Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) Adds South Carolina to Regional Chapter Network

South Carolina Clean Energy Business Alliance (SCCEBA), AEE and Energy Foundation release census, primer examining South Carolina's advanced energy industry

COLUMBIA, S.C., July 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a national business organization representing the advanced energy industry, today announced the addition of its latest state chapter, the South Carolina Clean Energy Business Alliance (SCCEBA), at the SCCEBA 2012 South Carolina Clean Energy Summit, being held today at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, S.C.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120718/DC42401)

South Carolina Clean Energy Business Alliance (SCCEBA), which was established in September 2011, is committed to building a broad-based business alliance that fosters the development of South Carolina's advanced energy industry. The Alliance works to represent the needs and interests of the state's growing advanced energy industry through policy development, educational outreach to decision makers, and strategic economic development.  

"Advanced Energy Economy is a national platform for creating a unified business voice for advanced energy and we are thrilled to announce our newest chapter in South Carolina," said Graham Richard, CEO, Advanced Energy Economy. "We believe our chapters and affiliates are the heart of AEE, partners working at the state level to improve the business climate for the advanced energy industry.  SCCEBA is an important addition to our growing national network of business organizations. We look forward to working with them to ensure U.S. leadership in meeting growing global energy needs with advanced energy solutions – a market opportunity of historic proportions."

In support of this mission, SCCEBA, in partnership with the Energy Foundation, is releasing today a 2011 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiencies Census to better outline the components of South Carolina's growing advanced energy industry. The Census reflects the responses of 269 respondents who self-identified on a questionnaire circulated in Fall 2011 as currently having at least 50 percent of their company's staff time dedicated to work that is related to renewable energy, clean transportation, or energy efficiency.

Key findings include:

• There are over 14,000 full-time equivalent employees in the SC clean energy business sector.
• The clean energy sectors with the largest number of firms are:
  • Energy-efficient design and construction
  • Energy-efficient retrofitting
  • Solar energy
• In 2011, the advanced energy sector in South Carolina conservatively generated over $726 million in annual gross revenue.

A recently released study, the South Carolina Technology Primer, produced by Southern Growth Policies Board, further demonstrates the growth potential of South Carolina's advanced energy economy. With strong research, workforce and economic development initiatives already in place, South Carolina is well positioned to succeed in the creation of new, competitive advanced energy companies, particularly in the areas of bio products, energy efficiency and building sciences, offshore wind and hydrogen fuel cells. Please click the following link to view the full report: http://www.scceba.biz/news?mode=PostView&bmi=973445

SCCEBA joins existing AEE chapters in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New England and Ohio:

• Advanced Energy Economy Ohio, a statewide effort that includes eight state economic development groups focused on advanced energy;
• Arkansas Advanced Energy Association (AAEA), which is dedicated to growing Arkansas's economy by expanding the state's workforce and manufacturing base through the increased development and deployment of advanced energy technologies;
• Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA), a statewide organization dedicated to promoting Colorado's cleantech industry;
• Clean Energy Trust, based in Illinois, which is focused on accelerating the development of Midwest clean energy businesses by connecting entrepreneurs, researchers and early stage companies with the expertise and capital needed to become sustainable;
• Energy Innovation Business Council (EIBC), based in Michigan, is a trade organization made up of Michigan companies and businesses that are at the forefront of the advanced energy sector;
• New England Clean Energy Council (NECEC), an organization of over 400 advanced energy companies, venture investors, major financial institutions, universities, industry associations, utilities, labor and large commercial energy users in the six New England states seeking to elevate the region's clean energy economy to global leadership.

About Advanced Energy Economy

AEE is a national organization representing the entire advanced energy industry. AEE's mission is to influence public policy, foster advanced energy innovation and business growth, and provide a unified voice for a strong U.S. industry that serves as the economic engine driving the global transition to a smarter energy future. Chapters and affiliates of AEE, and its sister organization, Advanced Energy Economy Institute (AEEI) work at the state level to help local advanced energy member businesses connect, collaborate, grow and advocate for a better business climate for advanced energy companies.  AEE has offices in San Francisco, CA; Boston, MA; and Washington, DC. For more information about AEE, please go to www.AEE.net.

About SCCEBA

The South Carolina Clean Energy Business Alliance (SCCEBA) was established in September 2011 and was initially sponsored by New Carolina - the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness. SCCEBA has been tasked with building a broad-based business alliance that fosters the development of a clean energy industry in South Carolina. The alliance will represent the needs and interests of this growing industry through policy development, educational outreach to decision makers, and strategic economic development. SCCEBA does not seek to supersede the amazing and diverse set of renewable energy and energy efficiency organizations already present in the state. We seek to enhance the efforts of each of these organizations by serving as an umbrella group and communicating about the key energy-related issues facing our state using a unified message. For more information, please visit www.scceba.biz. 

SOURCE Advanced Energy Economy (AEE)