The current snapshot of New England’s economy relative to other areas is favorable. The region suffered less decline during the recent recession than the national average, and the region’s recovery has ...]]>

There is an exciting new opportunity for universities and colleges to advance the New England economy and at the same time help address environmental concerns.

The current snapshot of New England’s economy relative to other areas is favorable. The region suffered less decline during the recent recession than the national average, and the region’s recovery has been stronger than the national average. Neither of these were true for the previous three recessions. The problem is that having a relatively strong economy in these economic times is not very good. Unemployment rates in the region are still significantly higher than they were before the recession, and with the current rate of job growth, it would take over three years to recover the jobs lost in the Great Recession in the region.

After the recessions of the early 1980s and early 1990s, the region benefited from significant growth in growing technology industries. In the growth periods after the last two recessions, New England was one of the leading regions in the nation in the fast-growing, technology-based industries of those times. Coming out of this recession, the region has an opportunity to lead in a new technology-based industry: the so-called “clean tech” industry.

The term clean tech describes a group of emerging technologies that provide energy with minimum climate and environmental impact and use resources efficiently. Examples include wind power and solar energy and other new technologies in renewable energy generation and energy, materials and resource conservation.

In New England, the clean-tech economy is already evident and can be expanded. All the states in the region are relatively well-positioned in clean-tech industry development. The industry, however, is still very small compared with other sectors of the economy in New England, and it does not appear to be growing currently at a rate that would make it a very significant sector in terms of percentage of total employment anytime soon (e.g., over the next decade).

Five of the six New England states are among the top one-third of states in employment concentration in clean-tech using the frequently cited Pew Charitable Trust definition of clean tech. Maine leads the region and is second in the nation, behind only Oregon, in clean-tech employment concentration with 0.85% of total employment in clean tech. Massachusetts follows close behind, ranking third among the 50 states with 0.69% of total employment in clean tech, followed by Vermont with the 5th highest concentration (0.59%) in clean-tech employment in the nation. New Hampshire (12th) and Connecticut (16th) are also among the top third of states in clean-tech employment concentration. Rhode Island is the only state in the region with clean- tech employment concentration (0.42%) below the U.S. average overall of 0.49%. The regional average at 0.61% is 20% higher than the national average.

There are many initiatives across the region to try to build on the research oriented clean- technology base in the region to create jobs and enhance employment growth. This article reviews and updates information from a June 2010 New England Journal of Higher Education article on one novel effort, the Green Launching Pad (GLP) in New Hampshire, that has produced significant results in a short period of time and offers a model for other states to consider. It is university-created and based and suggestive of the role that colleges and universities can play in the next industrial revolution in the region.

To help further stimulate activity in clean-tech industries, in February 2010, University of New Hampshire (UNH) President Mark Huddleston and New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch announced the start-up of the GLP project. Green Launching Pad is a strategic partnership UNH and the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning, with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. The GLP is a business acceleration program to commercialize clean technology. Ventures funded under the program are subject to a double-bottom line criteria. They are required to produce economic and environmental benefits. Faculty and students from UNH and Dartmouth and professionals from New Hampshire’s leading businesses including law firms, major utilities, manufacturing, and investment firms have been involved with the GLP.

Since its inauguration in February 2010, the GLP has selected 11 ventures to participate in the program from over 120 proposals. Selection is on a competitive basis and done by an advisory council of judges from industry and the nonprofit sector. The selection criteria include: 1) the potential for ventures to increase energy efficiency, reduce energy use and lower carbon emissions; 2) their potential to contribute to economic development—job creation and growth opportunities; 3) technology capability; 4) market feasibility; and 5) experience and capabilities of the leadership team. Winning teams consist of entrepreneurs, faculty, and students. Winners receive funding up to $100,000 each and receive accelerated business development assistance, including mentorship and coaching from experts in scientific, technical, business and legal areas.

