Why startups are ditching Silicon Valley for San Francisco

A Mountain View-based startup called Talkdesk just grabbed a chunk of space in San Francisco’s newest tower last week.

During a call to chief operating officer Gadi Shamia I congratulated him on signing the lease. That made him laugh.

“Congratulations? Congratulations on spending a ton of money, I suppose,” said Shamia, whose company builds call-center software users can access through a web browser.

Yes, even a small 13,000 square feet in the 535 Mission St.– or any new or well-located…

Behind the List: Solar systems mean big business for some electrical contractors

Solar energy is heating up. Just last month we reported that the Sacramento Kings will install photovoltaic panels on its new downtown arena, practice facility, hotel tower and parking garages. The Sacramento International Airport has plans to build a giant solar array and SolarCity plans to hire 300 employees in Roseville primarily in sales and marketing.

All that work means business is thriving for contractors that install solar systems, including companies that do it exclusively and electrical…

​Gallup finds broad support for increased use of solar power

Yet another national poll shows overwhelming support across partisan lines for increased use of solar power.

The Gallup Environmental Poll reports that 79 percent of respondents think there should be more emphasis on using solar power in the United States. Only 9 percent thought there should be less emphasis.

And lik recent polls in North Carolina and in the nation, Gallup finds that support across party lines, although the support is lowest among Republicans.

But even there, 70 percent of GOP…

Duke Energy to pay Virginia $2.5 million for Dan River coal-ash spill

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) and Virginia regulators have agreed to a $2.5 settlement for the state’s claims against the power company for the massive coal-ash spill on the Dan River last year.

The settlement is part of a proposed consent order with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. It is one of the largest ever proposed by the agency.

Under the terms, Duke must fund $2.25 million of environmental projects to benefit Virginia communities affected by the spill. The remaining $250,000 will…

More on the cover story: Weld County rode Colorado's oil boom, but what about the bust?

Don Warden, finance director for Weld County, chuckles at the old oilman’s prayer, a phrase so dusty that it’s a cliche — but an instructive one.

“Please God, give me one more boom, I promise not to screw this one up.”

The oil and gas industry has seen it’s share of booms and busts, and Warden, who has worked in Weld County for 37 years, figures he’s on his third — maybe his fourth — cycle.

So when the county became ground zero for Colorado’s latest oil boom during the last…