Energy Bill Focusing on Conservation, Can’t Shake Calls for RES (New York Times)

Reid’s new energy bill comes with disagreement between Democrats and Republicans, along with a push for RES

U.S. wind energy popular, but lacks investment (CNET)

Even with bipartisan support of solar energy, little is being done to promote new solar initiatives.

Constellation Energy Net Soars After Year-Earlier Charges (Wall Street Journal)

Despite great second-quarter earnings, Constellation Energy struggles during a period of low market prices for power.

It’s no secret that here in the U.S. we consume more than our fair share of energy.  Our abundance of over-sized cars, homes complete with air conditioning and a multitude of mega appliances, as well as our endless need for entertainment make it easy to see why this is the case.  However, according to the International Energy Agency announcement earlier this week, we’ve lost the not-so-popular spot of leading global energy consumer to China.

How has a country that was once so far behind the U.S. caught up at such rapid pace? While the U.S. has had relatively stagnant energy consumption rates over the last 10 years, China has been full speed ahead with intense economic progress and increased industrial growth demanding more energy. This chart (thank you WSJ for the great graphics) showcases the growth of Chinese consumption, beginning in the year 2000. And according to this week’s WSJ article, worldwide recession that crippled the U.S. combined with the progressing Chinese economy has allowed for the shift to the number one spot.

The problem (or one of the problems…) is that our consumption rates – while stagnant – are still astronomical. So despite the fact that China is now (reportedly) the worldwide lead energy consumer, Americans are by no means off the hook, especially when it comes to our individual energy use. As shown here, U.S. per capita energy consumption trumps China’s levels by a margin of 5:1. So with our current American way of life, personified by getting what we want, when we want it, with often lack of regard to the amount of energy required to fuel our consumption drive, it is critical to cut back but is it plausible?

In order to lower our over zealous energy consumption, we need to find creative ways to work together to make it happen, including ways that impact our own personal bottom lines.  Our client, Unitil, has done just that.  Company leaders have worked with state officials, contractors, homeowners, and the like to create an award-winning energy efficiency program that works (stay tuned for details and coverage in local and industry press!).  Collaborative programs such as theirs, which aim to educate as well as provide incentives for consumers, may be the key to reducing American’s individual energy use. The fact of the matter is that this cannot be a solo mission. With so many players involved, governments, utilities and consumers alike must be willing to adapt and make changes in order to progress towards a cleaner, less energy dependent world.

The Man From Beijing	Kevin Stickney: Kevin has just finished The Man From Beijing by Henning Menkel, a translated book with a good global plot that reaches across cultures and history to create the story. Though it has a somewhat poor translation, he still found it a good overall read.
How Good People Make Tough Choices	Angela Carter: Angela’s pick is How Good People Make Tough Choices by Rushworth Kidder, a book that explores “right vs. right” dilemmas. Recommended to her by a friend, she enjoyed reading the real life stories and outcomes.
Presentation Zen	Mike Teixeira: As a designer, it’s no surprise that Mike has been reading Presentation Zen and Presentation Zen Design by Garr Reynolds, a light read that can serve as a Design 101 course. He recommends it for business people in order to help them think about their presentation style and delivery as well as give them the foundation to review and discuss their projects when they work with designers.
The Art of Possibility	Jason Stickney: Jason is about to begin reading The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander. He is looking forward to reading this book, as it seems focused on everyday life and how to view the world in a slightly different perspective. He’s hoping it will be a useful and productive read and not the typical “self help” book.
Just Good Business	Cathleen Williamson: My personal recommendation is Just Good Business by Kellie McElhaney. Whether you’re just starting your company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program or you’re looking for a way to give your current efforts more impact, this book is an excellent guide. As a CSR expert, McElhaney provides practical, easy-to-implement branding and communications strategies that will make your program soar. And while it includes essential strategies for development, planning, and measurement, its short chapters make is an easy read while waiting for the ferry to Nantucket or just before a catnap at the beach!

