An Evolving Collaborative

The Northwest Energy Technology Collaborative was formed in 2002 to accelerate the emergence and growth of the energy technology industry across the northwest region of the U.S. and Canada – a region that is home to nearly 300 energy technology companies.

While the collaboration has significant accomplishments, the needs of the region and of the marketplace have evolved. Globalization, accelerated technology development and sustainability guide a change of direction – from growing an energy technology industry to being even smarter about applying energy technology. The Collaborative is currently reviewing approaches to this new direction. While that review is under way, we are pausing regular updates to this Web site.

NWETC Highlights from 2002-2008

The Northwest Energy Angels
NWETC fostered the development and operation of the Northwest Energy Angels™. The Northwest Energy Angels is a membership organization of successful entrepreneurs, retired executives, and other business leaders who provide investment capital, strategic advice and mentoring to early-stage companies or companies embarking on major expansion efforts to help them achieve market leadership. Originally formed through initiative of the Collaborative, it was formally established as an independent organization in fall 2007.  More information can be found at www.nwenergyangels.net

The Northwest as an Economic Force in the Global Market
The NWETC regional branding campaign promoted the Pacific Northwest as a world center for new energy technology innovation. The campaign highlighted the region’s overall volume and quality of players in R&D energy activity. In particular, the NWETC pavilion at the POWER-GEN Renewable Energy & Fuels Expo (now Renewable Energy World) attracted leads from Europe, Asia and North America.

Northwest Energy Technology Showcase (NETS)
Between 2004 and 2006, the Collaborative annually selected from the region up to 12 companies representing the best and brightest new energy technology products for the year. NETS winners have gone on to great success. For example, 2004 winner Relion, Inc and 2005 winner Prometheus Energy Company together took Pacific Northwest venture capital investing in energy to an 11-year high in the region. Being selected as a NETS winner became a barometer of future company success. Other NETS success stories include these cutting-edge technology companies: 3TIER, AquaEnergy Group (now Finavera Renewables), Carmanah Technologies Corporation, SyncWave Energy, MagnaForce and Verdiem Corporation.

Bio49 Biodiesel Project
Bio49, a cross-border biodiesel commercialization project with nine partners, was made possible by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. NWETC purchased refinery equipment from Biodiesel Works a Bellingham start-up and sited the equipment at Bellingham Technical College and Malaspina University (now Vancouver Island University). Students were trained to produce biofuel using waste oil provided by the Washington Restaurant Association.  Today the equipment continues to support the development of students toward refinery process careers.

History of Participation
The Collaborative was launched in 2002 by Washington Technology Center with the support of Avista Corporation, Bonneville Power Administration, Inland Northwest Technology Education Center, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Puget Sound Energy, Sirti and the State of Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. These founders were later joined by BC Hydro, Tacoma Power, Snohomish Public Utility District and Idaho National Laboratory.

Visit the news archive for additional information about the history of NWETC.