,Hawaii, New York, Ontario and other markets. The strength of this year's nominees demonstrates that we are past the early technology tipping point and moving toward the mainstream."

Innovation Award project submissions were subject to a rigorous process that considered key industry priorities, including customer value proposition, project impact, services supplied to the grid, financing model, ownership model, technology, and safety.

ESNA 2014 Innovation Award Finalists:

• Utility-scale: The finalists in the utility-scale category are: 2500 R Midtown (Sacramento, CA); Abengoa Solana CSP Plant (Gila Bend, AZ); and SCE Tehachapi Wind Energy Storage Project (Tehachapi, CA).

• Customer-sited: The finalists in the customer-sited category are: EaglePicher PowerPyramid BESS (Promontory, UT); Green Charge Networks GreenStation 2.0 (various locations, CA); and UC San Diego/BMW 2nd Life EV Energy Storage System (San Diego, CA).

• Mobility: The finalists in the mobility category are: Benecia City Hall Solar EV Fast Charger with Storage (Benecia, CA); Powertree San Francisco One (San Francisco, CA); and SEPTA Energy Optimization Project (Philadelphia, PA).

"We selected Innovation Award finalists based on market-driven criteria and their ability to bring the next generation of progress to the energy storage market," said Jeff Gates, Managing Director at Duke Energy and ESNA Advisory Board member. "The 2014 Award criteria align with the most critical aspects of market development for energy storage, such as safety, reliability, and security, which are also reflected in the event's programming this year."

New this year, public votes (via Twitter) for the ESNA Innovation Award will account for 50% of the final result, with the remainder decided by the ESNA Advisory Board. One tweet per user for each category (Utility-scale, Customer-sited, Mobility) will count toward the final results. Tweets must include hashtag #ESNAAwards2014 and a clear indication of the name of the selected project. Visit theESNA awards website at http://www.esnaexpo.com/awards to learn more about the projects and cast your vote.

This year ESNA is also introducing the ESNA Champion Award, honoring an individual who has shown leadership and dedication in the advancement of energy storage in North America. Both the ESNA Innovation Award and ESNA Champion Award winners will be announced at Energy Storage North America, taking place at the San Jose Convention Center from September 30 to October 2, 2014. Registration for ESNA 2014 is now open.

Energy Storage North America, which attracted close to 750 attendees at its inaugural event last year, will bring together more than 1,000 international regulators, utility executives, and leading technologists, including keynotes by industry luminaries such as JoAnne Butler, VP, Electricity Resources Ontario Power Authority, Peter Rive, Co-founder and CTO of Solar City, and Jeanne Fox, Commissioner, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

To learn more about the 2014 Innovation Award finalists, read the July/August issue of enerG Magazine, the winners will also be featured in the September/October issue, on October 1st. enerG is pleased to offer a free 2 year subscription. Click here (Canada & US).

About Energy Storage North America

Energy Storage North America is part of the Energy Storage World conference series, which also includes Energy Storage Europe, Energy Storage China, Energy Storage India, and the new Energy Storage Summit Japan. ESNA 2014 is produced by Messe Dusseldorf in association with Strategen Consulting and the California Energy Storage Alliance. Visit our web site http://www.esnaexpo.com. Follow us on Twitter: @EnergyStorageNA and #ESNA2014.

Open EV Network provides Public & Private Charging to accelerate Singapore’s growing EV adoption

SINGAPORE – August 12, 2014  – Greenlots, a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks, has partnered with BMW Group Asia to provide Singapore with its first Home and Public Charging network as part of BMW’s 360º ELECTRIC program.

Designed to cover BMW i owners from an all-round perspective, 360º ELECTRIC comprises four key pillars that will come standard with the purchase of every BMW i model. (1) Public Charging, (2) Home Charging, (3) Flexible Mobility, and (4) Assistance Services.

The network, based on the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), the global standard for open charger-to-network communications, will provide BMW i owners as well as Singapore EV drivers, with the infrastructure necessary to support the country’s burgeoning EV adoption.

For Public Charging, Greenlots’ open standards based, SKY Smart Charging™ platform will administer ChargeNow (BMW i’s public charging program) in Singapore to enable local BMW i customers to access its vast and expansive network of AC charging units by using the BMW i ChargeNow card and Greenlots mobile app. Real-time information about the availability and location of these stations is provided to BMW i drivers via the car’s navigation system to assist them in locating the nearest available charging point. Greenlots expects to rollout up to 30 L2 (AC) chargers across 20 strategic public locations within 2014.

For Home Charging, Greenlots will manage and install the BMW i Wallbox Pure to ensure BMW i owners have a convenient charge at home or the office. A qualified advisor will support BMW i drivers through the entire installation process, including electrical inspection. Prior to the purchase of a new BMW i vehicle, a Greenlots electrician/surveyor will determine if the intended buyer’s home or office environment is electric mobility-friendly at an initial site visit. Once the environment has been deemed suitable, full installation will commence upon the purchase of the BMW i vehicle. The installation is backed by a Greenlots warranty with ongoing technical support.

This partnership and rollout has been synchronized with BMW i’s first market launch in Southeast Asia and the first publicly available commercial EV to hit Singapore streets. The industry milestone signals how promising the island is for sustainable plug-in mobility and how essential charging infrastructure is for this market.

“We’re pleased to partner with BMW Group Asia and to provide BMW i owners with an EV charging network,” said Lin Khoo, Senior Vice-President of Greenlots. “Being at the helm since 2009, will allow us to continue to support Singapore’s transition to electric mobility.”

About Greenlots

Greenlots is a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks and grid management. Designed to answer the needs of site hosts offering workplace and public charging applications, Greenlots’ SKY Smart Charging™ platform is a robust network management solution that utilizes Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), the largest open standard for charger-to-network communications. SKY is the only charging network to be OpenADR 2.0b certified and enables utilities and site hosts to work together on demand response programs, leveraging EVs as a grid resource and avoiding costly energy infrastructure upgrades. Greenlots is headquartered in San Francisco and has deployed solutions in 13 countries around the globe. Visit www.greenlots.com for more information or follow us on Twitter @greenlots.

Greenlots Media contact:

Greenlots@missionCTRLcommunications.com

As Panama Struggles with Electricity Capacity, PV Monitoring is Key for Country’s Top Grid Operator, EGESA

SAN FRANCISCO – INTERSOLAR NORTH AMERICA – July 8, 2014 – Inaccess, a global provider of solar monitoring and control systems, today announced that it has successfully commissioned its solar power plant optimization solution, insolar, at a 2.4 MW solar power plant in Sarigua, a desert region in Panama’s Herrera province. Sarigua is the country’s first grid-scale solar array and is owned by La Empresa de Generacion Electricita (EGESA), Panama’s primary grid operator. As Panama enriches its electricity production mix, Inaccess’ insolar monitoring and control system will optimize plant performance and financial returns through a dense network of monitors, sensors and controls providing real time data, fault detection and analysis. The system will monitor performance of the plant’s hardware including panels, strings, inverters and fuses as well as integrate information from Panama’s grid to optimize for current or future market factors like demand and price. Panama, which is set to open its expanded Panama Canal next year, is a quickly growing market for solar taking its place as the world’s value-added logistics hub.

