While the “look” is the same, there’s a lot that’s new and different on SmartPower’s website which can be viewed at www.smartpower.org.

Not only do we feature three new “walk-ons” by SmartPower’s President Brian Keane, but the new site highlights our most recent campaign work in energy efficiency and clean energy campaigns. We have given special prominence to our latest effort, Arizona SmartPower. You can also find links to all of our recent social media projects, including the Top 10 videos from our YouTube Energy Smart Ad Challenge.

Utility companies can find out how we can help grow their Green Choice Program throughout their service territory, and government agencies can learn how we’re using community-based marketing to speak to residents about making smarter energy choices.

So check out the new site to see how we can help your organization. And together, Let’s Get Energy Smart!

As some already have seen, in 2010, SmartPower is heading west, and working with Arizona Public Service (APS) to apply our community-based outreach and messaging approach to people across the state. As part of this effort and to allow SmartPower to build critical capacity in the Grand Canyone state, we are creating an off-shoot of SmartPower – Arizona SmartPower – to work with residential customers on energy issues. Our first project will be a residential solar program we are calling, “The Arizona Solar Challenge.” The Challenge will work with municipalities and community-based groups to encourage residents to install solar. Program elements will include:

• Municipal incentives that will encourage leadership at the top to work with their entire community to “go solar and take advantage of APS incentives.”
• A stakeholder process which will bring the resources of a variety of organizations such as installers, community organizations, non-profits and trade groups together for a coordinated effort;
• Our “Solar Coach” program designed to help residents as they face some of the complexities of installing solar. Our solar coach will “walk them along the last mile” towards installation.
• A “Solar Ambassador” program that will tap into the enthusiasm of existing solar customers to create an army of solar enthusiasts across Arizona.

Stay tuned as we launch Arizona SmartPower and begin implementing our solar campaign – the Arizona Solar Challenge!

SmartPower has announced that it has become the lead sponsor of the Buy Clean Energy 2010 Campaign. Buy Clean Energy 2010 is a yearlong campaign that encourages individuals and businesses to promote the development of clean energy in the U.S. by switching to renewable electricity. Buycleanenergy.org is leveraging the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in order to help build awareness and help the American people easily and quickly become part of the clean energy economy.

Thousands of businesses and households nationwide are already taking the simple step of buying Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). By purchasing RECs, we are helping drive investors and utilities to build clean energy generation. Buycleanenergy.org seeks to increase REC purchases across the nation. With a goal of one billion kilowatt-hours purchased through this campaign, Buy Clean Energy 2010 is an ambitious call to action for consumers and businesses to support clean, renewable energy for years to come.

A partnership of SmartPower, the Center for Resource Solutions, Green-e, ACORE, NRDC, Xcel Energy, Sterling Planet and Ecoelectrons, the website provides three simple steps for consumers to take to (1) buy clean energy; (2) learn what programs are available to them in their area, and (3) add their name to a growing roster of consumers who have purchased clean energy.

We are excited about being a partner in this ambitious campaign, and helping America become Energy Smart! Clean energy is real. It’s here. And it’s working. Let’s make more!

SmartPower is pleased to announce that we have partnered with KEMA and the California Energy Commission to help promote renewable energy in the State of California. In addition to a host of work assignments from KEMA and the CEC, SmartPower anticipates it will design and implement programs to:

• Raise the consumer awareness of California residents about renewable electricity;
• Increase consumer demand and purchase of small-scale emerging renewable energy systems;
• Facilitate stakeholder collaborations through existing and new alliances and partnerships with organizations interested in expanded use of renewable energy in California; and,
• Develop an industry-leading clearinghouse of information on products and programs that promote renewable energy in a mainstream marketplace that can be used by potential customers of renewable energy as a “good housekeeping seal of approval.”

We anticipated that SmartPower will begin by focusing on the CEC Consumer Education Programs and the Renewable Rebate Programs that are available in California. We are excited about our new partnership, and look forward to helping make the residents of California Energy Smart!

As SmartPower prepares for an anticipated launch of a “new and improved” Western Mass Saves program, we simultaneously look back on the past few months and are thrilled with the foundation that has been laid with our partners.

With a municipal focus geared toward creating marketing partnerships with cities and towns across Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO) territory, the Western Mass Saves program has been gaining traction in many of the cities and towns in this region. To date, 13 towns have signed up to be official partners in the program, and the number is steadily climbing. Towns that have agreed to participate include: Pittsfield, Amherst, Hadley, Sunderland, Ludlow, Leverett, Granville, Middlefield, Richmond, Shelburne, Gill, Buckland and Bernardston. We anticipate this number to grow to beyond 20 in the coming few weeks.

As official partners, each town created a strategic outreach plan to engage residents through local media and community outreach. As we move through the winter months, towns have begun to hold introductory meetings to sign up residents to the online energy saving tool. Additionally, as part of the media outreach strategy, towns will begin to air Generation’s, the SmartPower Energy Smart Ad Challenge winning video, at local cinemas and cable access television stations.

The foundation that has been laid in so many cities and towns in Western Massachusetts has effectively set the stage for the next phase of this program that will introduce an enhanced website and municipal incentives designed to fully engage and reward community leaders and residents alike.

Stay tuned for the unveiling of WMS 2.0 in the coming weeks!

Andrew Voris, our Communications Manager, has decided to leave SmartPower to pursue a new career. Andrew started with SmartPower as an intern from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and upon graduation, joined our staff as a full-time employee. Andrew has been a great asset to the organization and a real pleasure to work with. To say the least, he’ll be missed!

We are in the process of interviewing candidates to fill Andrew’s position, so if you know of any qualified candidates, please let us know.