Daily Business Report: Friday, June 2, 2023
San Diego’s Sanford Burnham Prebys leads
in solar rooftops with $2.5 million investment
By Miles Martin
San Diego is a mecca for rooftop solar, with some of the highest installation rates in the nation. The county boasts the most rooftop solar in California under the state’s net-energy metering program. The region currently has 1,739 megawatts of such capacity, compared to just 1,096 megawatts in Los Angeles County.
And yet, many apartment buildings, warehouses and parking lots across the sun-soaked region lack photo-voltaic panels, and government programs that encourage solar in the city appear to be facing significant headwinds, most notably with the recent overhaul of how homeowners are compensated for rooftop installations.
Despite these limitations, Sanford Burnham Prebys has taken major steps toward converting to solar energy, making a significant investment in new solar energy infrastructure. Shiny, black solar panels blanket the campus, including the two-story parking structure, complete with electric vehicle charging stations.
These improvements are the latest in a series of sustainability projects spearheaded by Sanford Burnham Prebys over the last two decades.
However, sustainability does not come cheap. In total, the new solar energy infrastructure, which included 1,690 solar panels, 50 car charging stations and batteries to store the generated electricity, cost the Institute about $2.5 million.
Though steep, the cost has been an “amazing investment,” says John Reed, director of facilities at the Institute. “It’s a very quick payback.”
Photo: Campus of Sanford Burnham Prebys. (Photo credit: Sanford Burnham Prebys)
Construction starts on $650 million life
science center in Sorrento Mesa
Nearly 18 months after spending more than a half-billion dollars to buy a substantial plot of land fronting Mira Mesa Boulevard, real estate developers Sterling Bay and Harrison Street have started construction on what is slated to become a massive life science campus in the heart of Sorrento Mesa.
The initial, $650-million phase of the project, known as Pacific Center, was designed by Gensler and includes 500,000 square feet of research space split between two lab buildings that face a central plaza. The all-electric buildings are complemented by a 28,000-square-foot mass timber amenity building with a fitness center and food hall, as well as a parking garage with 1,700 spaces.
Gloria Allred is keynote speaker for
Lawyers Club of San Diego annual dinner
Women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred will be the keynote speaker at the Lawyers Club of San Diego annual dinner on June 22 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.
Allred, a tireless advocate for women’s rights and a pioneer in the field of civil rights law, has been fighting for justice and equality for 47 years.
Her unwavering commitment to representing victims of discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual assault has earned her widespread recognition and admiration.
A no- host reception begins at 5 p.m., and the dinner program begins at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $255 per person for the general public, $180 for members, and $130 for student members.
County Human Relations Commission
elects Ellen Nash chair, and vice chairs
The Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission, created by county supervisors to help reduce discrimination and intolerance, elected Ellen Nash as chair and Estela De Los Rios and Eleanor Evans as vice chairs in the commission’s May meeting.
Nash formerly worked as manager of human resources for both San Diego State University and UC San Diego’s Health System.
She also has extensive volunteer work with the Urban League and the NAACP and is chair of the San Diego chapter of the Black American Political Association of California.
De Los Rios also serves as executive director of CSA San Diego County. Evans is a board member of the Oceanside Unified School School District, a longtime educator and former executive officer of the County of San Diego Urban League.
Community Resource Center awarded grant to assist
Solana Highlands residents with relocation assistance
Community Resource Center (CRC), widely recognized as the primary provider of social services, including rental and housing assistance, in coastal North County, was awarded $25,000 from the Solana Beach Fund at Coastal Community Foundation. This grant will provide critical relocation support to the residents of the Solana Highlands Apartments, in the La Colonia area of Solana Beach, who are required to vacate their homes due to an imminent redevelopment project.
Illumina presents data on genomic profiling
Illumina Inc., a global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, announced some of the latest data on the impact of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) for oncology patients, which will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Annual Meeting June 2–6 in Chicago. In addition to the real-world study data, Illumina, along with study collaborators, will also present on findings that expose gaps in current standard-of-care and unmet needs for cancer patients.
New members appointed to San Diego
Commission on Police Practices
San Diego City Council members voted to appoint the new commissioners to the Commission on Police Practices. Commissioners are Darlanee Mulmat in District 1, Alec Beyer in District 2, Brandon Hilpert in District 3, Dwayne Harvey in District 4, Octavio Aguilar in District 5, Cheryl Ann Geyerman in District 6, Dennis Brown in District 7, James Justus in District 8 and Ramon Montaño Marquez in District 9.
