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Feb 17, 2012

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Reflections on Western Washington University's Clean Energy Forum
by James Scher

 

Our forum varied in one key way from most of the other F2A events. While no one will say that energy innovations are bad, they do cause some externalities that many may not initially consider. 
 
SSA Marine, the largest port operator in the world, has proposed the construction of what would be the largest coal export terminal in North America at Cherry Point, a location just north of our community. But why? Domestic use of coal is declining in the United States. Natural gas is quickly becoming much cheaper, and burning CO2 much more expensive due to emissions standards. However, despite being the largest producer of coal in world, Asia doesn’t have enough. And they are willing to pay a hefty sum to get more. 
 
A sum that’s enough to prompt Peabody Coal to mine 48 million tons of coal from the Powder River Basin, transport it a few thousand miles to Cherry Point, and export it to China. Our forum focused on the impacts of the Cherry Point terminal on our community. However, the overarching issue is that energy innovations have driven down prices of renewable energy, which coupled with increasing regulation of non-renewables, is forcing the U.S. to export its dirtiest forms of energy. This trend will only increase in decades to come.
 
The U.S. needs to not only focus on implementing and encouraging energy innovation, but also focus on creating clear policy that dictates not only our preference for renewables at home, but abroad as well. If we’re not part of the global solution, we’re part of the global problem.
 
Our forum received a great deal of positive feedback, as well as interest in our action plan. Many of our attendees were unfortunately not those new to the issues surrounding the proposed terminal, but those already well aware. To increase the diversity of voices in the room, we will be hosting a concert next month aimed at attracting those students who are not familiar with the terminal. 
 
If I take one thing away from this experience it’s the knowledge that students and youth have the power and ability to bring their ideas to fruition. It just takes a little ambition, passion, and determination. 
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Feb 13, 2012

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The Leadership Development Vehicle
by Anne Bertucio

 

When I think of the relationship between Focus the Nation headquarters and our phenomenal on-the-ground students, I think of the scene from Fly Away North when a young Anna Paquin leads a group of orphaned geese on their first migratory flight. Anna, in the unique, lightweight aircraft made by her inventor father, guides the geese to use the skills nature gave them, and together they spread their wings over Canada.  You might note a few minor differences. We do not have an aircraft, FTN students do not have feathers or beaks, and none of us are Canadian. Aside from that, it’s a perfect parallel!
 
We’ve spent the last six months working with amazing students across the country. They possess unmatched talents and potential, and are passionate to bring change to their community. But they’re looking for something new. Something that has never been done before, a new course to chart. That’s where FTN comes in, with our unique energy aircraft. It’s innovative, it’s something you’ve never seen before, and the curmudgeon neighbor next door doesn’t like this youngin with their new ways (but don’t worry, they come around in the end).  The students have the skills, they just need the vehicle.
 
Every February the FTN staff puts on our flying goggles, jumps in the Clean Energy aircraft, and watches young people find their wings.  And you can imagine how this feels. We’re nervous. We’re excited. We’re bubbling with joy watching what we know is the future of America’s energy leadership.
 
Last week the FTN crew piled in the ZipCar and headed up to Bellingham, Washington to attend Western Washington University’s Focus the Nation forum. The WWU team is in a unique position—the site of the would-be largest coal export terminal in the nation has been proposed in their community. Our organization typically focuses on the positive. We like solutions. We like to say “yes,” create collaboration and solve problems; rather than say “no” and create divisions. How do you say “yes,” when there is something that needs to hear a very loud “no” in their backyard? The WWU Focus Coordinators, Max McGrath-Horn and Max Scher, Focus Coach Sasha Tenzin, and staff partner organization Climate Solutions grappled with this since September, so we were excited to see the forum with our own eyes.  
 
It’s not always easy to let people fly on their own. Sometimes we want to expand the cockpit and let everyone come along for the ride. But that isn’t sustainable. A future of sustainable energy requires sharing knowledge and helping new leaders blossom. The clean energy economy is not a one man show. (Which is why we love our Leadership Quadrant.) But sitting in the back of WWU’s auditorium last night, I saw two young people soar into leaders.    
 
The students at WWU brought a new dimension to this year’s emphasis on “innovation”: How to approach community issues in a new, innovative way. Instead of saying “no,” the WWU team came with the attitude of,”instead, how about we…” Amazing things happen when people are given the resources, attention, and space to cultivate their natural talents.  Energy Innovation + Innovative Change Making = Winning Solutions.
 
