Can you name the college whose President was the first to sign the Presidents Climate Change commitment? The commitment includes this language: “We recognize the scientific consensus that global warming is real and is largely being caused by humans. We further recognize the need to reduce the global emission of greenhouse gases by 80% by mid-century…” At the time, this “John Hancock” signatory action was an act of leadership courage.

How about the location of the utility with one of the most aggressive feed-in solar power tariffs in the world that buys electricity from their residential and commercial customers’ roof top solar power systems?

Before providing the answers let be me explain why I am asking such questions. Many in my national business network, outside of my Left Coast friends, often view “going green” as a “Berkeley-thing,” meaning not “mainstream.” (Berkeley is home to the University of California, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , and Energy Secretary Chu.) Wrong. Evidence is growing that “going green” is a community-centric economic mega trend that is creating revenue growth for businesses and meaningful local economic development.

So far this week I have reviewed the market research supporting the concept of the Awareness Customer with a $10 trillion annual powering power. Then my last two articles profiled actual small entrepreneurs connecting with these Awareness Customers to achieve year over year annual revenue growth even in this “soft recovery” economy. This article is the first of a two-part series profiling two “mainstream” communities that are restoring jobs, their economy and the environment through their embrace of sustainability.

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