Clean energy is one of the fastest growing industries in today’s economy, and Gainesville is positioned to be a leader in this dynamic field. According to a 2008 report from research firm Clean Edge, fuel cells, solar PV, wind energy and biofuels — a combined $77.3 billion market in 2007 — will increase to $254.5 billion (or 229 percent) within a decade.

Florida averages roughly 240 days of year-round sunshine and receives 85 percent of the maximum solar resource available in the U.S. With more than 430 companies and nearly 16,000 employees, Florida has one of the largest concentrations in the U.S of suppliers of silicon, solar PV module components and balance of systems components, according to Enterprise Florida, the state’s economic development entity. Florida ranks among the top five states in the production of solar thermal collectors. Florida researchers are already developing next generation photovoltaic technologies, like thin film PV based on amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, CIS/CIGS and other emerging and nano materials.

The Council for Economic Outreach (CEO) is seeing an influx of clean energy projects considering Gainesville. Of the 35 projects CEO has worked with in 2009, nearly a third are in the clean energy sector.

For more information, go to http://www.gainesvillechamber.com/Clean-Energy-Economy.aspx