In the first round of funding in 2010 (GLP 1.0), five winners were selected. They included a mix of companies applying a range of different clean technologies. All are based in the New Hampshire. Green Clean Heat in Newton Junction designs and builds fully-integrated “turnkey” efficient wood-fired heating systems for commercial and municipal facilities. EnerTrac in Hudson has developed low-cost smart metering technology and a corresponding monitoring service for propane gas and other uses that can reduce CO2 emissions by 30% or more. Revolution Energy in Dover develops renewable energy projects using third-party financing and creative incentive leveraging. Innovacene in Durham manufactures high-performing organic semiconductors for flexible organic solar cells and organic light-emitting diodes for lighting and displays. Air Power Analytics in Bedford improves energy efficiency of industrial compressed air systems, reducing electric consumption, and saving money while reducing upstream greenhouse-gas emissions.

The five first-round GLP companies have increased employment and developed business and marketing plans. Four of the five companies have begun to sell new products or services. All the companies have used student interns from UNH and Dartmouth. And all the companies are well-positioned for future growth and will be adding employees this year.

In April 2011, the second round (2.0) GLP funding competition was completed. Overall, the applicant pool was stronger than in the first round. There were six winning teams selected, again all New Hampshire-based, and again representing a diverse mix of clean tech.

SustainX in Lebanon provides a new non-toxic technology for low-cost scalable energy storage. The company’s new technology enables efficient storage of renewables (e.g., wind and solar) and can potentially be a game-changer in the economics of renewables. The energy storage technology is modular and allows for siting anywhere, from low-scale to grid-scale storage. Blue2green in Ashland will promote hydroelectric power production by restoring dams to produce renewable energy and attracting investors to suitable dams and mill-restoration projects. The revitalization of hydroelectric power in small- to medium-sized former industrial mill towns can help produce renewable energy, create jobs and preserve community history.

Holase in Portsmouth has developed self-contained, solar-powered LED traffic signal lights that are low-cost and easy to set up and operate. New England Footwear in New Market has developed a sustainable solution to footwear manufacturing and a way to revive shoe manufacturing in the region through new technologies that use organic materials, molds (instead of stitch and sew) and modular design to allow for easy replacement and re-use. ThermaPAVER of Exeter invented an invisible low-cost solar collector and heat exchanger with a diversity of potential applications. Applications include winter time melting of snow and ice off of roofs and summer time cooling pool side pavements and heating pools. Walker Wellington of Portsmouth has developed a hydrokinetic turbine power generation system which will capture and produce off-grid renewable energy for on-site use. Primary users will be municipal waste water treatment facilities and drinking water delivery systems.

The 11 wining GLP teams have generated a lot of excitement across the UNH campus and in the state of New Hampshire. The GLP has been mentioned in the last two state of the state addresses by Gov. Lynch and also highlighted in UNH’s new strategic plan. What is striking is that the excitement and potential for green entrepreneurship (and ventures launched with the GLP) remains high even with all the energy and environmental policy uncertainty in Washington and with the NH state legislature.

Looking forward with the Green Launching Pad and with similar types of efforts that might be undertaken elsewhere in New England what are the lessons from the GLP? First and foremost is that entrepreneurs are well along on the next industrial revolution and that the public sector in general is lagging behind. Many of these entrepreneurs are interested in profit making and also environmental impact (they are both a priority). This provides a significant opportunity for colleges and universities to work with private industry to be in the lead on clean-tech industry development and environmental entrepreneurship.

It is clear that with broadening concern about sustainability comes market opportunities and there are large numbers of entrepreneurs across the region and some with very good ideas for clean-technology business creation. A competitive grant program can help to identify and focus efforts on the highest quality ideas with the greatest market potential and positive environmental impact. What many clean-tech entrepreneurs, particularly those that are academic-based, lack are business know-how and connections, such as connections to legal and marketing advise to help them to identify and then to tap into market opportunities.