Hopefully these titles will spark your interest and give you the extra incentive to hit up your local library or break out that Kindle you’ve been meaning to use. We’d love to hear what you’re reading as well, so make sure you share your top picks with us!

Also be sure to watch for an upcoming post about lessons learned from BP on managing and manipulating the media.  Until then, enjoy your weekend, and pick up a new book!

What caught my eye was the substantial service territory this project will serve.  While Iberdrola has received support from state and federal public officials, the customer continues to be the important win.  And seven million customers is no small feat, especially here in the northeast.

We’ve worked side-by-side with power generators – both renewable and nonrenewable– and have seen the value of not only getting the approval of elected officials, but truly engaging communities on an ongoing basis as partners and advocates for the very energy they consume.  Our friends at Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) have set the industry standard with the great work they’ve done up in Eastport, Maine to partner with the fishing industry, local and state officials and residents, the University of Maine, and others to successfully develop a mutually-beneficial, sustainable community relationship while simultaneously  achieving new firsts with industry-leading ocean power technologies.

As renewable energy development continues to increase, so too, do the expectations among host communities to have a voice and to be informed – especially when funding for costly infrastructure improvements will be recouped from electric ratepayers. You must go far beyond  check and ribbon cutting to be successful.  Personal, consistent, meaningful communication and relationship building is essential – not just for successful development, but ultimately for the long term sustainability of these energy sources.

“The energy industry is ripe for crises that are not always limited to traditional fossil fuel power generation,” said Kevin Stickney, Calypso founder. “While many mistakenly avoid or deflect these situations, a crisis can be an unplanned opportunity to communicate key messages, strategic strengths, and corporate values.”

To ease communication efforts while handling a crisis, Stickney recommends establishing a management plan well ahead of a potential situation. Some basic tips include:

1. Prepare in advance. A crisis is like a heart attack; the way you live beforehand is better protection than the way you respond afterwards. Do your homework, have a plan, designate a team… don’t wait for the tingling left arm.
2. Respect perception. While a local labor issue, pollution infraction, or pricing change may strike you as insignificant, your customers, employees, and investors may think otherwise. A crisis is often based on a perception… and it’s seldom yours.
3. Be early. Be honest. Be open. Designate someone to say something. Not always easy or intuitive for plant operators, it’s critical to be concerned, engaged, and responsive. That doesn’t mean you to need to have – or provide – any answers. Leave the disappearing act to pro golfers and politicians.
4. Deliver your messages. For every question about what went wrong, there’s a corollary to what went right; without diminishing the importance of the event, get to these points quickly. Express concern and commitment – then move to the technologies, track record, policies, and people that define your firm’s usual standards and its typical success.
5. Communicate in arrears. Break down what went wrong, who was impacted, why certain questions were asked, how issues were handled, and where improvements can be made. And make them. In advance. Most important, establish a culture of communicating, in the good times, with those who will need or want answers during any type of crisis.

Kevin Stickney has 30 years’ executive-level experience in managing complex public affairs issues involving waste-to-energy, environmental technology, and a range of other industries. He is an expert in national and international media relations strategies and comprehensive employee, investor, and marketing communications programs for legislative, labor, and regulatory matters; technology and manufacturing sectors; service sector businesses, and capital project business development. Stickney has provided consulting and crisis communications and media training services worldwide, from Europe, Asia, and Australia to North America including Mexico, Canada, and the United States.

“There are no real secrets to effective, efficient, and responsible crisis management, just a few truths,” said Stickney. “Crises will occur in your business, your stakeholders will be affected, and your company’s reputation will change as a result. Those who take the initiative to prepare are often those who emerge from a crisis unscathed.”