Located nine miles from the city of Chitre, Sarigua was connected to the grid in March 2014. The utility-scale plant is now providing 30 percent of the surrounding area’s electricity demand – equivalent to the power used by 2,600 local homes. Greenwood Biosar, a joint venture between Greenwood Energy and Biosar, provided engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for Sarigua, originally a project of Enel Green Power Panama. “The sophisticated monitoring solution provided by Inaccess will make it easier to identify underperformance or malfunction at the plant, allowing operators to intervene more quickly, saving money and ensuring financial health of the installation”, said Greenwood Biosar CEO, Aris Polychronopoulos.“We are proud of having contributed to a solar “first” for Panama. We are honored to support the international expansion of strategic partners like Greenwood Biosar by leveraging Inaccess’ ability to tailor our monitoring solutions to address specific requirements of diverse geographic markets” said Inaccess CEO, Christos Georgopoulos.

About Inaccess

Inaccess provides monitoring and control solutions for renewable energy and telecom infrastructure management. We design and develop state-of-the-art products and solutions, which provide our partners with invaluable access to information, enabling them to maximize effectiveness of their investments through performance optimization and OPEX reduction. With headquarters in London, UK and presence in Europe, North America and Asia, Inaccess is a leading global vendor of integrated infrastructure monitoring platforms with over 1.5 GW in aggregate solar installations worldwide.

With more than 80% of California in extreme drought, consumers and utilities look to mobile water data to avoid peak water usage

Redwood City, CA — August 5, 2014 — In the midst of California’s worst drought in decades, Dropcountr, the leading provider of digital water conservation solutions, today released a new feature to its current platform which provides California consumers with web and mobile app access to their daily water consumption data. Unlike traditional paper usage reports which provide utility customers with a three month-old view of past water consumption, Dropcountr’s digital platform, which can be accessed online or via the Dropcountr mobile app, provides instant access to daily water usage data as well as preventative and actionable push-based alerts that warn customers before they hit peak water usage and/or experience costly water leaks. Dropcountr’s new “utility poke” mobile app feature now empowers California utility customers currently forced to rely on dated paper reports with a quick and efficient way to ask their utility for daily digital access to their own water usage data in order to monitor and conserve water. Dropcountr’s mobile platform is now available for free on iOS and the web, and is coming to Android on September 1.

Despite emergency pleas by Governor Brown this January for Californians to “immediately” begin working towards a 20 percent reduction of water consumption and last week’s unprecedented mandates by the California State Water Resources Control Board, water usage in the state has actually risen by 1 percent. In response, Dropcountr has introduced a cloud-based solution that provides consumers with the personal data they need to make real-time choices about their own water consumption. Unlike recent energy conservation and efficiency programs, which have had great success in reducing energy consumption by offering consumers actionable, digital access to energy data, the nation’s water efficiency programs still rely on older paper usage reports which are typically sent on a quarterly basis and provide no transparency or visibility into how and at what rate customers are using their water.

The City of Folsom in California is one of Dropcountr’s early utility partners and Don Smith, Water Management Coordinator said, “The City of Folsom is looking forward to working with Dropcountr in bringing critical and timely water use information to our customers during this time of drought.”

Poke your utility today

California is at a critical juncture in the drought and the Dropcountr cloud-based platform now features a “utility poke,” easily accessible through Dropcountr’s mobile app, which geolocates a consumer in California and enables them to contact their local water district, requesting daily usage data to monitor and conserve water resources. In addition, Dropcountr supports real-time push notifications that alert consumers to potentially damaging leaks, track peak usage before their bill skyrockets, and stay up to date on drought conservation mandates and fines.

“We’re operating in an new era of accessible, actionable data on natural resources—and an increasing number of consumers are acting upon that data,” said Robb Barnitt, CEO of Dropcountr. “We’ve seen clear and positive results of what happens when you provide energy customers the digital tools and access they need to monitor and control their energy consumption. What we’re doing at Dropcountr is providing that same level of access for water. We are firm believers in behavioral-based conservation and in that framework, paper is losing the battle to device and web-based presentation.”

About Dropcountr

Dropcountr is the leading provider of digital water conservation solutions that empower consumers to save water and money. Its mobile-based water conservation platform provides daily water consumption data and analytics to consumers to change behavior, identify leaks, and take advantage of utility rebates. Dropcountr partners with water districts and utilities to engage consumers and meet efficiency goals through behavioral science strategies. Dropcountr’s mobile platform is now available for free on iOS and the web, and is coming to Android on September 1. For more information about Dropcountr visit: http://dropcountr.com/ and follow @dropcountr on Twitter.

Two-Year Pilot for EV Charging at SFO will include 4 DCFC Chargers from Greenlots

SAN FRANCISCO – June 19, 2014 – Greenlots, a global provider of open-standards based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks, today announced it will provide the first open standards-based EV charging stations for San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The two-year pilot with Greenlots is the result of a recent grant awarded to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) for SFO from the California Energy Commission (CEC). The CEC grant, which totals $6M, will fund EV charging infrastructure throughout California. On June 19, 2014, SFO will host a press conference to highlight its Clean Air Vehicle programs, vehicles and infrastructure. 

As part of the two-year SFO pilot, Greenlots will handle the network management platform, equipment procurement, maintenance and related support services for four DC fast chargers. The chargers will be located strategically at the SFO cell phone lot giving travelers easy access to plugin, charge, and trek to their next destination in under 30 minutes. SFO currently has the largest number of plugin vehicle spaces of any domestic airport and this next wave of open standards-based EV charger installations supports SFO’s larger Clean Vehicle Policy vision and goal to future proof new infrastructure investments. 

“We’re excited to add fast chargers to the Clean Vehicle amenities at SFO,” said Chief Operating Officer Ivar Satero. “This gives electric vehicle users yet another reason to make SFO their airport of choice.”

Conveniently located DC fast chargers could have a tremendous impact on accelerating plugin adoption to mitigate range anxiety and build a clean transportation network that enables the public to charge on the go. Studies have shown that the utilization of public Level 2 chargers is only 10 percent in corridor charging, but 35% for workplace charging. 

“Not surprisingly, California led close to one third of all plugin vehicle sales last year in the U.S. and that growth is driving the demand for a broad network of DC fast chargers that is accessible to all drivers,” said Brett Hauser, President of Greenlots. “We’re pleased to add our open standards-based EV chargers to support the larger vision of the CEC, BAAQMD and SFO of a future-proofed electric mobility world.”

About Greenlots 

Greenlots is a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks. Designed to answer the needs of site hosts offering workplace, utility and public charging applications, Greenlots’ SKY platform is a robust network management solution that utilizes Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), the largest open standard for charger-to-network communications. SKY obsoletes the subscription-based model by providing drivers with flexible payment solutions including dynamic queuing and pay-by-phone. For site hosts running on SKY, that flexibility offers the freedom to mix and match charging stations, while setting station pricing to best suit their needs: by kWh, session or time length. Greenlots is headquartered in San Francisco and has sold networks in 13 countries. Visit www.greenlots.com for more information or follow us on Twitter @greenlots.

Greenlots Media contact:

Greenlots@missionCTRLcommunications.com

Arkansas refinery will initially process over 15 million lbs. of electronic scrap per year

OSCEOLA, Ark., June 10, 2014-- BlueOak Resources, a leader in the sustainable sourcing of high-value metals from e-waste, and brainchild of co-founders Priv Bradoo & Bryce Goodman, today announced it has partnered with the Arkansas Teachers' Retirement Fund, a consortium of European and domestic investors, and the Arkansas Development Finance Authority towards the build-out of the first urban mining refinery in the U.S. capable of retrieving valuable metals including gold, silver, copper and palladium from e-waste. The parties have invested an initial capital amount of $35M towards the facility. Groundbreaking takes place today inOsceola, Arkansas at 12:30PM ET and will include speeches from Grant Tennille, Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, as well as former vice president, Al Gore, a partner at existing BlueOak investor, Kleiner Perkins.

