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Does Driving Electric Mean Going Green?

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You’ve seen them on the news and on the road (whether you realized it or not). Electric cars are gradually gaining a stronger foothold in the American market for new light-duty vehicles and they’re not going away anytime soon. You’ve probably heard about the benefits to the environment from driving an electric vehicle (EV), but you might be skeptical as to how much you’re really helping fight climate change. Since much of our electricity is produced by fossil fuels like coal, are you really producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions by driving electric?

The answer is a little complicated and changes depending on where you live in the country. However, the short answer is yes, you produce less greenhouse gas emissions when you drive an electric car in just about everywhere you could live in the United States. Just how much are you reducing your ecological footprint? That’s where we have to split hairs. The Alternative Fuel Data Center, run by the Department of Energy, created a useful tool to determine how many pounds of CO2 equivalent you produce in a year driving a typical gas-powered light-duty vehicle versus a fully electric vehicle in your state, based on a few assumptions. One of those assumptions is that the car you’re driving currently gets about 25 miles to the gallon. If your car is way more efficient than that and you live in a state that produces the overwhelming majority of its electricity from coal, such as West Virginia and Wyoming, then driving electric won’t do much to reduce the amount of emissions associated with your driving, although it could help local air quality as electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions. Nevertheless, in nearly every state, driving an electric car produces far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a standard gas-powered vehicle.

Want to see for yourself? Take a look. You’ll probably be surprised to see which states are doing the best at incorporating clean energy into their electricity production energy mix (oh my gosh, Idaho). That being said, if you’re interested in doing your part to prevent climate change, it’s worth it to at least go take a look at what electric vehicles are out there. You don’t have to give up driving, just go electric!

An Important Conversation on Climate, National Security, and the Independence of the Intelligence Community with Dr. Rod Schoonover

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By Ariana Cepulis and Lukas Lehmann

Until three weeks ago, Dr. Rod Schoonover was a Senior Analyst in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the US Department of State.

In his position at the State Department, Dr. Schoonover was responsible for analyzing potential national security risks posed by climate change. In early June, Dr. Schoonover prepared written testimony on the security implications of climate change for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, only to have his testimony blocked from reaching Congress by the White House because it did not align with the administration’s views on climate science. At the last minute, Dr. Schoonover was given clearance to give a five minute summary of the testimony, but the testimony was never entered into the official record.

Shortly thereafter, Dr. Schoonover chose to resign.

Which brings us to last Tuesday afternoon when Dr. Schoonover spoke for the first time since his resignation at the World Resources Institute regarding his departure from civil service and the consequences that omission of his testimony will have on the integrity of the intelligence community. 

When asked about the national security implications of the politicization of the basic fact of climate change, Dr. Schoonover responded, “Our national security rests on scientific integrity. When we weaken our scientific base, we weaken our information base.”

As is becoming increasingly clear, climate change has far greater and more alarming political and economic consequences than just the increasing regularity of extreme weather events. Shifts in weather patterns fundamentally alter the ecological systems in the biosphere that have shaped our societies and our world economies. For instance, if temperatures continue to rise, we will not just experience more heat waves and witness sea levels rise as the ice caps melt; the impact will be felt through the depletion of fisheries, the spread of disease carrying organisms, and changes in agriculture. As such, Dr. Schoonover advocates for “broadening out from a weather centric aperture” and instead recognizing the deep socioeconomic consequences of a changing climate. It is as a result of these fundamental political and economic repercussions that climate change is a national security issue. 

Nevertheless, Dr. Schoonover seemed optimistic regarding the recent advancements of climate science and its increasing ability to effectively convey the heightened likelihood of extreme weather events that we are experiencing due to climate change. 

When asked if the US was prepared for the threat of climate change, Dr. Schoonover replied, “Arguably, no country is ready for the full slate of climate-related risks.” 

Well, it’s time to get ready.

Where Business Meets Climate: Congress and Business Leaders Meet to Discuss Climate Crisis

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Written by: Lukas Lehmann & Ariana Cepulis

As the temperatures continued to rise this past Thursday afternoon, Members of Congress and business leaders gathered at the Rayburn House Office Building to discuss the economic ramifications of climate change. Just as the House was adjourning for an August recess, the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis began its hearing. 

