Released Tuesday by research firm Clean Edge, the 2015 U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index tracks the clean-tech activities of the 50 states and the 50 largest metro areas in the nation.
California scored 94.0 in the index, well ahead of perennial second-place finisher Massachusetts (78.8). Oregon, Colorado and New York rounded out the top five. California is continuing to set the standard, according to the report:
The Technology category leader for six years running, California tops the field in all three subcategories of clean-technology deployment: electricity; transportation; and energy intelligence/green buildings. The Golden State also captured the #1 spot in Capital this year after trailing Massachusetts in the previous five years of the Index, while finishing second to Massachusetts in Policy. With 55,000 people employed in its booming solar industry alone, a carbon market in place with its AB32 trading scheme, and a 50% renewables goal by 2030 set by Governor Jerry Brown, California sets the pace for what a clean-energy economy looks like.
California also led last year’s category in venture capital investments in clean tech: nearly $2.8 billion, which equates to $72 per person, the most per capita in the country.
California also dominated a separate ranking for metros: 1. San Francisco; 2. San Jose; 3. Portland, Ore.; 4. San Diego; 5. Washington, D.C.
Los Angeles was sixth and Sacramento finished 12th.