"The United States is building a domestic supply chain to tackle the challenges presented by e-waste, and Arkansas has the talent pool and business environment to attract the cutting-edge companies like BlueOak that will comprise that supply chain," Governor Mike Beebe said. "This facility highlights our commitment to bring more manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., and back to Arkansas."

The groundbreaking at the Osceola, Arkansas facility is significant as it marks the first urban mining facility of its kind in the U.S., an example of the kind of development that can reinvigorate the U.S. manufacturing sector. BlueOak's refining business model is inspired by the quintessential case study of the mini-mill disruption of the steel industry, which ushered in a new era of steel production. The distributed nature of mini-mills allowed lowest cost production of steel from recycled steel scrap. BlueOak intends to capitalize on the high demand for "technology metals" like gold, silver, copper and palladium by creating distributed urban refineries in the U.S. and throughout the world that recover high-value metals from e-waste. Production at the Arkansas facility will begin by the end of 2015, initially processing 15 million lbs. of electronic scrap per year, with plans for rapid expansion, bringing 50 high-paying technical jobs to the area.

The Heartland Renaissance Fund, Los Angeles-based National New Markets Fund and U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation worked together to provide New Markets Tax Credit financing that was fundamental in helping BlueOak reach today's milestone. The groups were also key funding partners in the BlueOak transaction, which was arranged and structured by Global Principal Partners. "The New Markets Tax Credits were created with the vision of empowering and driving positive impact within rural communities in the US and the BlueOak project allows us to do just that in Osceola," said Sam Walls, President of Heartland Renaissance Fund, an affiliate of the Arkansas Capital Corporation Group.

"This opportunity with BlueOak aligns with our investment goals by coupling significant economic potential with a meaningful impact on society and the environment," said George Hopkins, Executive Director of the Arkansas Teachers' Retirement Fund.

Dumping e-waste in landfills and worse, exporting it to countries where e-waste is handpicked over open fires, represents not only an environmental disaster, but also the loss of millions of tons of valuable resources. Circuit boards, cell phones and other electronics are made with sizable amounts of gold, silver, copper and palladium – high-value metals that are currently lost to landfills. And, whileEurope has established a thriving supply chain around this challenge, BlueOak is the U.S.'s only urban refinery dedicated to recovering precious metals from e-waste.

"Our milestone today is indicative of a larger, more meaningful movement in which Silicon Valley meets Industrial America, a phenomenon that is crucial to retaining U.S.'s global competitiveness and fostering our work force," said Privahini Bradoo, CEO of BlueOak. "We believe that by coupling innovative technology approaches with the U.S.'s wealth of manufacturing expertise and talent we can transform what has become a crippling global problem into a tremendous economic opportunity for our investors, partners, community and country."

About BlueOak Resources

At BlueOak, we believe in the philosophy of resource and capital efficiency. We are building distributed mini-refineries that use proven, capital-efficient refining processes towards recovering high-value metal resources from e-waste. Our vision is to revolutionize how we treat end of life electronics: converting the e-waste of today into a sustainable source of critical metals and rare earths for the technologies of tomorrow. BlueOak: Sourcing Metals Sustainably™ from End-of-Life Electronics. Please visit us at: blueoakresources.com

ESNA Awards Honor Energy Storage Project Excellence and Individual Industry Contributions

BERKELEY, Calif., May 22, 2014 -- Energy Storage North America (ESNA), the most influential gathering of policy, technology and market leaders in energy storage, is seeking project nominations for its 2014 Innovation Awards. In addition to its annual Innovation Awards, recognizing excellence in energy storage project development, this year ESNA has introduced the ESNA Champion Award to honor the efforts of individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the field of energy storage in 2014. ESNA Award winners will be honored at the 2014 ESNA Awards Ceremony on October 1, 2014, during the Energy Storage North America Conference and Expo at the San Jose Convention Center. The deadline to submit projects for an ESNA Innovation Award isJuly 1, 2014. To nominate a project, please complete this form, and submit it to awards@esnaexpo.com, or visit http://esnaexpo.com/awards. The ESNA Advisory Board will nominate the Energy Storage Champions and the winners will be announced on October 1, 2014.

"The goal of the annual ESNA Awards is to celebrate excellence in project development and to recognize the policy and utility leaders making energy storage a mainstream resource for a cleaner, more efficient and reliable electric power system," said Janice Lin, Managing Partner of Strategen Consulting and Co-founder of the California Energy Storage Alliance. "Last year's Innovation Award winners showcased the depth and diverse geographies of energy storage projects across North America. This year, with 1.325 GW of energy storage procurement confirmed by the California Public Utilities Commission, along with the May 5, 2014 request for proposals issued by The Hawaiian Electric Companies for 60 MW to 200 MW of energy storage, and several other markets following closely behind, we expect new applications enabled by new revenue streams to be deployed on the grid. We look forward to celebrating the project teams and individuals who are driving adoption of this critical new asset class."

About the ESNA Innovation Awards: Focus, Criteria and Voting

In 2013, ESNA honored four projects that demonstrated commercial traction and opportunity in the North American market: Notrees Wind Energy Storage, Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) Thermal Energy Storage Program, Santa Rita Jail Smart Grid, and Grid on Wheels. This year the Innovation Awards will focus on projects that leverage energy storage to connect to multiple value streams in three categories: utility-scale, customer-sited (commercial, industrial, or residential), and mobility (electric vehicle charging, and surrounding infrastructure). ESNA Innovation Award nominees are selected through a rigorous process that evaluates innovative projects based on customer value proposition and project impact, as well as services supplied to the grid; financing model; ownership model; safety and security; and technology. To be eligible, a project must be a stationary or transportable grid energy storage system, installed and fully operational on or before August 1, 2014. When the finalists are announced, the Innovation Award process will include public voting as part of the selection process.

"Last year, ESNA debuted a fantastic event. EV Grid and our partners were excited to receive the ESNA 2013 Innovation Award in the mobility category. With the California energy storage targets in place, we look forward to sharing what we've been working on. ESNA 2014 will be the place where energy storage, policy, and technology leaders meet to move the industry forward," said Paul Stith, Director of Business Development & Regulatory Affairs at EV Grid.

About the ESNA Champion Award: New Award Honoring Individual Achievement

ESNA created the Champion Award to recognize an individual who has shown leadership and dedication to the advancement of the energy storage market in North America, through significant contributions to the policy and/or technology sectors. Nominees will be submitted to the ESNA 2014 Advisory Board for a vote and the winners will be announced during the ceremony.

Registration for ESNA 2014 is now open; register by July 18 to receive an early bird discount.

About Energy Storage North America

Energy Storage North America is part of the Energy Storage World conference series, which also includes Energy Storage Europe, Energy Storage China, Energy Storage India, and the new Energy Storage Summit Japan. ESNA 2014 is produced by Messe Düsseldorf in association with Strategen Consulting and the California Energy Storage Alliance.

Companies from around the world are recognized as leaders driving change in the energy system

New York, April 7 – Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the provider of unique analysis, tools and data for decision makers driving change in the energy system, today announced its selection of the 2014 New Energy Pioneers. The winners were recognized on stage at the seventh annual Bloomberg New Energy Finance Summit in New York City.

