SmartPower’s latest campaign, My Gulf Action, launched earlier this month—and it’s going strong!

We are thrilled to have joined forces with DoSomething.org’s Weekend Without Oil campaign; Center for Resource Solutions; Waterkeeper Alliance; 350.org; League of Conservation Voters; Clean Water Action; Citizen Global; and Gulf Future, a joint initiative of the Gulf Coast Fund and Gulf Restoration Network, to help promote My Gulf Action.

If you missed it, check out Brian Keane’s a Huffington Post op-ed about My Gulf Action and the need for a nationwide energy use reduction platform. And we ran a full-page ad in the July 14 issue of the New York Times (left).

We know Americans are frustrated about what’s going on in the Gulf. Even though BP is taking steps to cap the well and stop the leak, this catastrophe is far from over. And even after every last oily beach has been cleaned, the real, longer-lasting problem still persists; our nation’s crippling dependence on fossil fuels. Stanching THAT eternal flow is the real key to energy independence—and to preventing another Gulf disaster.

That’s why we created this campaign, which you can join for free at MyGulfAction.com. The website is powered by Climate Culture, which you may be familiar with from our award-winning America’s Greenest Campus campaign. Sign up, pledge energy use reductions—and see those reductions aggregate with millions of others on the homepage, showing how many gallons of oil in the Gulf we have offset through My Gulf Action.

To keep up with news and updates about the Gulf and the campaign, follow us on Twitter (@MyGulfAction) and Facebook. And please share the site with your friends, family and social networks! We ultimately hope to offset every last drop, so we need your help to get the word out.

Brian was invited to present at this year’s Aspen Environment Forum, where he will join dozens of other thought leaders to ponder the great energy and sustainability questions posed by our modern way of life. The forum “explores the shifts in thinking and imagination that will be required to rise to the awesome challenges ahead, from ways of reorganizing urban ecosystems, to preserving biodiversity, to developing alternative energy sources and providing a stable climate for a growing global population.”

Brian will participate in panels on embracing clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency, sharing the stage with Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Energy Institute; former Austin, TX, Mayor Will Wynn; Jack Hidary of the Global Solar Center; and others. Other attendees at this year’s forum include EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, author Jeff Goodell, and actors Kevin Costner and Wendell Pierce.

Other recent presentations by SmartPower staff include Brian Wright’s discussion of America’s Greenest Campus at Disruptathon and Jonathan Edwards’s presentation of SmartPower’s marketing and social media strategy at Digital Capital Week, both in Washington, D.C.

As you may have heard, SmartPower’s America’s Greenest Campus campaign won a Clean Air Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. On May 26, staff from SmartPower and our technology partner, Efficiency 2.0, gathered in Washington, D.C., to accept this prestigious award from Deputy EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.

One highlight of the day was that Dr. Chris Bustamante, president of Rio Salado College, was able to join us. Rio Salado won our America’s Greenest Campus contest, along with University of Maryland, College Park, in 2009. To cap off a great day, after receiving the award we celebrated at the W Hotel, a Washington landmark that also works hard to maximize its energy efficiency actions! Check out more photos from the ceremony and the reception on our Facebook page.

We’re excited to announce that SmartPower is again working in Connecticut with our partners the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, Earth Markets, Clean Water Fund and Efficiency 2.0, and several other organizations in an exciting energy efficiency program. The Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge received one of just 20 grants awarded by the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. Projects chosen will produce scalable and replicable energy efficiency and conservation campaigns in communities across the country.

SmartPower will be responsible for marketing, messaging and social/new media. This campaign, headed by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, will launch this fall in 14 communities across Connecticut, all of which have been part of the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Campaign. Our goal will be to engage 10 percent of residents and produce a 20 percent energy reduction in each community.

SmartPower is thrilled to welcome Steve Loritz, the newest member of our team. Steve is Arizona SmartPower’s new Solar Coach. He will work closely with Flagstaff residents—and others across Arizona—to help support our Arizona Solar Challenge, answering questions about solar and walking participants the last mile from awareness to installation.

