Elise Zoli holding the Waxman Markey Bill she helped to write
By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues
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I caught up with Elise Zoli at FountainBlue’s Forum on Clean Green Transportation this month. Elise is a Boston based partner with law firm, Goodwin Procter, but is a frequently in Silicon Valley to serve her local clients. She specializes in energy, climate change and clean tech law.
We discussed:
Government – Its role as the Grinch and Santa Claus
“The Grinch side is limiting traditional industry and allowing new sectors, new technologies to emerge…with emissions standards, fuel tax…The Santa Claus side – direct funding – grants, loans, loan guarantees, tax subsidies…make a more favorable environment for emerging companies.”
On getting a slice of the stimulus package $16.8 Billion allocated to clean tech
“It’s a bit like the Nobel Prize where you get it once you’re already successful… Some of the companies that actually are going to receive stimulus funds are companies that probably would have succeeded of themselves…those that can make a difference tomorrow in the economy.”
On her contribution to the Waxman Markey Climate Change Bill
Creating regional innovations hubs: public-private partnerships for innovation, modeled after the MIT’s Dashponde Center
This is part one of my interview with Elise Zoli. Check back soon for Part Two when Elise describes two hot areas to watch in clean tech and why she wants to redefine the term energy storage, because it’s “not sexy.” Her new expression? Dispatchable renewable power.
The interview was recorded at the the FountainBlue Forum, Silicon Valley Bank, Santa Clara on July 6, 2009.