This year’s winners (listed in full below) represent a broad range of industries including bioenergy, energy efficiency, geothermal, innovative finance, smart energy technology, solar and water. By rewarding game changing innovators, Bloomberg New Energy Finance hopes to highlight the profound transition in today’s energy system, towards new business models, technologies and market structures that are challenging the status quo.

Each New Energy Pioneer has a combination of innovative technologies and new business models, the ability to demonstrate substantive progress in their activities, and the potential for global scale. An independent panel of industry experts selected the 10 winners from numerous applicants from around the world, assessing them against three criteria: potential scale, innovation and momentum.

Michael Wilshire, Selection Committee Chair and Head of Analysis of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said: “We were impressed by the strength and breadth of innovation in this year’s New Energy Pioneer candidates and their potential to accelerate the next wave of industry growth. We are again very grateful to our group of judges who narrowed this field down to just ten winners. We wish all of the Pioneers every success in the future.”

The 2014 New Energy Pioneers are:

1366 Technologies has developed an innovative manufacturing technique for producing silicon wafers, the basic building blocks of solar cells, at a fraction of today’s cost.

Breathing Buildings is an ultra-low energy ventilation company that provides a unique range of patented natural ventilation products as well as innovative ventilation modelling services.

Bridgelux is a pioneer in LED and solid-state lighting technologies, developing next-generation embedded light source solutions.

Coolerado designs and manufactures super-energy-efficient air conditioning for commercial and industrial use, based on a proprietary, patented and proven technology.

Genomatica develops and licenses complete manufacturing processes for producing many of the world’s most widely-used chemicals from alternative bio-feedstocks, at competitive cost and with greater sustainability than petroleum-based processes.

Green Energy Group provides turn-key modular geothermal wellhead plants, which reduce capital expenses and project risk and allow for quicker payback on investment.

M-KOPA Solar brings together asset financing, mobile technology and solar innovation to connect off grid, low income homes to energy.

Oasys Water is providing sustainable solutions to transform the world’s most difficult and contaminated waters into valuable resources.

Renmatix is a technology licensor that enables the production of petrochemicals from plants, with a process that has a low cost method for converting a wide range of non-food biomass into cellulosic sugars.

Younicos is a technology-open system integrator and provider of control and energy management software, for storage applications ranging from ramping of renewables to frequency regulation and renewable islands grids.

About Renmatix

Renmatix is the leading technology licensor for the conversion of biomass into cellulosic sugar, an enabling feedstock for petroleum alternatives used in the global biochemical and biofuels markets. The company’s proprietary Plantrose™ process challenges conventional sugar economics by cheaply converting cellulosic biomass – from wood waste to agricultural residue – into useful, cost-effective sugars. Renmatix’s supercritical hydrolysis technology deconstructs non-food biomass an order of magnitude faster than other processes and enhances its cost advantage by using no significant consumables. Renmatix is privately held, with operations in Georgia currently capable of converting three dry tons of cellulosic biomass to Plantro® sugar per day, and a world-class technical center in Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.renmatix.com.

About Bloomberg New Energy Finance

Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) provides unique analysis, tools and data for decision makers driving change in the energy system. With unrivalled depth and breadth, we help clients stay on top of developments across the energy spectrum from our comprehensive web-based platform. BNEF has 200 staff based in London, New York, Beijing, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Munich, New Delhi, San Francisco, São Paulo, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Washington D.C., and Zurich. For more information on Bloomberg New Energy Finance:http://about.bnef.com, or contact us at sales.bnef@bloomberg.net for more information on our services.

Alpha Program Launch Targets $3B Traction Market With High-Performance Storage Needs

San Jose, CA, April 29, 2014  Gridtential Energy, Inc., a developer of high-performance energy storage technology, today announced the external launch of its Alpha Program and a Joint Development Agreement with Alpha partner MTD Products Inc. The move with MTD, a global leader in outdoor power equipment, signals the demand for economic energy storage solutions for industries with high-performance requirements. To learn more about becoming part of the Gridtential Alpha Program, please visit http://www.gridtential.com.

Today’s $3B traction market, which includes small-scale vehicles and equipment historically reliant on emission-heavy combustion engines, is making significant strides in energy storage adoption. Driven by consumer demand and the need for an economic, high-performance storage solution, market leaders like MTD see compelling current and future applications.

“As a global leader of the lawn and garden market, we’re dedicated to product innovation that continually exceeds our customers’ expectations around performance and price, and embraces new technologies that reduce emissions for a cleaner world. We see this partnership with Gridtential as the opportunity to meet our customers needs, while ensuring we maintain our role in embracing sustainable business practices at a price point that makes good economic sense,” said Rory Bringhurst – Executive Vice President Product Development, MTD Products Inc.

Gridtential has enlisted strategic partner Intevac to support process development and preparation of its high-performance battery plates. Intevac is providing both technical and manufacturing support based on their widely-deployed thin-film deposition equipment for the hard drive media and solar cell markets. "Intevac's extensive experience in high-volume, cost-sensitive manufacturing applications will help accelerate Gridtential’s development of its advanced lead-acid battery storage technology” said Mike Russak, Executive Vice President of Intevac. “Intevac can provide a proven, economic and scalable equipment solution to enable Gridtential to meet the needs of the large and growing energy storage markets."

The initial Alpha units are maintenance-free, 6V AGM batteries that deliver high energy density, longer battery life and improved cycling performance.

“After exceeding our first Quarter performance milestones, we are pleased to move forward with our first JDA, deploying and testing our advanced solution in the traction markets, as well as in traditional and distributed backup applications,” said Christiaan Beekhuis, President and CEO of Gridtential Energy. “Our novel battery platform can be used to improve performance in a wide range of applications and we look forward to expanding our external testing with our next wave of Alpha Program partners.”

About Gridtential Energy:

Gridtential Energy is developing a low-cost, scalable battery architecture that significantly improves energy density, cycling performance and battery life. Gridtential has relationships with key suppliers to accelerate development of highly repeatable, high-volume battery production capabilities. Gridtential Energy is located near downtown San Jose at the San Jose BioCube Innovation Center. To learn more, visit http://www.gridtential.com.

About MTD Products Inc:

For more than 40 years, MTD has been a leader in designing and building durable, easy-to-use outdoor power equipment. Our family of brands offers award-winning products designed to meet lawn and garden needs for both residential and commercial markets. Explore our brands to find the product that's right for you. Our portfolio of brands includes Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Yard-Man, Yard Machines, White Outdoor and Cub Cadet Commercial.

About Intevac Inc:

Intevac was founded in 1991 and has two businesses: Equipment and Photonics. In our Equipment business, we are a leader in the design and development of high-productivity, thin film processing systems. Our production-proven platforms are designed for high-volume manufacturing of substrates with precise thin film properties. Intevac is the market and technology leader in the hard drive industry, with our systems processing approximately 60% of all magnetic disk media produced worldwide. Our high-performance, high-throughput technology solutions continue to expand into additional markets – including solar and adjacent thin film deposition applications.

$1M Pipeline Now Offered Innovative Financing and Measurable Savings

Bedford Hills, NY, March 12, 2014  Joule Assets Inc., an energy efficiency and demand response financier, today announced that it has approved financing for Ener.co, a New York-based firm which counts heavy commercial HVAC users including the New York Blood Center, NYU, and the NYC Parks Department as customers. Ener.co can now offer in-house project financing for its flagship HVAC product NanoSure, which is proven to reduce HVAC energy consumption and carbon emissions in existing buildings. Joule Assets’ novel financing model enables small to mid-size energy efficiency vendors like Ener.co to move forward on nearly $1M of approved projects, previously stalled because of a lack of financing.

