Catapult Systems and Angelou Economics Partner to Poll U.S. Clean Energy Businesses

Findings to Help Position Central Texas as Hub for High-Growth Industry

 
AUSTIN, Texas – December 16, 2002 – Catapult Systems Corp., a provider of Inquisite web-based survey technology and services, has joined ranks with the Austin Clean Energy (ACE) Initiative to help make Central Texas an economic center for the nation's clean energy industry. Using Inquisite's automated survey software, the ACE Initiative surveyed clean-energy-related enterprises across the United States this fall for a report on the state of this growing industry.

Findings of the survey were released in mid-November by the ACE Initiative, a group of entrepreneurs, investors and business owners, and the University of Texas' IC2 Institute, a think tank that fosters technology-based, regional economic development and job creation in the Austin area. Entitled "Enriching Economy and Environment: Making Central Texas the Center for Clean Energy," the report will be used to help position the area as a hub for enterprises developing technologies that exploit wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable resources, said Chris Engle, senior analyst with Angelou Economics, an economic development consulting firm specializing in technology companies.

Angelou Economics, an ACE Initiative partner organization and an underwriter for the report, developed the survey's questions, while Inquisite built and hosted it. Engle, who had used the Inquisite survey solution for previous research projects, said he was delighted when Sam Goodner, Catapult 's co-founder and chief executive officer, offered his company's services at no charge to construct the survey and provide technical support throughout the seven-week data collection process.

"The Inquisite solution is well-known for its ability to develop great-looking web-based surveys that are easy to use and administer, and provide rapid turn-around of data," Engle said. "Using Inquisite, we were able to deliver the survey's findings in less than a week."

"Catapult Systems has been a proud member of the Austin high-tech community since we opened our doors in 1993," said Goodner. "We will continue to support the ACE Initiative and other area organizations committed to bringing environmentally responsible companies to the area."

According to the report, the Central Texas region is already home to 80 of the state's 335 clean energy enterprises. Those businesses generate more than $250 million in annual revenues and employ some 2,600 people. The current worldwide clean energy industry is estimated at $142 billion a year and is expected to grow to $450 billion by 2020.