New Hampshire-based Calypso Communications and Washington, D.C.-based Strategic Carbon Initiative, LLC (SCI), which teamed last year to meet international demand for integrated carbon-based management and exploration, are rapidly expanding awareness of the unique carbon science and strategy firm. The new enterprise will target carbon sequestration, methane hydrate energy exploration, and the assessment of natural ecosystem attenuation potential and protocol for global oil and gas majors, private industries, and governments.

Calypso (www.calypsocom.com) was selected by SCI in August 2009 for the agency’s broad experience with energy and environmental industries and its proven record in successfully developing fundable business plans for technology startup companies. Since, Calypso has completed a strategic plan and successfully engaged multiple private equity organizations in reviewing SCI’s advanced technologies, business model, and operational strategy.

Working with SCI as both an equity and integrated marketing partner while leading the startup’s effort to acquire operational funding, Calypso representatives and one of the founding principals of SCI will attend the RETECH 2010 conference in Washington, D.C., Feb. 3 – 5. Calypso will host an exhibit at RETECH, the nation’s premier event for the renewable energy industry.

SCI will help clients address large national and international carbon credit programs utilizing strong experience with strategies for deep ocean sediment sequestration. SCI/Calypso also will be marketing methane hydrate exploration know-how to global energy majors. Methane hydrate is widely recognized as an energy source that is two to three times larger than the U.S. petroleum reserve. Finally, SCI will provide expert evaluation and assessments of the natural degradation time required to remediate contamination for commercial and residential real estate development.

Calypso’s environmental clients include industry leaders in clean coal power generation, independent power, waste-to-energy, cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, tidal power, thin-film solar, and geothermal energy.

Calypso Communications, a full-service marketing, public relations, and graphic design firm, recently collaborated with Sexual Assault Support Services, a program committed to the prevention of child sexual abuse, sexual assault, and stalking, on two fundraisers, the Porch Light Award Brunch and a special return presentation of Beatles cover band Beatle Juice. Calypso raised media awareness and promoted public and donor interest for the events. More than $20,000 was raised for SASS and its partner, A Safe Place, an organization that aims to eliminate domestic violence.

“We have a responsibility to support our state’s non-profit organizations which are such an important part of our community fabric,” said Angela Carter, Calypso vice president. “Calypso has long supported SASS and the annual Porch Light Award presentation and we hope our efforts will ensure the event’s continued success.”

The 2009 Porch Light Award Brunch was recently held at the York Harbor Inn in York, Maine. Five individuals, Judy Wilbur-Albertson, Kristyn Bernier, Cindy Cole, Bill Faulkner, and Mike Pomp, were recognized for their significant contribution to improving lives through building a safer, healthier community. The Porch Light Award is presented annually and is named after the Porch Light Program, a grassroots movement originating in the 1980s that established a network of safe houses branded by a green porch light to identify the homes as a safe haven for women and children in need of emergency refuge.

Following the brunch, New England-based Beatles cover band Beatle Juice performed at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The band, which once featured the late Brad Delp, former front-man of Boston, performed various Beatles classics for an audience of all ages.

All fundraiser proceeds went to SASS and A Safe Place to support vital organization funding, children’s education, and prevention programs. Businesses and patrons interested in supporting SASS by donating money, time, or talent should visit www.sassnh.org or call the agency at 603-436-4107.

Each speaker will be given 20 PowerPoint slides with 20 seconds of commentary per slide, just 6 minutes and 40 seconds, to discuss the topic of his or her choice as long as it incorporates the evening’s theme. Pecha Kucha’s innovative approach to presentation formatting encourages speakers to communicate in a way that will capture their listeners effectively. To stay within the time constraints, they must stick to the basics, delivering a simple, concise message, eliminating drawn out discussions that lose audience interest almost immediately.

“I’m excited to bring Pecha Kucha back to the Seacoast community once again,” said Mike Teixeira, creative director for Calypso and coordinator of the event. “The presentations are always diverse, but this time they’ll be united by one underlying theme. It’s going to make for a dynamic event.”