Existing buildings consume more than 60 percent of the nation’s electricity, but initial project costs have served as barriers to energy efficiency. Commercial buildings with heavy indoor air conditioning needs are a particularly ripe market for energy efficiency measures, and Ener.co’s NanoSure has proven to dramatically improve energy efficiency of HVAC systems while also prolonging the life of the existing HVAC units. With the help of Joule Assets, Ener.co is able to improve commercial buildings at their core.

“Despite the large demand for NanoSure, we were in a vicious cycle in which building managers saw the benefits, but were hamstrung by upfront costs and budget issues,” said Ener.co CEO, Patrick Rathje. “The in-house financing ability that Joule Assets affords us accelerates the sales cycle and allows us to green light more projects for our customers who will make a a low monthly payment out of savings and incur no upfront costs.”

Joule Assets provides energy efficiency technology vendors with a template to determine specific project eligibility based on pre-approved project types. The actual pool of funded projects is determined by the vendors that have been selected for financing by Joule Assets. Because of this model, Joule Assets is able to bypass servicing and project costs and provide project insurance. To be selected for financing, vendors must meet two primary criteria: fill a critical need in the small to mid-size market by offering an energy efficiency product that has measurable results, and demonstrate a fiscal model based on cost and payoff time that makes the deal attractive for all parties.

"Our model allows energy efficiency vendors to bring project financing in-house, providing them with new decision making power over which projects receive funding and exponentially expanding their project pipelines," said Joule Assets CEO, Mike Gordon. “We selected Ener.co because it continues to demonstrate impressive energy efficiency results, has a long pipeline of approved projects in need of financing and represents the kind of energy efficiency projects that we believe will reap large financial and energy savings rewards across the board.”

Greenlots Is First EV Charging Provider to Earn OpenADR Certification

SAN FRANCISCO – February 10, 2014 – Greenlots, a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks, today introduced its SKY Smart ChargingTM platform designed to address the needs of the utility and vehicle-grid integration (VGI) sectors. The company, which has received OpenADR 2.0b certification through the OpenADR Alliance, is now the first EV charging platform provider capable of using the standard to manage and influence charging behavior thru dynamic pricing. The announcement signals the growing demand from utilities for an open standards-based approach to vehicle-grid integration and maintains Greenlots’ position as the EV industry’s strongest advocate for open standards, extending its commitment to utilizing open standards from the charge port all the way to the utility back office. 

“Certification of the Greenlots SKY Smart Charging platform fills an important gap in the growing collection of OpenADR certified products,” said Barry Haaser, managing director, OpenADR Alliance. “Utilities can now add EVs as an energy resource to their OpenADR-based demand response 

The growth of EV adoption can have a significant impact on a utility and as the market grows it is important for utilities to manage EV charging to prevent overloading of the electricity network. The impact of EV charging on peak load and local distribution networks are some of the key challenges that a utility faces. A fully operational open standards network, SKY Smart ChargingTM, allows utilities to manage EV loads through OpenADR, an already established industry standard for demand response. This eliminates the need for utilities to develop separate systems for EV charging management and streamlines operations while saving implementation overhead. 

With SKY Smart ChargingTM utilities can:

• Resolving peak load impact of EV charging through automatic load curtailment
• Enable consumers to opt-in or out of a demand response program
• Provide price incentives to users to charge their EV during off peak hours 
• Resolve system integration challenges without incurring significant development costs 
• Directly engage customers in demand response programs through Greenlots applications
• Mitigate local transformer overload risk in areas with EV clusters
• Create accurate load plans through site and region specific demand response management of EV
• Lower system costs via open standards, eliminating the need for separate systems

"With the proliferation of EVs, demand response programs will be a critical aspect of ensuring charging availability without the need for utilities to incur expensive infrastructure upgrades,” said Brett Hauser, President of Greenlots. “The OpenADR Alliance is committed to programs which help utilities maintain grid reliability and enable customers to realize significant value. So, receiving OpenADR certification was a natural step for Greenlots as we continue our global efforts to support driving interoperability and open standards for the industry."

About Greenlots

Greenlots is a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks. Designed to answer the needs of site hosts offering workplace, utility and public charging applications, Greenlots’ SKY platform is a robust network management solution that utilizes Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), the largest open standard for charger-to-network communications. SKY obsoletes the subscription-based model by providing drivers with flexible payment solutions including dynamic queuing and pay-by-phone. For site hosts running on SKY, that flexibility offers the freedom to mix and match charging stations, while setting station pricing to best suit their needs: by kWh, session or time length. Greenlots is headquartered in San Francisco and has sold networks in 13 countries. www.greenlots.com

New Strategic Partners’ Project Development Pipeline of $270M, Joule to Target Initial $90M Deployment

Bedford Hills, N.Y. (PRWEB) June 23, 2014  Joule Assets Inc., the leading finance provider for the energy efficiency and demand response industries, today announced strategic financing partnerships for 10 U.S.-based energy efficiency contracting firms, with a total pipeline that is projected at $270M, of which Joule Assets will target an initial $90M deployment. In a given year, a typical energy efficiency contractor may see $2-3M worth of projects stall due to a customer’s budget constraints for upgrades. The project financing from Joule Assets enables these small-to-mid-sized contractors to offer in-house financing, significantly shortening sales cycles and extending their project pipelines.

One of these contractors, NorthWrite, a leading energy information management company specializing in the delivery of energy and facility solutions, expects to finance 50-100 energy efficiency projects in the next 12 months across a spectrum of small commercial buildings, including schools, restaurants, national chains and offices.

“Joule Assets’ ability to offer conditional cash flows for projects is what sets it apart from standard financing options,” said Patrick O’Neill, founder and CEO of NorthWrite. “In true partner fashion, the team at Joule helped us envision, create and work through the different financing scenarios available to us. They have a level of domain knowledge around conditional cash flows that others deeply discount or won’t even consider, which is what makes these projects possible.”

“Our model, which places financing decisions in the hands of the vendors, not only empowers the small-to-midsized contractors, but it accelerates the adoption of energy reductions assets as a whole by reducing overall due diligence and transaction costs," said Joule Assets CEO Mike Gordon. “We’re pleased to provide contractors with investment dollars that will enable them to significantly increase their deal closure rate and scale rapidly.”

The financing is funded from the Joule Energy Reduction Asset (ERA) Fund [ERA Fund Investor Disclaimer. The ERA Fund is managed by Joule Assets. Targeting initially a deployment of $100M in capital, the Joule ERA Fund takes a transformational approach to both investment and energy efficiency. Through extensive industry expertise in conditional cash flows from demand response and energy efficiency certificates, Joule Assets provides returns from monetized energy savings and vendor revenues back to the Joule ERA Fund, producing exceptional and stable returns for investors while also reducing critical levels of greenhouse gas emissions. By creating a new marketplace for energy efficiency finance, these investments are expected to deliver base returns of 6-10% to ERA Fund investors, while also offering additional mezzanine returns of 5-15%, and potential equity participation, totaling estimated average targeted returns of 18% - giving an attractive low-risk entry point to the previously closed energy reductions assets market.

First-in-kind Energy Reductions Assets Fund opens channel into $900B markets.