The panel providing testimony represented a variety of actors involved in mitigating the risk of climate change related disasters.  Among them: Paula DiPerna – Special Advisor to the “CDP”, Francis Bouchard – Head of Sustainability at the Zurich Insurance Group; Garvin Jabusch – Chief Investment Officer at Green Alpha Advisors; and Jay Walker – Executive VP of Commercial Landing at South Louisiana Bank and President of the Morganza Action Coalition.

The hearing kicked off with an impassioned call-to-action from Chairwoman Kathy Castor (D-FL) in which she warned of the $1 trillion in climate-related risks that our country faces and declared that building a clean energy economy “must be the future.” 

Castor’s opening remarks set a tone of urgency for the remainder of the hearing. One concern about the securities market in particular came from Jabusch of Green Alpha Advisors, who noted that many of the companies listed in the S&P 500 and other indices are either contributing to and/or not mitigating the effects that climate change will have on future business operations. He suggested that since so many people have bought into indices without considering this risk, the economy was essentially running on “auto-pilot.” 

Francis Bouchard from the Zurich Insurance Group also raised alarm about the future of the insurance industry. According to his data, 2017 and 2018 were the costliest years to insure property due to the natural disasters that occurred during that time. He went on to say that current rates of insurance do not adequately reflect what will follow in the coming years. As the risk of disaster rises, so will rates, said Bouchard.

While much of the testimony brought to light the cost of the damages our country has already fronted ($312 billion in extreme weather costs in the US last year alone, according to Bouchard), there was also a feeling of optimism as business leaders shared the solutions that were working for them and the opportunities for growth looking into the future. Jay Walker of Morganza Action Coalition discussed the success of levee construction in Louisiana that has helped to prevent flooding in coastal communities.  Meanwhile, Zurich Insurance Group’s Bouchard supported Walker’s advocacy for resiliency funding with a claim that for every dollar invested in natural disaster mitigation, five dollars are saved. 

By the end of the hearing, an almost unanimous consensus seemed to be reached after Ranking Member Rep. Garrett Graves (R-LA) posed the following question: “Do you believe the federal government is doing a good job with regards to resiliency and adaptation?”  Their answers:

            Bouchard: “No.”

            Walker: “No.”

            Jabusch: “No.”

            DiPerna: “No.”

Although policy suggestions differed among the members of Congress and business leaders, there was unilateral agreement that climate change is leading to increased environmental catastrophes and that the potential economic consequences are enormous. Something needs to be done.

The participants all were echoing a similar call — It’s time for the federal government to do more to protect people from climate change.

SmartPower President Receives $50,000 Frank Hatch “Sparkplug” Award

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Brian F. Keane, SmartPower Founder, is recipient of John Merck Fund’s Highest Award

Boston – Brian F. Keane, President of the nonprofit clean energy organization, SmartPower, was awarded the $50,000 Frank Hatch “Sparkplug” Award for Enlightened Public Service by The John Merck Fund today. The award is granted annually to an outstanding leader whose work embodies extraordinary creativity, dedication, and foresight.

“Brian’s vision, energy, and passion exemplify the purpose of the Sparkplug Award,” said Serena H. Whitridge, Chair of The John Merck Fund board, in presenting the award. “SmartPower’s unrivaled success in helping to mainstream clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency to the American people has changed the consumer and environmental landscape in ways once thought simply unimaginable.”

The Fund, one of the original funders of SmartPower, created the Frank Hatch Sparkplug award in 2006 to honor its longtime former chairman, Frank Hatch. Ms. Whitridge is Frank Hatch’s daughter.

“Fifteen years ago The John Merck Fund – and specifically Frank Hatch – helped create SmartPower,” said Keane. “To me Frank Hatch has always been a political leader, an environmental hero – and a personal mentor. And now, to receive this award in Frank’s name is beyond humbling. It is, of course, personally and professionally gratifying. But beyond that I accept this award as a legacy of Frank Hatch’s dedication and life’s work. And to be sure, we will in turn rededicate ourselves to continuing Frank’s work and the work of The John Merck Fund.”

Brian Keane and his wife Kate Sawyer Keane are contributing the award to SmartPower.

