When Lindsey Gilpin recently posted her article, “10 Reasons Why Cleantech Made a Comeback in 2014,” on Tech Republic, it was tough for us not to say, “I told you so!” Through the ups and (more recent deep dives) downs, Fremont has steadfastly pursued a robust strategy around attracting and supporting clean technology companies, citing that these industries collectively make up our highest prospect for growth. And sure enough, several of the reasons Gilpin lists in her piece are on full display here. We think it is worth reflecting on the topics where Fremont was in the headlines during 2014.

Falling Prices in Solar Market

Despite its tumultuous path, solar has maintained a strong presence in Fremont and continues to grow. From panel manufacturing to balance of system/installers to certification and testing, Fremont’s thriving solar sector reinforces Gilpin’s claim that falling prices and near grid parity have led this market to turn a critical corner. Two Fremont-based solar companies were in the headlines in 2014 for high-profile mergers.

SunPower Acquires Solar Power Electronics Startup Dfly Systems

What The SolarCity Silevo Acquisition Could Mean

Next-Gen Batteries

We think it’s safe to say that 2014 was the Year of the Battery. In April, the California Clean Energy Fund launched CalCharge, creating a multi-pronged network of resources for the California energy storage cluster.

As home to several companies in this cluster, Fremont was proud to partner with the Cleantech Open and CalCharge to host “2014: The Year of the Battery: Taking Batteries from Bottleneck to Breakthrough,” which brought together 150 battery technologists, entrepreneurs, and VCs to discuss the industry and how Fremont offers a local manufacturing solution for this technology.

Elon Musk (a.k.a. Tesla)

Let’s face it — what’s big for Tesla is big for Fremont. Not many other cities can boast a cleantech company as its largest employer. Tesla is a poster child for cleantech and advanced manufacturing, and its rapid success has put Fremont on the map. More importantly, Tesla’s growth has led to a vast cluster of EV Technology and manufacturing supply chain solutions within Fremont. While there isn’t enough room to list all the headlines and milestones Tesla achieved this year, we recently issued our own reaction to Tesla’s plans for the Battery Giga Factory in Nevada.

Our Take on Tesla’s Giga Factory Decision

Smart Thermostats (a.k.a. Sensor Technology)

Gilpin’s observation about the significance of the NEST/Google deal was not lost on us either. That transaction represented huge market potential for the broader Internet of Things (IOT) movement. The investment community also spoke out in Fremont with some notable funding rounds focused on sensor/communication technologies.

Tactus Technology Raises $13.5 Million in Series B Funding

Quantenna Aims to Supercharge Home Networking

Quantenna Communications Closes $22M New Round

What will 2015 holdfor Cleantech and Fremont’s other prominent clusters? Stay tuned for our 2015 preview featuring projections from some of our favorite industry experts.