In 2008, COECON was commissioned by Next 10, a California-based nonprofit, to develop a systematic approach for identifying companies, and the jobs associated with them, that are providing the means for reducing pollution, harnessing clean energy sources and minimizing environmental impacts - the Core Green Economy.

The resulting annual report, Many Shades of Green (MSOG), uncovered new economic growth taking place across the state in the form of business and job generation.