March 2009
You are browsing the archive for March 2009.
Clear Communication
As I dig into the current proposal writing season I am immersed in the benefits of clear communication; the point of which is to allow decision makers to easily understand proposed projects and benefits and grant funding.
Dr. Frank Lutz lays out ten rules of successful communication in the first chapter of his book, “Words that [...]
Proposal Process
What does it take to get government funding? Here are some ideas to ponder and steps to take:
Assess your funding opportunities. What are the goals of the funding organization? Right now goals permeating government funding opportunities are creation of green jobs, energy efficiency, sustainability and curtailing climate change.
Identify your [...]
Offshore Renewable Energy
The first hydrokinetic, i.e., wave energy project in the US surrendered its license in February, 2009. Finavera Renewables put its Makah Bay project in the Pacific Northwest on hold to concentrate on other alternative energy sources and wave projects in Europe.
I wonder if that is related to the DOI and FERC [...]
The Black Swan and Environmental Risk
How do we evaluate risk when we make decisions? Risk is the hot topic right now. Systemic risk in the global economy. Global climate risks associated with carbon emissions.
I saw the building of the 800 mile long Alaskan pipeline on the American Experience last night on PBS. It explains [...]
Natural Gas
Natural gas produces 50% less carbon emissions than coal and the US has 85% of the natural gas supplies needed for our current needs. Liquid natural gas terminals have been proposed along the New Jersey coast,to facilitate foreign imports, setting off a wave of controversy over impacts.
Let’s take a look in the East Coast’s backyard [...]
Show Me a Sign – I’ll be Willin’
Cooperatives are owned by the consumers who buy services from them. They are usually formed as non-profits under state laws and provide at-cost services.
Electric coops were formed in the US in the early 1900s to provide electricity to rural areas that regular utility companies bypassed because they would not be profitable.
Currently, electric coops own and [...]
Government Funding Process
An article I read in the WSJ yesterday “Opportunity Knocks in Stimulus Plan” by Kelly Spors, provides keen insight into how laborious it can be to obtain government funding and how important it is to develop relationships with funding agencies early. The author also notes that professional proposal writers tend to win more project awards.
Take [...]
Dissociative Profits?
Utility companies profit by selling energy, the greater the demand, the more money they make depending on their ability to supply the energy. A movement is afoot to decouple (dissociate) utility profits from sales volume to promote conservation.
Currently, utility rates are regulated and based on a projection of the costs of providing service over [...]
Combustion
I drove to Maryland this weekend and noticed a plethora of motorcycles on the road probably due to the first hint of nice spring weather. Seeing these motorcycles got me wondering – are there eco friendly motorcycles around?
The short answer is no, but the technology exists. A motorcycle’s engine can be converted to run on [...]
New Wave
Wind passing over open water creates ocean waves and is also a form of renewable energy. Any surfer can tell you of the power of waves and now there are technologies available to harness that power and convert it into energy supplies; for example the oscillating water column, which is sort of like a wind [...]