Further expansion of renewable energy depends on powerful business voices. Time and again members of Congress have come away from meeting with industry professionals with a new understanding and appreciation of the amount of clean energy being generated in their district and how many jobs and economic opportunities are being created.
Reflecting a deep commitment to empowering business to be a force for change, SBN, as part of the A Renewable America campaign, co-hosted advocacy training for renewable industry employees at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
A national center for smart grid and distributed generation technologies, the Navy Yard proved an apt location. The Navy Yard is at the forefront of the deployment of distributed generation technologies- one of only a few locations where microgrid development is actually underway - and has become a showcase for other industrial complexes and universities exploring microgrids as a way to increase efficiency by using local power sources.
The training program took a deep look at how policy and decisions are made and how renewable energy business can affect change. Participants - including representatives of Gamesa, Community Energy, Solar States, and Energy Co-op - engaged in interactive exercises on how to develop their advocacy pitch as well as role-playing to practice delivery techniques.
A high-energy portion of the training focused on the important details of traditional media outreach,including techniques for on-camera interviews, editorial boards, and opinion submissions. It included information on honing your message and how to stay on message and not be caught off guard by a reporter’s questions. This section concluded with helping businesses leverage social media to reach key decision makers, the media and influencers, including an expert presentation on best practices with Twitter and Facebook.
Many participants departed ready to make use of their new skills.“To be a part of it was A real privilege. I found it TO be both useful and enlightening, and in so many ways. I’m already chomping at the bit to find energy advocacy opportunities to put it to use,” said Jim Innes of Carrier Class Green Infrastructure.
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Local Renewable Energy Companies Learn to Make Their Advocacy Pitch