Finally, marketing and market development are very important for launching successful clean-tech ventures. Marketing is essential in creating new markets and customers. New clean-tech ventures require assistance in identifying target customers and figuring out how to convince them to buy products or services that they did not know they needed. Marketing assistance is an area in which business students and faculty can help tremendously and benefit from. Clean-tech ventures provide a near perfect opportunity for business students to apply what they learn and in turn learn through their experience working with nascent ventures about clean-technology business enterprise. They can learn about entrepreneurship and how clean technology can be applied by business ventures for profit making and to achieve desired social ends.

A focus on the commercialization of clean technology and ideas and social entrepreneurship, not just on breakthrough research or the invention of new technologies, is a role that many colleges and universities can engage in. It is not limited to the region’s top-tier research institutions. Engaging in clean-tech industry development, with initiatives such as UNH’s Green Launching Pad, can provide an exciting opportunity for students, faculty and others on college campuses across the region to work with private industry to help strengthen the region’s economy and help to address environmental concerns and to learn a lot while doing it.

You can visit the Green Launching Pad at www.GreenLaunchingPad.org
____________________________________________________________________________
Ross Gittell is the James R. Carter Professor at the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics and A.R Venkatachalam is a professor in UNH's Decision Sciences Department, They are the co-directors of the Green Launching Pad.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced $3 million in grants to four New England organizations to run weatherization training centers.

The grants will provide job training to local workers in energy-efficiency retrofitting and weatherization services. Funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, South Middlesex Opportunity Council in Framingham, Mass., ...]]>

The U.S. Department of Energy announced $3 million in grants to four New England organizations to run weatherization training centers.

The grants will provide job training to local workers in energy-efficiency retrofitting and weatherization services. Funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, South Middlesex Opportunity Council in Framingham, Mass., The Workplace Inc. of Bridgeport, Conn. and the Maine State Housing Authority each received from $442,951 to $964,215 for their individual projects.

UMass Dartmouth will receive nearly $1 million for a project that aims to fill gaps in current training and help ensure that workforce training is spread equally throughout the state. The university also plans to develop web-based materials to keep weatherization work local.

For more information about individual projects, click here.

Weatherization is among some of green-collar opportunities NEBHE encouraged at its Higher Education Sustainability Summit 2010: A Climate Change on Campus held this past April. Click here for more information about the conference.

Economic vitality and environmental protection have long been linked in New England, and will be again with efforts to address climate change in the region. There is an emerging body of literature to support the potential economic benefits of a so-called “green economy” in the region and the nation. In New ...]]>

Economic vitality and environmental protection have long been linked in New England, and will be again with efforts to address climate change in the region. There is an emerging body of literature to support the potential economic benefits of a so-called “green economy” in the region and the nation. In New Hampshire, economic studies of both the Renewable Portfolio Standards and Regional Greenhouse Gas legislation (the effort to reduce CO₂ emissions from power plants in 10 Northeast and Middle Atlantic states to address climate change, using a “cap and trade,” in which total emissions from affected facilities are limited over time) suggest the programs could create jobs, reduce electricity costs and grow the economy in the state through decreased dependence on greenhouse-gas emitting energy imported into the region and investment in fuel diversity and energy efficiency.

In reaction to the environmental challenges and economic opportunities in addressing climate change, the Green Launching Pad (GLP) program was started in February 2010 at the University of New Hampshire. The impetus for the GLP was the belief that there was no reason why UNH together with New Hampshire’s entrepreneurs and inventors could not take the lead in efforts to address environmental concerns in an economically beneficial way. Well before Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, faculty and student researchers at UNH, Dartmouth and other colleges and universities in New Hampshire were leaders in identifying new ways to use energy more efficiently, discovering new ways to make old engines work better, inventing new engines and creating greener fuels. The GLP is an effort to tap this expertise to benefit the state’s environment and economy.

Strong economic and green foundations are present in the Granite State (and across New England). New Hampshire’s researchers and citizens can draw on the state’s tradition of conservation and innovative practices in the frugal use of resources as well as the state’s high technology concentration and entrepreneurial spirit. The growth of the green economy, and particularly the growth in well-paying clean energy technology jobs, can benefit from the state’s pool of technology workers. Average annual earnings in green industries in New Hampshire are almost 25% above the average annual wage in the state. The state has well above the national average concentration of green jobs and is advantageously positioned for future growth in clean-energy technology, which is the highest-paying sector in the green economy.

