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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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Feb 13, 2012

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. 
Read More Tags: renewable energy F2A leadership development Western Washington University flying

Feb 17, 2012

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. 
Read More Tags: politico coal WWU Bellingham Washington export global

Feb 24, 2012

Hosting the Forum and Bringing the Action
by Abigail Brown

Hosting the Forum and Bringing the Action: Making Community Renewable Energy a Reality in Rural Oregon

Last year, I started working in education and outreach for the nationally-recognized Renewable Energy Technology (RET) program at Columbia Gorge Community College. One of the greatest parts of my job is working as a Focus the Nation (FTN) campus advisor for a student club that focuses on renewable-energy projects in the local community. Delta Energy Club is the club, and their name signifies a call for positive change in energy choices with a shift to renewable resources. Already, I have been able to watch them accomplish so much.

It all started with a forum hosted for the first year of the FTN Forums to Action program. Bob Calvert, Delta Club President, invited several people to the college to talk about different renewable energy solutions for our region. One of the presenters, Gary Nystedt, his friend from the City of Ellensburg, talked about a citywide Community Solar Project in Eastern Washington. After hearing this presentation, a seed was planted in the minds of the club members. They wanted to implement a Community Solar Project here in The Dalles, Oregon. So the idea for the action component for year two of the FTN Forums to Action program was born – a Community Renewable Energy Project.

The idea for the Community Renewable Energy Project evolved as many partners have come to the table. The students originally wanted to develop a Community Solar Project similar to the project in Ellensburg. [A Community Solar Project allows community member to buy a share in a solar array built in a central location and to receive a rebate for energy produced.] Over time, the students decided to move forward instead with a Community Renewable Energy Project in a two-phased approach. Phase 1 would be a renewable-energy education and interpretation center with wind and solar installations, and this phase would be easier to implement. Phase 2 would be a Community Solar Project, and this phase might be more difficult to implement.

Club members – with their own contacts, the help of FTN, and the assistance of college staff – have involved multiple people to ensure this project is successful. A local museum seemed the ideal place for construction - visually appealing to the masses, in a sunny and windy spot, and in need of additional revenue to make ends meet. Club representative, Katrina Montoya, applied for a competitive EPA grant program that could provide 15,000 dollars for additional research. A local utility company has been present for planning to ensure this project is in alignment with their goals, and a large NGO has come forward to support the education and interpretation center outlined in Phase 1.

The students are still working on many aspects of planning this project. They have held a stakeholder meeting at the proposed location, used an online solar tool to evaluate the solar component of this project, performed basic site analysis, and talked with planners about possible building regulations. As the FTN Campus Advisor, it is my goal to support and empower the students. Sometimes this means providing administrative support or giving them a contact name of someone. For the most part, I get to enjoy watching this group of RET students start to make BIG impacts for renewable-energy awareness in this small rural community. They truly put into action the Mead adage: never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.

Read More Tags: Columbia Gorge Community College Forums-to-Action Phase 3 project Campus Advisor

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