I still don’t have a lightweight aircraft invented by Jeff Daniels, but I’ll settle for leadership development as a vehicle to take us into the clean energy economy. 
View Comments (0) Tags: renewable energy F2A leadership development Western Washington University flying

Feb 03, 2012

Meet Our Partners
by Anne Bertucio

What is the role of local organizations and businesses in the clean energy transition? In the Forums-to-Action program, partners provide essential expertise, support, and local insight to Focus the Nation teams. Meet some of this year’s outstanding partners:

 
 
 
RevoluSun is a Hawaii-based solar provider, designing and installing residential PV systems that make solar energy accessible to all. RevoluSun was recently awarded "Innovative Company of the Year" from Business Leadership Hawaii, making them a perfect partner for our 2012 "Energy Innovation" theme. Committed to increasing solar education and community involvement, RevoluSun is a Gigawatt Sponsor of the University of Hawaii Manoa’s Forums-to-Action program. 
 
 
Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) is a utility serving Dane County, Wisconsin and seven surround counties. MGE is actively working on reducing their CO2 emissions and increasing the renewable energy in their portfolio. MGE is also dedicated to increasing the conversation on sustainable energy, and is a Gigawatt Sponsor for the University of Wisconsin Madison Forums-to-Action program. 
 
 
 
  
Utah Clean Energy is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to decrease Utah’s use of carbon-based energy and drive the renewable energy economy in the state. Utah Clean Energy’s work supports the state’s goals for energy efficiency and clean energy targets. The organization is supporting the University of Utah’s Forums-to-Action program. 
 
 
 
Sustainable Saratoga is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the environmental and economic sustainability of the Saratoga Springs, New York community. Part of the improvements Sustainable Saratoga works for includes energy efficient buildings and accessible alternative energy choices. Sustainable Saratoga is supporting the Skidmore College Forums-to-Action program.
 
 
 
Stay tuned for more partner profiles from the 2012 Clean Energy Forums!
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Jan 27, 2012

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Intern with Focus the Nation
by Anne Bertucio
Portland. The town of specialty coffee, soccer, bicycling, and craft brewing. Young people might come here to retire, but they also come here to lead the way in sustainability, innovation, and renewable energy. Portland has quickly become an alternative energy hub, drawing businesses from across the globe and generating innovative organizations dedicated to clean energy, like Focus the Nation. Now is your chance to experience this incredible, dynamic industry with an internship at FTN headquarters! 
 
FTN will be taking research interns and a business & community relations intern for the upcoming summer. While positions are unpaid, we offer unrivaled opportunities to gain hands-on work experience in the renewable energy sector. 
 
Focus the Nation is the country’s leading clean energy youth empowerment organization. Since 2008, we have helped more than 300,000 young people embrace the challenges, excitement and realities of moving their communities toward clean energy solutions.
 
Please visit our Employment page to review the internship description and application process.
 
Look forward to seeing you in Portland this summer!
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Jan 20, 2012

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The Forums are Coming!
by Colleen Butterfield

 

The end of January is fast approaching, and that means February will be here before we even know it. Our teams are working hard all across the country to put together some amazing forums on their campuses around clean energy and their communities. From California to Maine and almost everywhere in between, our Focus Coordinators are preparing to launch into discussions with fellow students and community members about how to move towards a clean energy future. 
 
Elected officials have been invited, some of which are speaking; industry experts are preparing their talking points, teams are putting together their publicity strategies and so much more! Many of our dedicated FC’s are even working during their winter break to make sure their forums are a success.
 
Many of our teams are focusing on energy efficiency and reduction, which is a key action for every region. Other team themes are putting together feasibility studies for renewable options on their campus, how to replace coal, residential incentives for renewable energy, finance and investments in the clean energy sector, and the list goes on.
 
You can find an event in your area by visiting the Focus the Nation map or our Facebook events page. We hope to see you at a forum!
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Jan 13, 2012

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Northern Maine Community College: Focus the Nation 2.0
by Anne Bertucio

Last year the Focus the Nation team at Northern Maine Community College (NMCC) hosted a wildly successful Clean Energy Forum focused on transmission problems because of their region’s northern location. Their event received tremendous applause (including special recognition from Senator Olympia Snowe!). This year the impressive NMCC student team is at it again, hosting “FTN 2.0,” a follow-up forum to discuss the progress made since last year, and map out the next steps in bringing renewable energy to their area.  Check out this press release about FTN 2.0. You can keep up with the NMCC team on their state page. 

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Jan 04, 2012

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Energizing Service-Learning
by Jessica Earley

Here at Focus the Nation, we learn best by doing.  We learn by engaging with super smart people on the cutting-edge of energy, we learn from listening to communities, and we learn through designing and implementing programs aimed at developing our next generation of clean energy leaders.  Everyday, our staff members stretch their brains by learning through service.  We find it uber-effective.  The campuses and the students we work with in our Forums-to-Action program agree. That’s why our clean energy leadership development programs are designed to help people learn, grow and make a positive energy impact on their community.

