History

The Washington Clean Technology Alliance was founded in 2007 through a collaborative effort of business and economic development interests in the Greater Seattle/Puget Sound region. It was developed in response to a growing need in the region for an advocacy organization specifically for the emerging set of industries known collectively as clean tech, green tech or environmental technologies.

In November 2004, the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) – the region’s transportation, growth management and economic development planning agency - launched the Prosperity Partnership, a broadbased coalition of business, government, academic, labor and nonprofit organizations in the central Puget Sound region dedicated to the development and implementation of a regional economic strategy.

The Partnership’s 2005 Regional Economic Strategy takes a two-pronged approach: 1. Rebuilding the region’s economic foundations to meet the demands of the changing marketplace, and 2) Identifying the unique needs of individual clusters and collaborating regionally to meet those needs.

The Prosperity Partnership identified clean technology as one cluster with a strong and growing base of employment both around Puget Sound and across Washington state. The cluster strategy development effort and discussions around the region revealed the need for a dedicated trade association to support this emerging clean tech cluster.

In 2006, the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED), enterpriseSeattle and PSRC co-sponsored a series of workshops and activities to build the foundations of the organization. A Steering Committee was formed and a few committed leaders in clean tech stepped forward to become the Charter members of the Washington Clean Technology Alliance.

On March 29, 2007, the Washington Clean Technology Alliance was launched with a celebratory kick-off reception. The event attracted approximately 130 clean tech leaders from around the region and the state. McKinstry hosted the affair at its headquarters in south Seattle. Attendees heard from Charter members, including McKinstry, Mithun, and Battelle/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. They also heard City of Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, PSRC Executive Director Bob Drewel and WCTA Executive Director Graham Evans speak about the opportunities and potential of clean tech in Washington.