Keri Enright

SmartPower is pleased to announce that Keri Enright has been appointed as SmartPower State Program Director.  Since joining SmartPower in October of 2005, Keri has worked tirelessly to promote clean energy through her efforts in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and as Editor of the Clean Energy Current, SmartPower’s electronic monthly newsletter.  

A graduate of the Heller School of Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, Keri served for two and a half years in Tonga as a volunteer with the US Peace Corps.  She has a background and a passion for clean energy, coming to SmartPower after a stint in Washington, DC with the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE).
  
Over the past year, Keri has led SmartPower’s marketing efforts in Southeastern Pennsylvania, successfully introducing the award winning Clean Energy Communities campaign to communities in the PECO service territory.  In under a year, the Pennsylvania Clean Energy Communities program has already realized 11 communities committing to 20% clean energy by 2010. The entire campaign, under the direction of Keri, has generated an added level of enthusiasm and awareness for clean energy throughout the five country region.

“We are incredibly pleased that Keri will now be overseeing our Connecticut operation,” said Brian F. Keane, President of SmartPower.  “Her commitment and her energy combined with her marketing acumen make her the perfect leader for our efforts.  We couldn’t be happier to have her focus her skills on our efforts to convince people that clean energy is real. It’s here. And it’s working.” 

Please join us in welcoming Keri to her new position!  Under Keri’s direction, we are confident that our Connecticut marketing initiatives will now surpass the ground-breaking successes that have already been realized.

Congratulations, Keri!  Let’s make more!

Mike Garofalo, a veteran New Hampshire activist, to head operations in the Granite State

Mike Garofalo

With the conviction and knowledge that a presidential campaign is “one big marketing opportunity,” SmartPower has hired New Hampshire activist, Mike Garofalo to be the State Director of its new operations in the Granite State.

Brian F. Keane, President of SmartPower, views this new operation as a chance to bring the clean energy debate to New Hampshire and especially to the presidential candidates visiting the state in advance of the presidential primary next January.
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“We are excited to have Mike join the SmartPower staff. He is a well known and respected leader across New Hampshire.” said Keane. “Mike’s history with other non-profit advocacy groups, combined with his unbridled energy and enthusiasm make him the perfect person to lead our efforts in the Granite State. This is a pivotal time for the clean energy market, particularly as it has become an important talking point in the national political debate.  Mike will bring this discussion right into the living rooms of New Hampshire residents.”

SmartPower’s focus in New Hampshire will be to ensure that “20% by 2010^SM” and clean energy in general become major talking points for all the Presidential candidates visiting the state. SmartPower will work with all the candidates to ensure their public support for 20% by 2010 and clean energy.

“I am excited to join the SmartPower staff at this critical time for clean, renewable energy,” said Garofalo. “New Hampshire plays a vital role in the presidential primary process and I welcome the opportunity to have a dialogue with candidates of both parties and have them respond to the clean energy challenge. Let’s make more!” Garofalo said.

Garofalo has resided in New Hampshire for nearly three decades and has been involved in social, civic, and political causes for many years. “I want New Hampshire to play a leading role in the clean energy debate. With SmartPower’s expertise and guidance, that will become a reality,” he concluded.

Upper Dublin Township is leading the clean energy charge in Pennsylvania. Not only has the Board of Commissioners committed to purchasing 20% clean energy by 2010 through the Pennsylvania Clean Energy Communities Campaign but they have also announced their decision to purchase 1,120 MWH of clean energy for their municipal complex, which includes the township administration building, the police department, and the library.  Altogether, this purchase accounts for over half of the township's annual energy usage. The township intends to buy a blend of 20% local Pennsylvania farm methane from NativeEnergy, 5% PECO WIND and 75% national wind power from Community Energy, Inc.

Jules J. Mermelstein

"Clean energy is not only an environmental and health issue, it has become a national security issue.  I am happy that we in Upper Dublin have chosen to 'think globally and act locally,’” stated Jules J. Mermelstein, Vice-President, Upper Dublin Board of Commissioners.        

To build upon the community’s enthusiasm for clean energy, the Environmental Protection Advisory Board of Upper Dublin Township and the Upper Dublin High School environmental classes also sponsored a public town hall meeting on global warming. This event featured the documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" as well as a speaker’s panel, including local and state officials, who spoke about what is being done on the local, state and federal levels to reduce carbon emissions.  At the event, Mermelstein encouraged local residents to sign up for clean energy to help make Upper Dublin Township a Clean Energy Community.  To augment the townships clean energy outreach efforts, a Public Service Announcement (PSA) is also airing on the township’s local cable access channel.  The PSA combines the SmartPower clean energy ad “Houses” with a message from Mermelstein that encourages community members to follow the township’s lead and sign up for clean energy.  Upper Dublin stands out as a community that is truly making a difference.

To the victor goes the spoil of solar energy!  And that is exactly what the town of Bethany claimed with their recent victory in their clean energy challenge with neighboring Cheshire.

Challenging Cheshire to a race to be the first town to get three percent of its households to sign up to support clean energy, Bethany First Selectwoman Derry Gorski and Cheshire Mayor Matt Hall announced the friendly competition with a handshake on September 9th, 2006. 

Taking the race seriously, both towns ambitiously set out to encourage residents to sign up for CTCleanEnergyOptions^SM, the clean energy program sponsored by the Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC).  Bethany’s Clean Energy Task Force (CETF) raced out of the gates quickly by soliciting sign-ups at Bethany’s ‘Family Day’ held in September as well as the Senior Fair and a special town meeting held in October. 

Bethany First Selectwoman Derry Gorski worked with the local boy scout troop to ask Bethany residents to sign up for CTCleanEnergyOptions on Bethany’s ‘Family Day’ fair.

While the town of Cheshire certainly put their best foot forward, Bethany’s aggressive outreach efforts helped them reach the three percent goal first.

Bethany’s First Selectwoman hailed her town’s residents saying, “[t]he people of Bethany have spoken.  We care about energy issues and the environment."  We care about energy issues and the environment.”  Cheshire Mayor Matt Hall also had praise to give, adding, “I’d like to congratulate the Town of Bethany and their First Selectwoman, Derry Gorski.  After all, this never was about a town winning or losing, this was always about taking action on the issues that concern us all.”  Hall continued “as more people use clean, renewable energy, we all win.”

Far surpassing the three percent goal, almost ten percent of Bethany’s households and businesses are currently signed up for CTCleanEnergyOptions. SmartPower applauds both towns for their creativity, leadership and commitment to clean energy.