In particular, Advanced Research Project Agency—Energy (ARPA-E) and DOE’s Loan Guarantee Program are under threat. Additionally, if they are not funded this year, it is highly unlikely that they will be included in the fiscal year 2012 budget. ARPA-E funded 37 high-risk, high-reward clean technology projects in 2009 and 2010 with $400 million, and the Loan Guarantee Program committed $26 billion in loan guarantees to 23 clean energy projects. These programs have attracted billions of dollars in investment and created or saved tens of thousands of jobs.

In addition to cutting clean economy programs, both the House and Senate have been actively debating the EPA’s regulatory authority to enforce the Clean Air Act. The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 (H.R. 910) by a 34-19 vote on March 15, which included language limiting EPA’s regulatory authority. The measure is expected to easily pass the Republican-controlled House when it comes to a vote in the next few weeks.

Republicans in the Senate then attempted to attach similar language to a small business bill, but that effort has proven unsuccessful thus far. Several other Senators, including Rockefeller (D-WV) and Baucus (D-MT), have offered less sweeping options that may attract more moderate Senators.

Furthermore, Republicans and some Democrats are marketing this legislation as a means by which to combat rising gas prices. Pulitzer Prize-winning Politifact recently debunked those claims, clarifying, “there’s no proof that the law would actually stop gas prices from rising. That being said, if gas prices continue to rise, it will encourage Congress to take action on energy policy.

Thank you to our friends at the Clean Economy Network for providing this important information.

HEI is one of the few utilities that also owns a bank and the organization is actively seeking and funding clean technologies, particularly biofuels. Hawaii is working towards returning to its energy self-sustaining past, when the state produced all its energy needs from biofuels, primarily sugar cane. Currently, Hawaii has the distinction of being the largest state importer of oil.

HEI offers an interesting proposition worth emulating – utilities having a structured financing arm, i.e., bank, that is focused on advancing renewable technologies.  It is also important to note the role of women as HEI moves ahead. According to Ms. Lau, approximately one-third of HEI management is women, including the head of the biofuel financing unit.

We will post Ms. Lau’s video comments when available.

From a communicator’s point-of-view, the information was not surprising. We are the ones that work with clients to ensure that their messages resonate with their audiences.  Most of us do that with integrity and steer our clients ‘back on the highway’ when they veer off.  I hold Wendell in the utmost esteem for leaving a situation where his integrity, by his own definition, was compromised.

Our lunch conversation veered to discussing the state of investigative journalism – or the lack of investigative journalism. “The Fourth Estate” used to report when people, companies, organizations, etc. were taking everyone for a ride, to keep with the metaphor.  That is generally no longer the case, so it’s up to the public to draw their own conclusions and gather their own facts through very decentralized news sources primarily via the internet.

So, here is a big tip for all you fact checkers  – According to The Pew Center, 80% of the links on social media sites and blogs are to U.S. legacy media … so if you question something you read on-line, try tracing it back to its original source.  A statistic originating from research by a NY Times reporter or the Prince of Nigeria might influence its credibility.

To Buy Wendell’s Book:  [click here]

For More Information:

The Pew Center: State of the News Media 2010 (report)

Wendell Potter Blog

Time Magazine: The Making of a Health-Care Whistle-Blower (Sept. 8, 2009)

Late last week, The Edison Awards notified the 90 nominees who’d made the list of Finalists. They’re thrilled to be recognized and are posted on  www.edisonawards.com. The awards symbolize the persistence and excellence personified by Thomas Alva Edison, inspiring America’s drive to remain in the forefront of innovation, creativity and ingenuity in the global economy.

“Thomas Edison pioneered four industries that are crucial to modern life: electric lighting, electric power generation, recorded sound and motion pictures,” said Dr. Paul Israel, Director of the Thomas A. Edison Papers at Rutgers University and member of the Edison Awards Steering Committee. ”Edison also made important contributions to a host of other industries, many of which are reflected in this year’s finalist pool.”

Winners of the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards will be announced April 5, 2011 at the historic Capitale Ballroom in New York.

In addition to announcing this year’s Best New Product Award recipients, the evening will feature the presentation of the prestigious Edison Achievement Award to Alan Mulally, CEO of Ford Motor Company, and to John Hendricks, Founder and Chairman of Discovery Communications. Both leaders have made significant and lasting contributions to innovation throughout their careers.

If you are interested in attending go to: www.edisonawards.com.

Press release:  http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=717056

The Wilson Center’s gain is a real loss for Congress and the American people.  Harmon is one of the few Democrats in Congress who has a deep understanding of the architecture of national security intelligence and knows a lot about the technical dimensions of satellites.

In my opinion, Pelosi’s failure to appoint Harmon Chair of the House Intelligence Committee speaks volumes about the politics of personalities rather than substance as Harmon’s knowledge in that area far surpassed anyone else’s background.

Congratulations Jane (who happens to be my Congresswoman). The Wilson Center’s gain is our loss.