Primary Source: Clean Edge’s 2015 U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index
METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS
While Clean Edge’s State Clean Energy Index evaluates industry performance as defined by political borders and state governments, the U.S. Metro Clean Tech Index represents a scope that focuses on more organic, free-forming regions of economic activity. In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or town would be, nor are they legal administrative divisions like counties or separate entities such as states. As such, the precise definition of any given metropolitan area can vary with the source. A typical metropolitan area is centered on a single large city that wields substantial influence over the region (e.g., Chicago or Atlanta). However, some metropolitan areas contain more than one large city with no single municipality holding a substantially dominant position (e.g., Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Norfolk-Virginia Beach (Hampton Roads), Riverside–San Bernardino or Minneapolis–Saint Paul).
Green Buildings
LEED CERTIFIED PROJECTS* This indicator measures the total number of LEED-certified projects in each metropolitan statistical area at the end of 2014, adjusted for metro area size by population, using data reported by the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) project registration database. This measure does not include LEED for Homes certified projects. In prior years, this indicator had included projects that had registered for LEED certification, but were not yet certified. In 2015, the projects that had not yet been certified were excluded from the analysis.
Size-Adjustment Metric: MSA Population
Indicator Calculation: (Total LEED-Certified Projects)/(MSA Population)
Source: U.S. Green Building Council
*LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. Find out more here: http://www.usgbc.org/leed
METRO INDICATOR DEFINITIONS
Clean Vehicles
ELECTRIC VEHICLES Using data from automotive intelligence firm IHS Automotive, this indicator measures the number of electric vehicles on the road in each metro area by registration as of January 1, 2015. The indicator is measured in per capita terms.
HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES Using data from automotive intelligence firm IHS Automotive, this indicator measures the number of hybrid electric vehicles on the road in each metro area by registration as of January 1, 2015. This does not include plug-in hybrid electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt, which are counted instead in the Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles indicator.
PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLES Using data from automotive intelligence firm IHS Automotive, this indicator measures the number of electric vehicles on the road in each state by registration as of January 1, 2015. The indicator is measured in per capita terms.
NOTE: Vehicle data is reported by Designated Market Area (DMA), which does not exactly align with the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) scope used for the Metro Clean Tech Index. Most significantly, this means combined data is used for Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana and Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario; combined data is also used for San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara.
Source: IHS Automotive
Clean Electricity
REGIONAL ELECTRICITY MIX This indicator uses state-level electricity data reported to the EIA as a proxy for the electricity fuel mix of each metropolitan statistical area. Net generation totals from wind, solar, geothermal and hydro are combined here and reported as a percentage of the MSA’s total net generation of electricity from all in-state sources for the 2014 calendar year. For MSAs that cross state boundaries, this indicator is calculated based on the percentage of each state’s residents that reside in the MSA. Due to the EIA reporting methodology, generation data does not include output by any installation of less than one-megawatt capacity.
NOTE: EIA includes large hydroelectric in their definition of clean energy. It is important to note that the Sierra Club opposes the development of any new large hydroelectric facility. This creates some discrepancies in what EIA includes as the clean portion of a regional electricity mix versus what Sierra Club would define as clean, renewable electricity sources. Learn more about the Sierra Clubs' energy policy here: www.sierraclub.org/policy/energy.
Size-Adjustment Metric: Total State Net Electricity Generation in Megawatt-Hours (MWh) from all Energy Sources
Indicator Calculation: (MWh from Renewable Sources)/(MWh from all Sources)
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
Public Transit Ridership
Association’s Public Transportation Ridership Report (Fourth Quarter 2014), this indicator tracks the ridership for transit agencies in each metropolitan statistical area by average weekday passenger trips during 2014. A small number of metro areas had no reportable data, yet given the significance of the lead held by the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island area for this indicator these omissions had a negligible impact on index scoring.
Size-Adjustment Metric: MSA Population
Indicator Calculation: (Average weekly trips)/(MSA Population)
Source: American Public Transportation Association