When I found SmartPower on the web the first thing I did was try and get a job with them. That is how impressed I was with the job they are doing. Unfortunately for me they didn’t have any positions open at the time, but they did agree to answer ten questions for me so that I could share their mission with The Sietch readers. SmartPower is a nationwide, non-profit marketing campaign that is leading the effort to promote clean energy – electricity from sources such as wind, solar and water. I was lucky enough to exchange a couple emails with Mike Garofalo the communications director for SmartPower.
1.The Naib: Could you tell me about your organizations?
Mike Garofalo: SmartPower is a national, non-profit marketing organization that promotes clean energy (solar, wind, or small hydro) use by the public and municipalities. We don’t sell any products or “push” consumers to chose one particular provider or towards any one type of clean energy. We just try to get the public to understand that purchasing clean energy as part of the electricity that they purchase from current electricity their providers is a great thing to do – it helps the environment and makes us more energy independent. And it’s just as reliable as any other form of energy.
We are like the “got milk” campaign. We educate people about how easy it is to use clean energy and about the benefits of it. We have had operations in 8 states so far and to date over 15,000 residents have signed up for clean energy because of our efforts. How did it start, interesting facts about it, etc? We were originally funded in 2002 by 5 charitable foundations who understood that no one was telling the public that clean energy was real, was available and was as reliable as any other form of energy. So that’s how SmartPower got started and that’s been our mission to this point.
2.The Naib: When did you realize that renewable energy was the way to go?
Mike Garofalo: That happened at our inception! That’s the purpose for which we were started. It just makes sense. Personally, I realized the value of clean energy when I first heard about SmartPower and looked at what they were trying to do. It resonated with me.
3.TN: What are the main benefits to going renewable?
MG: Renewable energy makes our nation more energy independent, it cuts our reliance on fossil fuels, and it helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. It is as available and as reliable as any other form of energy. When you buy clean energy do you know what changes? Nothing! The lights and air conditioners still work as they did before, but the air is a little bit cleaner and we are less dependent on fossil fuels. What’s not to love? The great benefits certainly outweigh the small additional cost per kWh to buy clean energy.
4.TN: How did you first go about getting people to take interest in these technologies?
MG: It really happens one person or town at a time. SmartPower’s President, Brian Keane, is truly like a door-to-door salesman.He takes the message of clean energy availability and reliability across the country speaking with Clean Energy Funds, large municipalities, utility companies and non-profit organizations from coast to coast. Brian is backed up by our State Directors who run the field operations on the ground. The biggest challenge is getting people to listen to what we have to say – once they hear how reliable, safe, and available clean energy is, how small the additional cost is, and what all the benefits are – they are hooked!.
5.TN: What has been your most successful campaign been to date?
MG: So far, the SmartPower “20% by 2010” campaign has been our most effective campaign.. SmartPower has had nearly 80 communities in 3 states commit to our 20% by 2010 campaign. Joining that campaign means that the leaders in that municipality have committed to purchasing 20% of their electricity needs from clean sources by the year 2010. Its a leadership statement that these people care about the effects of global warming and they want to do their part to help. In these towns, if they can sign up local residents for support there are financial benefits. For example, in Connecticut, with the cooperation of the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, every town that commits to the program, purchases clean energy, and then signs up at least 100 local residents or businesses gets a FREE 1-kW solar array that will be placed on the roof of any municipal building that they choose. But some towns dont have the financial incentive and do it simply because its the right thing to do. We also partner with Pennsylvania’s Sustainable Development Fund who agreed to help the 1st 20 communities that signed up to receive a solar panel. There are 20 towns in Pennsylvania that committed and will also receive their free solar array. But, more importantly, there are 3 towns that have signed up after the solar incentive was already exhausted. They did NOT need a solar incentive. They did it because it was the right thing to do! That is really gratifying!
6.TN: What are you working on currently?
MG: We are planning on spreading this 20% program to other states. We are also working on a particular solar program and most excitingly, we are developing a new “energy efficiency” marketing toolkit. We are completing a great deal of research to better understand the public’s attitudes towards becoming energy efficient. We have conducted online surveys and our trained experts are analyzing the results and we will make this information available to the public once the research has been completed. We truly believe that energy efficiency when coupled with purchasing clean energy will truly be one of the best answers to the problem of global warming.
7.TN: Has the recent prominence of global warming in the news changed the way you run your campaigns at all?
MG: Well all of the prominence of global warming has certainly raised the public’s awareness of this issue. We no longer are the lone voice in the wilderness telling people this is a problem. The public understands the problem. They are looking for solutions. We help them understand the problem and how to use clean energy as the solution.
8.TN: What is your take on the Supreme Courts recent ruling concerning the EPA and Co2 emissions?
MG: The Supreme Court certainly did the right thing in siding with the state of Massachusetts against the EPA. If the EPA isn’t regulating greenhouse gases who, in our government will? The EPA has shown no willingness to regulate these emissions and the Court, wisely, told them that they must do that. Perhaps Congress can put pressure on the Administration to make the EPA do what they should be doing. At the very least, the heightened scrutiny on what the EPA is doing is very beneficial.
Our actual experience over the last 5 years has shown that its been the states and the municipalities within the states that have shown the courage and leadership on clean energy and on global warming. The federal government has shown a lack of leadership on making this a priority.
9.TN: What challenges are currently keeping renewable energy from gaining further acceptance in the marketplace?
MG: Plain and simple – it’s money. Renewable energy costs SLIGHTLY more – but NOT a great deal more. For the average home, for the cost of 1 or 2 premium lattes from your favorite barrista, you could be enjoying a purchase of 20% clean energy for the month. Now some folks cant afford that but most people can. But sometimes it is simply a matter of education! And that’s where SmartPower comes in. We are here to help institutions, individuals, municipalities and states understand that clean energy is real – it’s here – and it’s working! So… Let’s Make More!
10.TN: What are your predictions for the state of the renewable industry for the future?
MG: With the prevalence of the global warming stories in the media, and with our educational outreach efforts, more people will want to purchase clean energy. Renewable energy costs only a tiny bit more, but it fights global warming, helps make us energy independent, and is a renewable resource. I just cannot imagine how it cannot continue to grow and prosper. There is a great deal more information on our website if your readers are interested – www.smartpower.org
TN: Thank you for your time.
MG: Thanks for the chance to speak with your readers!