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 As you’ll read in this issue, another milestone was recently reached when 25% of the towns in the state of Connecticut committed to the SmartPower 20% by 2010SM Campaign. This represents a true validation of the success of the SmartPower marketing campaign.
Mind you, it’s not the number of towns that is impressive. The truly impressive number is the amount of clean energy demand that these towns represent. With over 40 towns currently committed to the campaign, 100,000 Megawatt hours of clean energy will be demanded as a result of SmartPower’s efforts. With demand for clean energy at an all time high here in Connecticut we can honestly say that the SmartPower model, like clean energy itself, is real. it’s here, and it’s working. And as more towns continue to join the campaign, it seems obvious that others are hearing the rallying cry, “Let’s make more!”
As you have read in past issues of our newsletter, the marketing tools we’ve created here in Connecticut are being exported to other states throughout the country. And now, we’re bringing these tools across the ocean. Just this past month I visited Belgium, Germany and the UK to meet with key environmental leaders and policy makers to introduce them to the SmartPower success story. The clean energy industry in Europe is taking off but they are still mired in some of the same marketing issues that have continued to hold back the US marketplace. Working together, we feel that SmartPower can ultimately help kick-start a true global marketplace for clean energy. Over the next months and years, we will be bringing you updates from our work in Europe. It’s a unique challenge but with our roots and successes firmly planted in Connecticut, we believe we have a powerful success story to share!
Let’s make more!
Brian F. Keane |
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 And the Oscar goes to…CLEAN ENERGY!!! For the film industry’s biggest night of the year, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) was enlisted to help ‘green’ the 79th Annual Academy Awards, setting a high profile example for an estimated 40 million viewers. The effort included purchasing clean energy from Bonneville Environmental Foundation to offset carbon emissions of the pre-show, the red carpet event, the telecast, and the Governor's Ball; incorporating environmental features into the greenroom design; promoting recycling and reducing waste generated by the annual event; using hybrid vehicles for transportation of presenters and staff; and using recycled materials in paper products, including the Oscar ballots themselves. Altogether, these initiatives made the Academy Awards ‘carbon neutral’.
Leonardo DiCaprio, NRDC trustee and nominee for Best Actor, stated, "[f]or the first time in the history of the Oscars, environmentally intelligent practices have been thoughtfully integrated into the planning of tonight's event to make our world healthier and help combat the threat of global warming." Reinforcing the call to action, Al Gore’s film, ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ won the Oscar for Best Documentary and the film’s theme song, ‘I Need to Wake Up’ by Melissa Etheridge also won for Best Music. There is no denying that this year, global warming took center stage.
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to learn how to sign up in your state. |
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On March 29th, SmartPower was honored to be a part of the launch of the Cambridge Energy Alliance. The Henry P. Kendall Foundation, the Barr Foundation and The Chorus Foundation have provided the start-up support for this new non-profit organization. The CEA mission is to design, market, finance, manage and document a series of unprecedented energy efficiency measures. Overall, the 5-year project will lead to a substantial reduction in the carbon emissions of the City of Cambridge.
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Speakers at the launch of the Cambridge Energy Alliance (Left to Right): Robert Healy, Cambridge City Manager; Cambridge Mayor Ken Reeves; Governor Deval Patrick; Douglas Foy, former Massachusetts Secretary for the Office of Commonwealth Development, Thomas May, Chair & CEO, NSTAR, Ian Bowles, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy & Environment |
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“As a foundation focused on climate change solutions, we view cities as the most promising areas for near-term success in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, said Rob Pratt, Senior Vice-President of the Henry P. Kendall Foundation. In city environments, buildings represent 65-80% of the emissions, so a targeted energy efficiency approach is a clear win-win – reduced emissions and lower energy bills.”
Specifically, the Cambridge Energy Alliance aims to: reduce electricity demand by 50MW, a 15% peak load reduction; reduce annual electricity and water consumption by 10% city-wide; achieve a participation rate of 50% in each sector (e.g. municipal, commercial, residential); and reduce annual GHG emissions from the city by 150,000 tons (10%) by 2011.
“The Cambridge Energy Alliance is pioneering a new model for energy efficiency that should be replicated by communities across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Deval Patrick.
The Cambridge Energy Alliance will initiate massive energy efficiency while also installing, where feasible, new renewable and clean energy generation, and technologies that curb electricity use during peak demand periods. NSTAR is a key partner in achieving the project’s goals.
By sponsoring and then aggregating reductions of both energy consumption and peak demand within its borders, Cambridge Energy Alliance, in conjunction with its many collaborative stakeholders can participate in all markets that value such reductions. Once the Revolving Fund is in place, the project is expected to become fully self-sustaining.
“We are very excited to be part of a team that is creating an energy model for the future," said Thomas J. May, NSTAR Chairman, President and CEO. "The Cambridge Energy Alliance has designed an approach to energy efficiency that is focused on customer-based solutions that involve the whole community. This forward-thinking initiative will complement and enhance our existing efforts to help our customers save money and energy today, resulting in a cleaner, healthier environment for tomorrow.”
SmartPower will serve as the communications and marketing organization for this project with the goal of creating a sustainable, voluntary market for energy efficiency for Cambridge, Massachusetts. SmartPower is excited for the opportunity to embark on the first official project as we introduce our award winning marketing and messaging to the vital cause of energy efficiency.