Pecha Kucha originated in Japan in 2003. Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, both of Klein Dytham Architecture in Tokyo, created the event as a platform for young designers to meet, network, and display their work publicly. Since, Pecha Kucha has grown by leaps and bounds, establishing itself as the intersection between the business and creative worlds. To date, Pecha Kucha events have been hosted in 255 cities worldwide.

The event is open and free to the public. For more information please visit the Pecha Kucha Night – Portsmouth Facebook page. Those interested in presenting at this or future events should contact Mike Teixeira at Calypso Communications at 603-431-0816 or visit www.calypsocom.com.

“Calypso’s work with the initiative leveraged web-based networking tools like Vimeo to demonstrate the flexibility of social media and the ability of such sites to support complex, multi-user campaigns,” said Mike Teixeira, creative director for Calypso. “Since the PFCD wanted to quickly elevate its presence in the healthcare reform debate, a micro-site built on these technologies was the perfect solution.”

The “Say ‘Yes’ to Health Reform” campaign is a grassroots effort that aims to bring awareness to the United States’ chronic disease crisis and the impact it has on the American people. The site streams video testimonials from citizens affected by chronic disease discussing their support for comprehensive health reform that improves affordability, access, and quality. These numerous, diverse individuals demonstrate the extensive reach of chronic disease management and prevention issues throughout the nation.

“The “Say ‘Yes’ to Health Reform” micro-site humanizes the issues our country is having with chronic disease,” said Paul Young, Calypso founder. It allows our nation’s policymakers to step back from the intensity of the debate in Washington and see the individual faces and voices behind the fight for improved chronic disease management and prevention nationwide.”

To date the “Say ‘Yes’ to Health Reform” campaign website houses more than 100 video testimonials from residents throughout the 17 states in which the PFCD has chapters: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin. Additional videos will be continuously uploaded and sent to representative Congressional members for the duration of the health reform debate. Visit (www.sayyestohealthreform.com) for more information.

“We provide a full complement of energy efficient solutions to the commercial, education, and government markets designed to reduce a property’s energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Ed Paslawski, founder and chairman of Zero Carbon Systems. “Calypso was selected to help us create our logo, collateral, and website because of its vast experience in the branding and alternate energy arena.”

Through the use of the Hallowell Commercial Combined Heating and Cooling System, Zero Carbon Systems works directly with clients to lower their heating and cooling expenses while virtually eliminating their carbon footprint. Zero Carbon Systems is the only commercial provider of this patented technology, which saves users up to 80 percent in monthly energy-related expenses.

“There is nothing like the Hallowell commercial system,” stated Jody Flynn, president of Zero Carbon Systems. “This system is the winner of the 2007 Dealer Design Award and the 2008 AHR Innovation Award. Every unit eliminates 7,000 pounds of greenhouse gases annually. With 300 percent efficiencies versus a natural gas maximum of 95 percent, this strategy leads the industry in all categories of heating and cooling solutions including geothermal.”

The Hallowell unit, when paired with Solar PV panels or other renewable energy sources, entirely eliminates a property’s HVAC greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy efficiency surveys and custom-designed solutions that include the integration and installation of solar photovoltaic panels, small wind turbines, weatherization and insulation, and high efficiency lighting and hot water systems are among the services offered by Zero Carbon Systems.

“Zero Carbon Systems successfully combines unique technology, knowledge, and entrepreneurialism in a way that will benefit both business and environment,” said Sharon Delaney, Calypso vice president of client services. “Calypso thrives on working with unique solutions providers in the world of sustainable energy. We are proud to assist this innovative company in its positioning for North American growth.”

Calypso’s environmental clients include industry leaders in clean coal, independent power, waste-to-energy, and other renewable energy fields, as well as early-stage startups in cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, tidal power, thin-film solar technology, and geothermal energy. The agency’s services for startup and early-stage clients typically encompass strategic business plan research, writing, and development; branding; interactive, web, and new media campaigns; and investor, analyst, and customer communications.