Bedford Hills, N.Y. January 22, 2014 -- Joule Assets Inc. today launched the Joule Energy Reduction Assets Fund (“ERA Fund”), a private equity fund targeting $100M and that will invest in energy efficiency and demand response markets in the United States and globally. This first-in-kind fund provides accredited investors a channel into the previously closed $900B energy reductions assets markets, which encompass revenues generated from global demand response and energy efficiency programs. An energy reduction asset or ERA is an umbrella term for any unit of saved energy, which has become a tangible asset.

“In the simplest terms, we’ve created an investment fund that will expand financing for energy efficiency. On a grander scale, we believe that we have designed a fund that will aim to achieve the returns of top-performing private equity funds,” said Joule Assets CEO, Mike Gordon. “We anticipate that our fund will tap into pre-existing marketplaces and for the first time provides investors—in addition to utilities—a way to benefit from those gains.”

According to McKinsey’s ”Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy” report, today’s global ERA market is currently valued at $900B. With Google’s purchase of Nest, there has been renewed interest in the potential of energy efficiency as a market. Once the purview of utilities and commercial customers, energy reduction asset programs like peak load reduction and energy efficiency have consistently generated lucrative returns and revenue opportunities for utilities and their customers. With the introduction of the ERA Fund, qualified investors can—for the first time—tap into these ERA markets and share in the rewards.

“The ERA Fund portfolio comprises projects based on technologies that can tangibly demonstrate energy savings such as those realized by building controls, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), programmable thermostats, LED lighting, and automated demand response,” continued Mike Gordon. “By aggregating small and medium efficiency projects targeting the $50k-500K range, Joule’s ERA Fund streamlines project finance making available financing features like performance-backed insurance and medium term service-based investments to the ERA Fund’s investors.”

The ERA Fund will be managed by Joule Assets Inc., whose principals, Mike Gordon and Dennis Quinn, have proven track records of delivering consistent returns on energy efficiency and demand response-based investments. As founder of ConsumerPowerline (acquired by Constellation New Energy), Gordon managed 1GW of ERAs, achieving 30 percent annual returns and distributing $100M to participating commercial customers. Dennis Quinn, co-founder of Celerity Energy, led his firm in achieving returns in excess of 70 percent per annum over the three years of ownership, before Celerity’s acquisition by EnerNOC.

Investment opportunities for the ERA Fund are identified and vetted by Joule Assets. Investors may receive returns based on project yields as well as additional cash values of the projects that are identified by Joule Assets such as rebates and lowered price. For disclosures, see the following: http://www.jouleassets.com/legal-information.

Student team vows: We will be First to the Moon

UNIVERSITY PARK, Penn., Jan. 21, 2014-- Today Penn State's Lunar Lion team, the only university-led team in the Google Lunar XPRIZE competition, will go live with a crowdfunding campaign on RocketHub. The goal: to raise $406,536 toward the design and build of a prototype of its Lunar Lion moon lander that will land on the Moon by December 2015—the deadline for Google's Lunar XPRIZE. The campaign will run from January 20 to February 24. Please visit today and join our teamwww.rockethub.com/lunarlionpsu

Led by NASA NIAC Fellow and space industry veteran, Michael Paul, the Lunar Lion team has a clear lead in the Google-sponsored race to the Moon. Comprised of more than 80 students across eight of Penn State's university disciplines, the team has outlined the technology milestones and timelines required by the XPRIZE Foundation to win the competition. Using at least 90% private funding, the Lunar Lion will land on the Moon, transmit video and images back to Earth, move 500 meters to another spot on the Moon and repeat the video/image transmission, all by the end of 2015.

"We're on the cusp of an Apollo moment," said Michael Paul, Lunar Lion team leader and director of Space Systems Initiatives for the Penn State Applied Research Laboratory. "And one of the most significant differences between this Moon landing and the first—more than 40 years ago—is that this mission is being driven by the next generation of pioneers, our students. That kind of innovation is at the heart of the Lunar Lion mission and of a new business model, uSpace, that we believe will launch a new age of space science and exploration."

Penn State, a close research partner to NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and space industry companies, has introduced a new paradigm in space science and exploration centered on university capabilities and leadership—uSpace. Through collaboration with industry and governmental partners, uSpace matches the strength of major research universities with the innovation found at NewSpace companies. A rapid development timeline, driven by cost and schedule considerations, will enable a whole new class of missions while simultaneously allowing participation of students of all disciplines and creating an experienced next generation of space pioneers.

About Lunar Lion

The Penn State Lunar Lion team is the only university-led team competing for the Google Lunar XPRIZE, with the goal of executing the first privately funded mission to the surface of the Moon while creating a new generation of leaders for a new era in space exploration.  More than 80 students, guided by Penn State faculty and staff, as well as professionals from a host of companies, are responsible for the design, construction, testing, and operation of the Lunar Lion, which will land on the Moon, take off and land more than 500 meters from its original landing site, and send video, images, and data back to Earth. Visit us on the web at www.lunarlion.psu.edu and follow us @lunarlionpsu.

New Routes in Sustainable Chemistry Aim to Deliver Broader Supplies of Affordable Bioplastics

London — December 6, 2013 — ICIS Innovation Awards — At today’s ICIS Innovation Awards in London, winners Renmatix and Virent announced a strategic collaboration to convert affordable cellulosic sugars to renewable chemicals and bio-based packaging materials.

Under the terms of the multi-phase development project, Renmatix’s Plantrose™ platform will be evaluated and potentially optimized to provide an affordable sugar stream for Virent’s Bioforming® process for the large-scale production of bio-based paraxylene. Paraxylene is a basic raw material used in the manufacture of purified terephthalic acid (PTA), an important chemical in the production of plastic bottles and fibers made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Integrating local feedstock processing with on-site commercial production will lower costs and increase the viability of using renewable chemicals in bio-based packaging and plastics for industrial and consumer goods.

Selected by ICIS as the Best Innovation by a small to mid-sized enterprise, Renmatix’s Plantrose™ process produces affordable cellulosic sugars as the bridge between upstream biomass and downstream plant-based chemicals. An alternative to current petro-based materials, Renmatix’s C5 (xylose) and C6 (glucose) Plantro® sugars are produced by an advanced water- based method known as supercritical hydrolysis. In lieu of more expensive chemical and enzymatic routes to cellulosic sugar that are still in use today, Plantrose leverages supercritical hydrolysis to economically convert a range of renewable global feedstocks into the bio-based building blocks that can be used in everyday products like paints, diapers, laundry detergent, or bottles and other types of plastic packaging.

“Products derived from renewable resources are in great demand and that demand is driving significant change across conventional value chains. This recognition from ICIS reinforces that sustainable technologies, which were once the seed of a meaningful shift have grown to become an industry mandate,” said Mike Hamilton, CEO of Renmatix. “Working with the right partners, like Virent, on the common goal of providing scalable solutions with affordable economics, we are pioneering the bio-based value chains that can meet those needs.”

Virent’s bio-based paraxylene product, trademarked BioFormPX™, won this year’s ICIS award for Best Innovation for Sustainability. Virent’s BioFormPX is chemically identical to paraxylene made from petroleum and allows manufacturers to offer customers 100% bio-based PET packaging, fibers and films. Virent and The Coca-Cola Company entered into a strategic partnership in 2011 to accelerate the commercialization of 100% renewable, recyclable PlantBottle® packaging.

“Our focus is on helping to advance breakthrough bio-plastic technologies we believe can be scaled and sustained,” said Scott Vitters, General Manager, PlantBottle Packaging Innovation Platform, The Coca-Cola Company. “The potential of combining Renmatix’s innovative cellulosic feedstock technology with Virent’s bio-based paraxylene process offers a promising pathway for further realizing our PlantBottle packaging goals.”