Service-Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.  Service-learning has proven so effective that many campuses have departments dedicated solely to it or have partnered with our friends at Campus Compact to design and deliver service-learning opportunities to their students.

At Focus the Nation, our Forums-to-Action (F2A) program energizes service-learning, literally.  Students go through a transformative community engagement experience centered on issues pertaining to energy; transportation, fuel, electricity, renewables, sustainability.   While immersing in the F2A curriculum and planning a forum students learn about what the most relevant energy issues are in their community and collaborate to take action on it.  

At the University of Portland, F2A student leaders have implemented a biodiesel project which will expand to include the surrounding community to create a “closed-loop, local energy-sourced lifestyle”.  This project not only benefits the students on the UP campus, but  also the North Portland community they call home.

The awesome F2A team at Gainesville State College in Georgia has chosen to energize service-learning with a different approach.   The team is revving up for their February 15th, 2012 Clean Energy Forum which will help launch their Home Energy Audit project in their local community. These young leaders are serving their community by reducing energy bills while conserving energy.

If you are interested in energizing service-learning on your campus the first step is to let us know!   We will be choosing our 2012-2013 F2A Campuses this spring!

Students can launch an F2A team!
Campus faculty/staff can launch an F2A team!

Or contact Marisa Pond, our Programs Coordinator, at marisa@focusthenation.org for more information.


 

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Jan 03, 2012

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The Importance of Saying "Yes"
by Jennifer Amelang

 

Houston, Texas may not conjure up images of clean energy, but there are rising stars emerging from the steamy streets of the big city. Jennifer Amelang, a senior at University of St. Thomas, has been connecting people all around Houston to work on clean energy as a 2010-2011 & 2011-2012 Focus Coordinator as well as a 2011 ReCharge! Delegate. Read on to hear from Jennifer about her experience moving forward from ReCharge 2011.
  
As a 2011 Recharge! Retreat Delegate, with the guidance and help of Stephanie Pollack and Enrique Salmon, the retreat facilitators, I came to acknowledge the importance of saying “yes.” One sunny day on the south side of Mt. Hood, all twenty delegates stood in a circle. Stephanie encouraged us to yell out commands. In response, the group would reply with “YES!” while performing the task. “Whip your hair back and forth”…”YES!” *whipping our hair back and forth* The activity was fun, and saying yes is fun, but more importantly, I found that it was essential for me to let go of my insecurities and inhibitions and accept this affirmative philosophy. This exercise is especially true for educational experiences outside of the classroom, such as the retreat itself. Service-learning, hands-on experience, community activism- call it what you want; it’s authentic learning and has helped me to appreciate the words I might read on the pages of a textbook.
 
Returning home and returning to school, with the occasional exception of daydreaming of sunny faces and sunny places, I was amazed how easy it was getting back into my routine. However, I tried to periodically reflect on the experiences I shared. This semester I have continued to try to say “yes” and continued making connections in my local environmental community. I am a second year Focus Organizer with FTN, and I recently became an intern with the Council for Environmental Education. Within my school and community, I am attempting to engage various quadrants of students and faculty. I have teamed up with a politico and fellow student to put on an Environmental Week in conjunction with the FTN Forum. Also, I have contacted Technicians and Innovators from my school’s American Chemical Society (ACS) to present their biofuels research. To bridge the gap between Houston-based Universities, I have invited professors to speak from various schools. So far I have confirmations from two major universities in the area: Rice University and the University of Houston.
 
Throughout the semester I have come back to one memory and feeling. On the last day of the Retreat, in a moment of emotional catharsis, I realized and told the group, “I’m still such a baby.” We are all babies. We, perpetually, have the potential to grow, and saying yes to constructive experiences is one facet to building a successful and fulfilled life.
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Dec 16, 2011

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Ruminations on Leadership
by Anne Bertucio

Here at Focus the Nation, we think a lot about leadership. We also think a lot about how young people can make an impact in their communities. Here's one perspective on leadership...and no, that's not ED Garett Brennan as the shirtless dancing guy.

 

 

 

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Dec 06, 2011

Innovator
Colorado wind energy breaks world record!
by Anne Bertucio

Where were you on October 6th at 4am?  If the answer is, “In Colorado checking my Facebook and doing laundry,” then you were part of a world record!  In the early morning hours on the 6th, utility and Focus the Nation supporter Xcel Energy set a world record for energy from wind power.  Spain previously held the record from 2009, when a utility powered their customers on 53% wind.  But thanks to the blowing winds of Colorado, Xcel powered its 1 million customers with 55.6% wind.  Read more from The Denver Post.  

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