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The state of Connecticut has demonstrated its exemplary commitment to creating cleaner air, healthier communities and energy independence as 25% of the state has now joined the SmartPower 20% by 2010SMCampaign. Pushing the campaign to the 25% mark, Stratford, Newington, Ridgefield and Old Lyme became the 40th, 41st, 42nd and 43rd municipalities in the state to commit to purchasing 20% of their municipal electricity demand from clean energy sources by 2010..
“Since we started the 20% by 2010 Campaign, our mantra has been that clean energy is real. It’s here. And it’s working,” said Brian F. Keane, President of SmartPower. “And with this dramatic milestone reached, it is clear that Connecticut is a true national leader in creating a clean energy market.”
Becoming the first city to commit to the campaign in 2004, New Haven led the way for Connecticut cities and towns to make a commitment to clean energy. With over 40 towns committed, the 20% by 2010SM Campaign ultimately creates a demand of 100,000 Megawatt hours of clean energy. This noteworthy demand of clean energy is truly helping to foster a robust clean energy market and making Connecticut a leading clean energy state in the country.
 “The 20% by 2010 Campaign led by SmartPower has enabled Connecticut to become a national leader in the clean energy revolution,” stated Bob Wall, Director of Energy Market Initiatives at the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. “This innovative collaboration between non-profits, local government and citizens has raised public awareness of the many benefits of energy from clean renewable sources such as solar, fuel cells and wind. More importantly, it is helping to create a vibrant clean energy market that will provide economic security and a healthy environment for Connecticut.”
The towns and communities throughout Connecticut who have committed to clean energy have undeniably made the Nutmeg State a national leader and proved that clean energy is real, here and working.
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Key to SmartPower’s long-term success has been our effort to bring the message that “Clean energy is real. It’s here. And it’s working” to regions of the country that aren’t automatically considered “clean energy states”. To be sure, there’s a natural expectation that the Northeastern states, and certainly California – would be welcoming to a marketing effort on clean energy. But South Carolina?
The fact that South Carolina is indeed embracing a marketing effort on clean energy makes bringing our message to the Palmetto State a particularly unique and exciting challenge.
Over the past several months, SmartPower has worked closely with the Governor of South Carolina and the Center for Climate Strategies (CCS) to put together a multi-pronged plan that would help move South Carolina into the lead in southern states on clean energy.
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South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford ( R ) |
After months of hard work, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford ( R ) issued an Executive Order naming nine members to his Governor's Climate, Energy and Commerce Advisory Committee. This group is tasked with reviewing potential climate change impacts in South Carolina and formulating strategies to address those changes going forward.
This effort has its roots in Connecticut and the successful Climate Change Action Plan that was completed there almost three years ago. It is that plan that has helped focus industry leaders, environmentalists, non-government agencies and the state government on how to best work together to reduce the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. SmartPower was proud to be a part of that Connecticut effort and the state’s subsequent commitment to purchasing 20% clean energy 2010.
Now, with the framework in place in South Carolina begins the long, arduous task of coming up with an “Action Plan” of their own.
“Governor Sanford’s Executive Order is a milestone in the discussion on global climate change,” said SmartPower President Brian F. Keane. “Other states will now follow South Carolina’s lead, knowing that climate change and clean energy are not political issues that can be controlled by political extremes. But rather, these are generational issues that impact our security, our environment, our economy and our future.”
The Governor’s Advisory Group has six broad objectives, and will report their recommendations back to the governor in March of 2008:
- Provide a comprehensive review of the ecological and economic
impacts of global climate change in South Carolina.
- Propose ways to expand and improve the use of renewable energy
sources.
- Present recommendations encouraging energy conservation that reduce energy costs, energy independence and harmful environmental impact.
- Review technological advances relating to buildings,
infrastructure, and energy sources that may create economic
opportunities and enhance energy efficiency and independence.
- Compile a comprehensive inventory, forecast and source list of
statewide carbon dioxide and other emissions, presenting recommendations on reducing emissions.
- Determine the economic benefits and feasibility associated with any recommended actions.
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| What the Presidential Candidates are Saying about Clean Energy in the Granite State |
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Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX): “I don’t think that the jury has fully come in on global warming. There is still a lot of debate on that subject. I am a Free Trader and I think that if Clean Energy were a viable option, it would be more economical in the marketplace. We should look at more domestic drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge and we should look at nuclear power as well as a short-term solution.” – Conversations with a Candidate at WMUR TV Studios, 2/23/07 |
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Former Senator John Edwards (D-NC): “Along with the war in Iraq and affordable healthcare, renewable energy and global warming are the three main issues of this campaign. We need to start making some real sacrifices to deal with that problem. We must end our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels. We need to greatly expand our use of clean energy.” – Salem, NH House Party & WMUR TV Studios, 2/24/07
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| Senator Joe Biden (D-DE): “Our dependence on fossil fuels is ruining our environment. In 2005 Senator Dick Lugar and I co-sponsored a bipartisan Senate Resolution calling on the United States to return to international negotiations on climate change. I think that we can strengthen our national security by reducing our oil consumption, transitioning to farm-grown fuels like ethanol and dramatically increasing our use of renewable energy – wind, water and solar.” – New England College, Henniker, NH, 2/28/07 |
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Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO): “America can become more energy self-sufficient by broadening our exploration of domestic oil reserves. We need to get the oil out of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. Had President Clinton not vetoed in 1995 the realistic and responsible development that was planned, that fuel would be providing American jobs today. Domestic oil production is affordable. Renewable energy is not” – WMUR TV Studios, 3/9/07 |
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