“The market growth for sustainable products will be met by innovative technologies working in partnership with the world’s leading brands” said Lee Edwards, CEO of Virent. “The joint collaboration announced today between Virent and Renmatix in support of Coca-Cola’s PlantBottle goals demonstrates the promise of this vision. Together we aim to accelerate delivery of commercial volumes of renewable chemicals by integrating our world class technologies to achieve lower costs and higher efficiency from sustainable biomass based feedstocks. We are delighted and proud to be recognized by ICIS, along with Renmatix, in this years’ awards.”

 

About Renmatix

Renmatix is the leading technology licensor for the conversion of biomass into cellulosic sugar, an enabling feedstock for petroleum alternatives used in the global biochemical and biofuels markets. The company’s proprietary Plantrose™ process challenges conventional sugar economics by cheaply converting cellulosic biomass – from wood waste to agricultural residue – into useful, cost-effective sugars. Renmatix’s supercritical hydrolysis technology deconstructs non-food biomass an order of magnitude faster than other processes and enhances its cost advantage by using no significant consumables. Renmatix is privately held, with operations in Georgia (USA) currently capable of converting three dry tons of cellulosic biomass to Plantro® sugar per day, and a world-class technical center in Pennsylvania (USA).

 

About Virent

Virent is replacing crude oil by creating the chemicals and fuels the world demands using a wide range of naturally-occurring, renewable resources. Its patented technology features catalytic chemistry to convert plant-based materials into a full range of products identical to those made from petroleum, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and chemicals for plastics and fibers. The products are drop-in replacements that enable full utilization of existing logistics infrastructure without blending limitations. The development of Virent’s BioForming® technology platform is supported through strategic partners including Cargill, The Coca-Cola Company, Honda and Shell, as well as 80 employees based in Madison, Wisconsin. The company has received several grants from the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Energy and Agriculture and has been recognized with many honors, including the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer award and the EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award. Please learn more at www.Virent.com.

OCPP Forum Expands its Mission, Welcomes Existing and New Members to Support Open Standard Networks for Charging Electric Vehicles

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 26, 2013-- The Open Charge Alliance, a global consortium of public and private electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure leaders with more than 10,000 installations worldwide, today announced its charter and issued a call for new international members. Initially formed as the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) Forum, the newly named Open Charge Alliance counts ABB, Eaton, ESB, E-laad, Greenlots and others as existing members and maintains the original mission of the OCPP Forum – to further develop OCPP and related interoperability standards. The Alliance has generated broad industry consensus behind OCPP and will build on that to promote and enable open, flexible EV charging networks for the next wave of EV adoption worldwide. Multiple levels of Open Charge Alliance membership are available; please read more and join us here: www.OpenChargeAlliance.com.

"For the past several years we have promoted the benefits of OCPP in order to make EV networks accessible. In that short amount of time, OCPP has become the accepted protocol in 50 countries and over 10,000 stations," said Onoph Caron, founding member of the Open Charge Alliance and director of E-laad. "The enduring nature of OCPP—an open protocol with no cost or licensing barriers to adoption—has given it a strong foothold and deep relevance in Europe and other markets."

The biggest challenge facing the adoption of EVs today is no longer related to "range anxiety," but rather stems from access limitations to the public charging stations that line our highways, streets and communities. Many of these early stations are accessible only via proprietary, subscription-based networks. Unfortunately, the closed nature of these networks has generated deep frustration for both EV drivers, who expect the same accessibility that they enjoy at the gasoline pump, as well as charge station owners, who as a result of proprietary protocols are locked into a network system that prevents them from making changes as their needs evolve or price points get too high. There is, however, a better way. In many European countries where open standards have been adopted, site owners can mix and match open standards-based charging stations and choose a network provider that meets their business requirements and provides the best charging experience for their EV driver customers.

OCPP 2.0
The Open Charge Alliance will release the next version of OCPP in the coming weeks. OCPP v2.0 features a more efficient, modern transport, while new messages supporting pricing, smart charging, and charging station health and maintenance, including device event notification and statistical reports. OCA is currently developing a process for OCPP v2.0 compliancy and interoperability, in parallel with the last phase of protocol specification.

"If we listen to EV drivers and site hosts in markets like the U.S., which began as closed, proprietary charging networks, we have a clear take away—open and accessible networks are critical for the next wave of EV adoption," said Brett Hauser, founding member of the Open Charge Alliance and president of Greenlots.  "The success of OCPP in Europe and its growing adoption in North Americaposition it as the de facto platform for the next wave of EV adoption."

Join the Open Charge Alliance
In response to this challenge, members of the Open Charge Alliance are further developing OCPP to provide a powerful, open and interoperable charge station-to-network communication protocol which supports all the functionality needed by today's advanced charge management systems. The Open Charge Alliance members represent a broad range of interests in the EV sector including government organizations, utilities, charge point vendors and site operators. Founding members of the Open Charge Alliance are the E-laad foundation (Netherlands), Greenlots (North America), and ESB (Ireland). OCA members see the global benefits of open EV standards:

"The Open Charge Alliance is focused on interoperability standards and is promoting what we believe to be the optimal platform for all global EV stakeholders," said Joost van Abeelen, Product Manager, Connected Services EV Charging, ABB.

"Eaton's commitment to providing customers flexible, innovative solutions has made it a global leader in electrical systems. This is a commitment we share with the Open Charge Alliance and what motivated us to become a member," said John Wirtz, Business Unit Manager, Electrical Transportation Infrastructure, Eaton Corporation. "Leveraging the industry's de facto open standard protocol, our customers are able to mix and match their choice of chargers, while ensuring they have a robust platform to control and manage their sites."

"Simply put, OCPP has emerged as the best solution for EVSE management. Since 2011, we have relied on OCPP for the high level of interoperability it ensures between European networks and now all DBT-CEV Charging Points are OCPP compliant. Acting as a catalyst for E-mobility development across Europe, OCPP promises to become the de facto global standard with massive adoption by all players," said Vienney Devienne, Sales Director, DBT.

About Open Charge Alliance 
The Open Charge Alliance (OCA) is a global consortium of public and private electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure leaders that have come together with a single goal in mind: to further the adoption of the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP). Designed to ensure interoperability standards that will guide open and flexible EV networks worldwide, OCPP is the accepted protocol of choice in 50 countries and over 10,000 charging stations, providing accessibility, compliance and uniform communications between charging stations and management systems. Please join our growing global membership base: www.OpenChargeAlliance.com.

Renmatix’s patented PlantroseTM technology enables production of industrial sugars from non-edible, woody biomass. Industrial sugars are important bio-based precursors for a variety of chemicals based on renewable feedstocks.

Ludwigshafen, Germany and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – December 18, 2013 – BASF, Ludwigshafen, Germany, and American technology provider Renmatix Inc. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will jointly scale up the Renmatix Plantrose process for the production of industrial sugars based on lignocellulosic biomass. The two companies signed a non-exclusive joint development agreement. The parties have agreed to key financial terms for future commercial licenses, which BASF can exercise at its discretion. The collaboration follows BASF’s $30 million investment in Renmatix in January 2012.