Pet adoption event in Pacific Beach
SAN DIEGO —ABC Veterinary Hospital Pacific Beach at 2032 Hornblend St. is holding its first adoption event on June 10 from 1-4 p.m. The hospital has been a long standing community member of PB for over 30 years. The adoption event will include a taco food truck, games, prizes and puppies and kittens. They are working with Kanes K9 Animal Rescue and Del Mar Dog Rescue to try and get these furbabies adopted.
City cautions visitors about algae
bloom at Lower Otay Reservoir
SAN DIEGO – Due to an algae bloom, the City of San Diego has posted caution signs at its Lower Otay Reservoir alerting the public to avoid water contact. Visitors to the reservoir are advised not to expose their skin to the water while the cautionary alert is in effect. Testing of the algae bloom revealed the presence of Cyanobacteria, also called “blue-green algae” at Lower Otay Reservoir. City biologists determined that the Cyanobacteria algae bloom is producing Microcystin toxin, which can be harmful to humans and animals if their skin is exposed to the water or they ingest untreated water.
Brian Daugherty named executive
VP of San Diego Humane Society
SAN DIEGO — San Diego Humane Society has named Brian Daugherty as its new executive vice president. Daugherty was promoted after serving for seven years as senior vice president and chief philanthropy and communications officer at SDHS. In his new role, Daugherty will add oversight of operations, to help with the vision, direction and evaluation of all departments.
Dean Asaro joins Kidder Mathews’ San Diego office
SAN DIEGO — Dean Asaro has joined Kidder Mathews’ San Diego office as senior vice president. Asaro has over 30 years of experience specializing in selling and leasing warehouse, manufacturing, office, and life science properties in the San Diego area. He has been involved in over 3,500 transactions, totaling over $1.5 billion.
Impact Design Conference June 16
SAN DIEGO — A collection of international innovators, designers, and doers will speak in San Diego on Friday, June 16, to inspire ideas and fuel the imagination of our region’s binational design community. The 26th annual Impact Design Conference is one-day only and brings together global media and entertainment brand experts sharing how to harness the power of design, discover the power of creative activism, and see how architecture and visual identity branding experts are pushing boundaries. Registration here.
Debut raises $34 million in Series B funding
SAN DIEGO — Debut, a vertically integrated synthetic biology company that is spearheading the creation of innovative and novel high-performing active ingredients in beauty, has raised $34 million Series B in a funding round led by BOLD, the venture capital fund of L’Oréal, the world leader in beauty. Additional participating investors include Fine Structure Ventures, Material Impact, GS Futures, Cavallo Ventures, Cultivian Sandbox Ventures, ACVC Partners, and others.
Blanchard announces release
of Propel by Blanchard
SAN DIEGO — Blanchard, a global pioneer in leadership development, consulting, and coaching for more than 40 years, announced the official release of Propel by Blanchard. As Blanchard’s leadership capability academy, Propel brings proven, research-based, and life-changing leadership development to everyone, for an annual membership fee of $1,295, which makes it accessible to individuals, teams and organizations of all sizes. With a Propel membership, leaders and organizations build vital and indispensable leadership skills at scale.
PriceSmart opens third warehouse club in El Salvador
SAN DIEGO — PriceSmart Inc. has opened its newest warehouse club in San Miguel, El Salvador, bringing the total number of warehouse clubs in operation by the company to 51. The San Miguel club is the third club in El Salvador and was constructed on a five-acre property in the Hacienda San Andrés area, approximately 100 miles east of the capital city San Salvador. PriceSmart, headquartered in San Diego, owns and operates U.S.-style membership shopping warehouse clubs in Latin America and the Caribbean
Abolita Bio changes name to Abolita Therapeutics
SAN DIEGO — Abilita Bio, a leader in enabling the discovery of membrane protein-targeted therapeutics, has changed its name to Abilita Therapeutics. The name change reflects the company’s new focus on both discovery and early preclinical development. , Abilita Therapeutics also announced the appointment of Joel Edwards as chief business officer. He will serve as a member of Abilita Therapeutics’ executive leadership team and report to Mauro Mileni, Abilita Therapeutics’ chief executive officer.