“The work of Brian Keane and SmartPower is a testament that big and bold ideas can be put into action,” said Ms. Whitridge. “When the experts said clean energy could never be cost competitive with conventional energy, SmartPower went and proved it could be. The experts said Americans would never want to buy solar energy for their homes, they said clean energy and energy efficiency could never be mainstreamed and embedded into American culture. Look around you – hybrid and electric cars, solar power, and Nest Thermostats are everywhere. Congratulations to this year’s recipient, Brian F. Keane.”

SmartPower is based in Washington, DC, and works in communities from coast to coast helping American consumers embrace clean energy and become more energy efficient.

SmartPower President Brian F. Keane Named CEO of The Year

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Washington, DC – Brian F. Keane, the President of SmartPower (www.smartPower.org), the nation’s leading non-profit marketing firm dedicated to promoting clean energy and energy efficiency has been named the 2016 CEO of the Year by Corporate LiveWire.

Each year Corporate LiveWire publishes and celebrates the innovation and excellence of those firms, teams and individuals who have shown continued excellence, and innovation amid ongoing global economic uncertainty.

You can download the full Press Release HERE – or read it on one of the following news outlets:

Ashley Edwards Joins Solarize South Carolina Team

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Here we grow again!

headshot_ashleySmartPower continues to grow our Solarize South Carolina team with the addition of Ashley Ray Edwards, who will be working in the Greenville-Spartanburg area

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to promote Solarize South Carolina and increase solar installations across the state.

Ashley is experienced in community outreach having worked in the western North Carolina region to promote solar and energy efficiency actions. Ashley is also certified as a LEED Green Associate, and has been doing weatherization projects for the Community Conservation Corps and Habitat for Humanity to help low income homes in the Greenville area.

We’re excited to have Ashley join our South Carolina team!

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SmartPower COO Serves As “Expert Faculty” at RMI’s e-Lab Accelerator

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Toni BouchardThis week, SmartPower’s Chief Operating Officer Toni Bouchard has been serving as an “Expert Faculty Member” at the E-Lab Accelerator workshop in Sundance, Utah. As they say, this is a “bootcamp for electricity innovation.” As such Toni has been working with some of the greatest minds in the country trying to work out the details of some of the most innovative projects in energy distribution.

Toni brings SmartPower’s perspective from the front lines — representing the communities, customers and stakeholders we work for across the country in all our energy efficiency and renewable energy work. The group has spent the week focusing on new utility business models, electricity pricing structures, and regulatory reform efforts focused on distributed energy resource; energy innovation districts like demonstration projects, downtown clean energy zones, and other localized projects. And of course, new customer solutions — including customer engagement programs, innovative financing and strategies for low-income populations.

But don’t worry, we’re pretty sure that Toni figured out how to get in a run or two on the slopes.

And to be sure, we’re proud to have SmartPower right there in the front lines working on these solutions.

Bringing the “50 Shades of Clean” to New Hampshire

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This past weekend, SmartPower’s President, Brian F. Keane delivered the keynote address to over 300 community energy leaders at the Local Energy Solutions conference in Concord,New Hampshire. Co-hosted by the New Hampshire Local Energy Work Group and the NH Sustainable Energy Association, the annual LES Conference provides critical resources, information, and guidance for individuals, local energy committees & commissions, local governments, school districts, and leaders across the state seeking to implement an energy reduction project in their communities.

Keane’s talk, titled: “50 Shades of Clean” covered a wide array of ways that local communitis can all be part of the energy solution. And each participant walked away with not only a smart approach to moving residents up the “food chain of sustainability,” but also a copy of Keane’s book: “Green Is Good: Save Money, Make Money, and

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Help Your Community Profit From Clean Energy.”

…and if you’re keeping score at home, you probably couldn’t help notice that Brian was in South Carolina last week and New Hampshire this week. With this tour of early primary states, could Iowa be next?

SmartPower “Shouts Out For Solar”

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sos-2 sos-1 Tomorrow is National “Shout Out For Solar Day!” And SmartPower is joining with thousands across the nation to show our support for solar. Join us by “shouting out” on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! How to participate:

  1. Download and print America Supports Solar signs here
  2. Take a picture of yourself, your friends and family, your co-workers or maybe even your dog!
  3. Post on your favorite social media site with the hashtag #gosolar

2014 was a year of tremendous growth for the U.S. solar industry. Today, there’s an estimated 20 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity in the United States – enough to power 4 million American homes. With your help 2015 will be even better. Let’s spread the word by shouting #GoSolar from our desktops and mobile devices now!