  Biography | Mr. Jacques Chirazi, is the program manager of the City of San Diego’s Cleantech Initiative. He specialize mainly in clean technology, but is also involved in other projects in robotics, cyber space and startups. As a part of City of San Diego, Economic Development Department, Mr. Chirazi tends to be involved in anything new, innovative and exciting that can help the city. Mr. Chirazi is responsible for promoting, fostering and coordinating strategic alliance and collaboration among local, regional, state and federal institutions to develop and execute a clean technology business attraction strategy. His focus is on creating economic growth and environmental sustainability by developing a clean technology cluster in San Diego |
Mr. Chirazi is involved in a number of projects and has managed electric car share programs in the City of San Diego, such as the City’s car share program and is also responsible for building infrastructure for electric vehicle throughout the city, such as charging stations. A couple weeks ago we had the chance to sit down with him to talk about clean technology, the city of San Diego and Green Connections. This is the first out of two parts interview with Mr. Chirazi.
The City of San Diego's Cleantech Initative started in 2007, what have been accomplished in the city and the region since then?
Since the program was launched the city has seen great results. The interest for clean technology has grown around different entities in and around the city and many want to collaborate in cleantech projects. The cleantech industry itself has grown, from a few hundred companies to close to 500. Thanks to this growth, the city has been successful in getting on with projects, such as the Solar-to-EV (Electric Vehicle) project in Balboa Park. It was a one-of-a-kind project, the only one in the US, where we created a solar EV structure in the parking lot outside the zoo that would store solar energy and where electric vehicles could been charged. A very successful project that has been replicated since then.
My colleague Cody Hooven, Sustainability Manager is working on a climate action plan where she is looking at how the city could reduce its green house gas emissions, transportation, waste, etc. The target is extensive and the plan is currently being reviewed. This climate action plan will allow more opportunities for investment in solar, waste reduction technology, etc., - something all cleantech companies will benefit from.
The City of San Diego's Cleantech Initative started in 2007, what have been accomplished in the city and the region since then?
Since the program was launched the city has seen great results. The interest for clean technology has grown around different entities in and around the city and many want to collaborate in cleantech projects. The cleantech industry itself has grown, from a few hundred companies to close to 500. Thanks to this growth, the city has been successful in getting on with projects, such as the Solar-to-EV (Electric Vehicle) project in Balboa Park. It was a one-of-a-kind project, the only one in the US, where we created a solar EV structure in the parking lot outside the zoo that would store solar energy and where electric vehicles could been charged. A very successful project that has been replicated since then.
My colleague Cody Hooven, Sustainability Manager is working on a climate action plan where she is looking at how the city could reduce its green house gas emissions, transportation, waste, etc. The target is extensive and the plan is currently being reviewed. This climate action plan will allow more opportunities for investment in solar, waste reduction technology, etc., - something all cleantech companies will benefit from.
"If we could reduce the operation costs we currently have, by making savings in water and power and thus potentially reducing waste, then we really are able to funnel the money back to City services and programs"
What is the long-term goal with this initiative?
The long-term goal is to continue embracing this emerging cleantech sector to grow. San Diego is known for being an innovation economy with sectors such as robotics and cyberspace, and we want to support the cleantech sectors growth and help it attract more investment and companies coming to the San Diego region.
San Diego is a smart city and we want to embrace technology that will help make the city more efficient and sustainable. For example, we want to make it easier for companies to come up with ideas and solutions to make the city smarter. With access to City open data, companies could potentially come up with software solutions and, or, apps that could help the improve services for the city. For instance, we have not had a lot of rain because there has been a four-year drought. However, next year we are most likely to have a pretty strong El Niño and expect significant precipitation and/or storm surge, which could lead to potential wastewater spills. Having a system that could detect the water spills early on would be valuable to the city.
In what ways is San Diego a smart city today, according to you?
The City of San Diego is doing a ton of innovative things that people are not aware of. There are many developments when it comes to solar energy, how we use wastewater and generate power. For example, the City of San Diego is doing big things when it comes to water management. We have the Pure Water San Diego Program that is about recycling our own water here in Southern California rather than importing water from Northern U.S. Another good example is also how the port and the airport are really progressive and how they are going to the next step to improve the infrastructure.
If we could reduce the operation costs we currently have, by making savings in water and power and thus potentially reducing waste, then we really are able to funnel the money back to City services and programs.
To read part 2 click here.
The long-term goal is to continue embracing this emerging cleantech sector to grow. San Diego is known for being an innovation economy with sectors such as robotics and cyberspace, and we want to support the cleantech sectors growth and help it attract more investment and companies coming to the San Diego region.
San Diego is a smart city and we want to embrace technology that will help make the city more efficient and sustainable. For example, we want to make it easier for companies to come up with ideas and solutions to make the city smarter. With access to City open data, companies could potentially come up with software solutions and, or, apps that could help the improve services for the city. For instance, we have not had a lot of rain because there has been a four-year drought. However, next year we are most likely to have a pretty strong El Niño and expect significant precipitation and/or storm surge, which could lead to potential wastewater spills. Having a system that could detect the water spills early on would be valuable to the city.
In what ways is San Diego a smart city today, according to you?
The City of San Diego is doing a ton of innovative things that people are not aware of. There are many developments when it comes to solar energy, how we use wastewater and generate power. For example, the City of San Diego is doing big things when it comes to water management. We have the Pure Water San Diego Program that is about recycling our own water here in Southern California rather than importing water from Northern U.S. Another good example is also how the port and the airport are really progressive and how they are going to the next step to improve the infrastructure.
If we could reduce the operation costs we currently have, by making savings in water and power and thus potentially reducing waste, then we really are able to funnel the money back to City services and programs.
To read part 2 click here.