The Plantrose technology developed by Renmatix enables industrial sugar to be produced, at competitive costs, from a variety of non-edible biomass (lignocellulose) sources. The proprietary process breaks down lignocellulosic sources (e.g. wood, agricultural-residues or straw) into industrial sugars using supercritical water (water at high temperature and pressure). Industrial sugars are important building blocks for various basic chemicals and intermediates that can be produced, for example, by fermentative processes. The availability of these industrial sugars in sufficient quantities and at competitive cost is important to enable both environmentally-friendly and cost-competitive bio-based products. Incorporating biomass feedstocks as a first step in the value chain, creates a raw material change that can reduce reliance on fossil raw material sources like naphtha as principal feedstock.

Projects relating to the topic of raw material change make up one important technology field in BASF’s Research Verbund. BASF experts are engaged in identifying interesting processes for utilizing alternative raw materials, such as renewables, natural gas, and CO2.

“Raw material change will only be possible via process innovations that allow the utilization of alternative sources of raw materials,” said Dr. Peter Schuhmacher, President of BASF’s competence center Process Research and Chemical Engineering. “It requires processes like Plantrose, which will be further developed in a joint effort, that enable the use of non-edible biomass as a chemical feedstock and which do not compete with food or feed production. The Plantrose process addresses our needs for renewable raw materials. It will help us to support our customers in developing solutions that contribute to sustainable development.”

“Over the past two years, BASF has made significant investments of time and capital to support our efforts at Renmatix,” said Mike Hamilton, CEO of Renmatix. “At Renmatix we are focused on supporting the emerging biochemical market by enabling progressive leaders to scale up Plantrose capacity to increase the global chemical industry’s access to cost-effective industrial sugars.”

About Renmatix

Renmatix is the leading technology licensor for the conversion of biomass into cellulosic sugar, an enabling feedstock for petroleum alternatives used in the global biochemical and biofuels markets. The company’s proprietary Plantrose™ process challenges conventional sugar economics by cheaply converting cellulosic biomass – from wood waste to agricultural residue – into useful, cost-effective sugars. Renmatix’s supercritical hydrolysis technology deconstructs non-food biomass an order of magnitude faster than other processes and enhances its cost advantage by using no significant consumables. Renmatix is privately held, with operations in Georgia currently capable of converting three dry tons of cellulosic biomass to Plantro® sugar per day, and a world-class technical center in Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.renmatix.com.

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of €72.1 billion in 2012 and more than 110,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

Joule Assets, Inc., a New York based investment and financing firm specializing in energy reductions assets (ERAs) from energy efficiency and demand response, has issued a white paper detailing the results of a survey that polled industry professionals on their challenges in obtaining financing for customers. The results show that traditional financiers are failing to meet the needs of the small-to-midsize market.

Bedford Hills, NY (PRWEB) December 12, 2013  Joule Assets, an investment and financing firm specializing in energy reduction assets (ERAs) from energy efficiency and demand response, today released results from its first national energy efficiency financing and insurance survey. A white paper detailing the results can be downloaded here.

The survey targeted the small-to-midsize energy efficiency market that has been historically underserved by the finance community. Joule Assets polled over 3,000 energy efficiency professionals, including contractors, manufacturers and trade associations to uncover challenges endemic to the small-to-midsize market .

Highlights of the survey revealed several interesting trends in energy efficiency financing: 

•     Financing is a serious obstacle for projects under $250,000. According to respondents, the majority (67%) of energy efficiency projects under $250,000 lack access to financing. 97% of respondents revealed direct relationship between increased access to financing and increased sales volumes
•     Energy Reduction Savings Agreements (ERSAs) are the preferred financing model for the majority of respondents. The majority of respondents (60%) favor financing through the ERSA model, a performance-based, off-balance sheet financing option, over fixed loans or leases.
•     There is significant demand for insurance that backs energy savings guarantees. More than 70% of respondents expressed interest in including insurance as a way to back energy savings guarantees.
•     Respondents would sell more if they could guarantee energy savings. 55% of respondents do not currently guarantee energy savings, but 75% say they would sell more if they could offer guarantees (see below).

Joule Assets offers an array of financing options to fund small-to-midsize energy efficiency projects, some of which incur no upfront costs for the end user, increasing the likelihood of enhancing deal closure rate for contractors. The company’s Energy Reduction Assets (ERA) platform incorporates hidden revenue streams like incentives, rebates, efficiency certificates and demand response programs into their financing options, enabling them to serve the small-to-midsize market more effectively. Joule also provides insurance-backed financing options to vendors who guarantee energy savings along with flexible performance and non-performance-based financing options to extract additional value from energy systems.

“Our survey has identified financing as a common hurdle for energy professionals to serve their customers,” said Joule Assets CEO, Mike Gordon. “Joule Assets is uniquely positioned to enable a wide range of projects that are historically underserved by traditional finance by offering creative financing vehicles like Energy Reduction Service Agreements.”

For a detailed analysis of the results, please download the white paper here.

Mercatus cuts diligence costs and time by 50% for one of world's top solar developers

SAN FRANCISCO, July 10, 2013-- Intersolar North America 2013 – Mercatus, Inc., a provider of Origination and Syndication Management for energy investors, today announced it will serve as one of the North American project acquisition platforms for the Enerparc Group ("Enerparc"), an internationally oriented and dynamically growing provider of solar power plant installation and operation services, who continues to scale its North American market through its subsidiary, Enerparc, Inc. Rated as Germany's top EPC (Engineering Procurement Construction) contractor, and 6th in the world in 2012, Enerparc has designed and built over 930 megawatts of systems worldwide since 2009. As an IPP (Independent Power Producer) and O&M (Operation and Maintenance) service provider, Enerparc owns 440 megawatts of operating assets, and manages 490 megawatts.

After establishing clear market dominance in Europe, Enerparc is now leading the charge for international solar developers looking to enter the North American market. Yet, unlike in Europe where the majority of projects share similar attributes, the project landscape in the U.S. ranges dramatically in size and geography, with fluid federal, state and local incentives and policies.

"As one of the world's largest solar project developers, we see the emergence of a wide variety of disparate North American projects as both promising and challenging," said Florent Abadie, CEO of Enerparc, Inc. "The promise is continued growth, but the challenge is speed: how to quickly identify and increase quality acquisition or investment opportunities. In order to enter the North American market and execute on our goals, we needed a partner like Mercatus—with domain expertise akin to ours in other countries—that could increase our speed in pricing attractive projects competitively, while at the same time acting as a workforce multiplier to optimize operational costs and headcounts. Our project diligence cost and time is half what it was before Mercatus."

"For companies like Enerparc, speed and efficiency are key," said Haresh Patel, CEO of Mercatus. "Our platform can accelerate successful market entry, providing much needed transparency and improved project finance certainty with new channel partners."

Based on four years of due diligence and transactions with 40 of the top global financial organizations, Mercatus' standardized project appraisal—a FICO-like score—accelerates investor decision-making and reduces diligence inefficiencies.

About Enerparc:
Enerparc is a global expert for large-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems. The company has connected over 930 megawatts of capacity to electricity grids.
Enerparc is leveraging its experience in engineering, constructing large-scale solar systems and operating its own solar assets to satisfy investor's expectations at the project level.
Enerparc Inc. is based in San Francisco, California, and actively involved in projects across the United States.

About Mercatus
Mercatus is a leading solutions provider for the energy project finance industry, offering Origination and Syndication Management for investors looking to making asset-class portfolio decisions.  Answering the call for deal standardization, Mercatus has introduced the energy industry's first FICO like score with each project's risk and reward score. Mercatus's new standardized approach to the appraisal, aggregation and syndication of individual projects provides the critical transaction interface the buy and sell sides have been waiting for. Please visit us at www.gomercatus.com.