To capitalize on research and innovation base and entrepreneurial spirit in the state, the GLP is organized as a competitive program. Applicants from universities and industry and the state’s entrepreneurial base are encouraged to participate. To qualify, teams must specifically demonstrate their potential to commercialize new products and services that improve energy efficiency, enhance energy conservation or provide renewable energy, and lead to energy savings, emissions reductions and business and employment growth. The selected teams receive financial, technical and management support and are committed to launching a new business venture in an accelerated manner.

The GLP is an entrepreneurial venture in and of itself. It is a new kind of university and state government partnership that is strategically focused, market-based and links environmental conservation and economic development. And it brings together UNH, Dartmouth and other colleges and partners higher education with the business and entrepreneurship community in the state.

The GLP is off to a good start. It has benefited from the Obama administration’s focus on energy efficiency and the federal stimulus program’s priority on job creation. The GLP received stimulus funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) through the U.S. Department of Energy and the state of New Hampshire and was launched in February. As soon as funding was secured, the GLP aggressively sought applicants. By the middle of March, the initiative had attracted more than 70 proposals. The proposals came from diverse groups that included UNH and Dartmouth faculty, research scientists, alumni and students and also non-university-affiliated businesses and entrepreneurs. By late March, 10 applicants were invited to submit full proposals and to present their plans for use of GLP support and funds by the end of April. From these 10, at least three prospective ventures will be selected, and each could receive up to $90,000 to accelerate the development of innovation-based green businesses in New Hampshire. The selection criteria used, consistent with ARRA program and U.S. Department of Energy priorities, will be the potential contributions to reducing carbon emissions, enhancing energy efficiency and job creation.

In addition to the high number of proposals submitted, more than 50 UNH and Dartmouth engineering, science and business students have indicated an interest in being involved in the launching of new ventures and a 16-member advisory board that includes senior executives from some of New Hampshire’s leading businesses and law firms and from UNH and Dartmouth has been appointed by Gov. John Lynch.

Judging from the initial response, the Green Launching Pad will help maximize the economic benefits in New Hampshire from emerging interest and efforts to reduce energy use and the dependence on high carbon content and imported energy sources. The GLP’s focus and timing is right for New Hampshire. People in New Hampshire are concerned about the economy and the poor prospects for strong recovery from the recession. They also care deeply about the environment. These two concerns are increasingly tied together in the Granite State and will be even more intertwined in the future. As we start to come out of the current economic hard times, New Hampshire has an opportunity to ensure a strong economic and environmental future for its citizens with the help of the Green Launching Pad.

__________________________________________________________________

Ross Gittell is the James R. Carter Professor at the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics and a co-founder of the Green Launching Pad.

Accessibility, affordability and accountability characterize the work of President Barack Obama who, since taking office, has worked with Congress to influence policy that affects both K-12 and higher education.  Stimulus funds in the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act provided nearly $50 billion to states to help offset state budget cuts and to spur ...]]>

Accessibility, affordability and accountability characterize the work of President Barack Obama who, since taking office, has worked with Congress to influence policy that affects both K-12 and higher education.  Stimulus funds in the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act provided nearly $50 billion to states to help offset state budget cuts and to spur initial reform efforts. Subsequent to this action, the president signed into law the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act that makes postsecondary education more accessible and affordable through unprecedented federal investment. There are two main elements to this major legislation:  a full transition to the Direct Loan program and a significant increase in the Pell Grant program.

Beginning July 1, 2010, all student loans will be originated by the U.S. Department of Education.  Under the current system, both private banks and the federal government offer loans to students at an interest rate considerably lower than the market would bear.  In order to participate in this program, banks are provided a subsidy based on the volume of loans they issue.  In addition, the federal government guarantees nearly the entire amount of the loan should a student enter default.  With the Department of Education becoming the sole lender, it is calculated the federal government will save tens of billions of dollars.