Prior to joining SmartPower, Steve was a renewable energy consultant at a private vocational college in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. While there, he developed curriculum and taught classes in solar PV and small wind energy systems, and was senior instructor for a large solar integrator making waves in the Bay Area and the world. He has also worked as a training manager for Southwest Windpower and has experience in information technology. Steve holds degrees in Education and Anthropology from Northern Arizona University.

Welcome, Steve!

With summer in full swing, SmartPower is thrilled to present this year’s summer intern class—or, as we like to call them, the SmartTerns. They are hard at work on all kinds of projects—including frequent updates to the SmartPower blog and new episodes of their “Smart Tips from SmartPower” video series, which you can view on SmartPower’s YouTube page.

Learn more about this summer’s SmartTerns:

Charlie Fisher: Charlie Fisher was born and raised in Scottsdale, AZ, but escaped the crazy heat as soon as possible to attend Whittier College, located just outside of Los Angeles, where he is now a junior. Fisher is in the Whittier Scholars Program, where he has designed a major around his interests, including marketing, digital art, and environmental studies. Fisher is also a member of the Whittier lacrosse team—and is an overall sports fanatic.

At SmartPower, Charlie hopes to gain useful skills, knowledge and relationships that will benefit his ability to spread environmental consciousness. He knows that his generation is vital in mitigating the damage we have already inflicted on our environment, and must begin to change people’s view of and relationship with the natural world around them. He is excited to use different media outlets to communicate to young people the dire need to know the truth about the state of the environment and to begin to change everyday behaviors in favor of energy efficiency and conservation.

Lauren Keane-Farrell: Originally from Boston, Lauren attempted to escape the cold weather by attending college in Washington, D.C. A junior at American University, she is currently double majoring in communications and theatre. In addition to classes, she is involved with AU's student-run television station, ATV, and Best Buddies International. Lauren is most excited to combine her communications background, creativity and passion for the environment this summer at SmartPower!

Erin Molon: Traveling from her hometown of Wheatfield, Indiana, Erin is a junior marketing major at Indiana University. Her strong interest in both marketing and environmental issues is what led her to SmartPower. While not interning, she is involved in Toastmasters International, as well as an environmentally conscious business group on campus, Net Impact: Sustainability in Business.

Last semester Erin held an internship at Climate Culture, which piqued her interest in all things green and taught her many of the ins and outs of social media marketing. During her time at SmartPower, she hopes to use these skills, as well as others, to inspire her generation to become more energy savvy.

Brandon Rose: Brandon is a senior at Indiana University. He is majoring in legal studies at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs with a minor in business at the Kelley School of Business. When he is not studying or working, he enjoys keeping up with professional sports teams in his hometown of Philadelphia, which include the Flyers, Phillies, Eagles and 76ers.

At SmartPower, Brandon hopes to spread clean energy awareness and confidence to the consumer before it’s too late. He is also excited to have the opportunity to help other college students reduce their carbon footprint in a big way. In addition to interning at SmartPower, he will be enjoying his first summer in Washington, D.C.!

Alison Shapiro: Alison is an incoming senior at Poolesville High School in Maryland, with academic interests in journalism and environmental studies. She is excited to be getting out of her small town and commuting to D.C. for the summer.

When Alison is not in school or doing homework, she enjoys cooking, photography, playing drums and taking care of her dogs. Alison hopes to promote clean energy awareness while interning at SmartPower and would like to influence her generation to make positive changes to protect the environment for the future.

Contrary to Kermit the Frog’s infamous line, it IS easy being green—and a new series of videos by SmartPower’s summer interns, “Smart Tips from SmartPower,” shows you how! View the whole series on SmartPower’s YouTube channel, and be on the lookout for updates throughout the summer.

For some green inspiration, check out Episode 1: Slash Your Utility Bills and Wasted Energy!

Phoenix Business Journal: SmartPower looks to educate the masses on solar, June 22, 2010

Huffington Post: BP Should Pay to Educate the Public about Clean Energy, June 17, 2010

Renewable Energy World: Brad Albert of Arizona Public Service mentions SmartPower's solar work in Arizona, June 15, 2010