San Francisco, San Jose, Portland Lead Nation in Clean Technology

by Nathan Eddy

Ranking No. 1 in advanced transportation and second or third in the three other categories, San Francisco took the top spot.

The city’s first-place score in investment, innovation and workforce affirms Silicon Valley’s position as the nation’s (and world’s) nexus of R&D, venture capital and entrepreneurship.

Long a center of green design expertise and deployment, Portland ranks fourth in green buildings as well as clean electricity.

Los Angeles, the nation’s second-largest metro area, jumped three places from seventh last year, thanks to its mix of clean energy initiatives.

While it scored the top spot for efficient edifices, Washington, D.C., failed to crack the top 10 in any other category.

Although Sacramento’s score dropped slightly, it’s in the top 10 in all four categories, placing highest in investment, innovation and workforce.

San Diego has an aggressive focus from both the public and private sectors to expand its clean-tech economy, and it has paid off with a solid all-around performance of 11th place or better in all four categories.

Denver is the only non-coastal metro area in the top 10, and particularly shines in green buildings with a third-place ranking, paralleling Colorado’s leadership.

A strong number five in both green buildings and advanced transportation, the Emerald City is 14th in clean electricity and just 19th in investment, innovation and workforce.

Thanks to its world-class research bona fides from MIT and many other universities, and a strong venture capital-fueled technology culture, Boston remains the East Coast capital of clean-tech entrepreneurship.