This change in policy may affect many of the quality programs and services provided by nonprofit New England lenders.  For example, the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) is well-known for providing a variety of services to Vermont’s secondary and postsecondary students. To address concerns about the effect of this policy change on the positive benefits provided by nonprofit state entities like VSAC, the legislation will allow the corporation to service up to 100,000 loans through contracting with the federal government.  The legislation also includes funding that will enable states to continue support for the college-planning services these nonprofits provide to high-school students.

The savings generated from the transition to the Direct Lending program will be devoted to providing a consistent and reliable increase to the Pell Grant program.  Specifically, the funds will be used to maintain a maximum Pell Grant award of $5,550 for academic years 2011-12 and 2012-13. Beginning in academic year 2013-14, the Pell Grant maximum award will increase by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and continue to increase by the CPI measure each year until the academic year 2017-18.  The award will then be locked in at the 2017-18 level (projected to be approximately $5,975) indefinitely.

The Obama administration had hoped to initiate additional higher education and student aid programs that would support the president’s goal of reestablishing the U.S. as having the highest proportion of individuals with a postsecondary credential by 2020.  While there was not enough money to fund additional programs, many states and the higher education community are addressing the challenges of college completion.

Across the country, colleges, universities and systems are announcing new initiatives focused on increasing the number of graduates.  For example, the University of Maine System issued a draft document in September 2009 outlining its systemwide strategic commitment to enroll and graduate more students.  Based on this initial report, the system will align itself with state initiatives, build strategic partnerships focused on those initiatives, and enhance the use of technology to deliver improved, widespread services to increase the number of college graduates. [See related article by UMaine System Chancellor Richard Pattenaude.]

In addressing degree completion, minority attainment deserves attention. An examination of Connecticut provides insight into the national trend.  Connecticut has experienced increased minority enrollment growth and a 1.3% increase in degree attainment. But this figure accounts for less than the growth across all graduates.  The slower growth can be partially attributed to a decline in African-American graduates. [See Connecticut Public Higher Education 2009 System Trends, State of Connecticut, Department of Higher Education.]

The overall goal of increasing the number of graduates is a concern in other New England states. Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, along with Connecticut, have joined the Complete College America alliance, a new partnership aimed at assisting states in their efforts to increase college completion.

Finally, significant attention will be devoted this year to the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), commonly referred to as No Child Left Behind.  There is great opportunity for higher education as this debate unfolds.  Colleges and universities should pursue local- and state-level partnerships with the K-12 community in order to improve achievement and success throughout the education pipeline.  States may adopt new core academic standards to prepare college- and career-ready students.  Higher education institutions can play a significant role in this area, as states adopt these academic standards and develop K-12 student assessments aligned with these standards. Colleges and universities have an opportunity to work at the local level because school districts will need assistance in developing curricula that move students toward achievement.  But perhaps most importantly, postsecondary institutions will need to update their teacher-preparation programs to support students who must meet these new standards.

The Obama administration will remain focused on accountability at all levels.  States have received significant funding through the Recovery Act and Race to the Top Fund to design and utilize state longitudinal data systems.  This data will be used to highlight effective methods and programs, but also to assess areas that need improvement.  Teacher- preparation programs will be evaluated on the effectiveness of their graduates in the classroom through monitoring K-12 student progress.  An evaluation of workforce placement and success will also expose the strengths and weaknesses of postsecondary education programs. The data will also expose the strengths and weaknesses of postsecondary education programs in workforce placement and success.

The higher education community should look for new and robust ways to embrace these reform efforts to ensure the achievement of positive and effective outcomes.  Whether it is improving retention and completion rates, revamping and improving teacher-preparation programs or encouraging increased accountability, federal education reform efforts will continue to have a significant affect on higher education.

________________________________________________________________________________

Muriel A. Howard is president of AASCU: The Leadership Association of 430 Public Colleges and Universities Delivering America's Promise.