For over a decade, Fresh Energy has been doing groundbreaking work in the media to push for an energy system that supports the health of our economies, our people, and our environment while moving us toward energy independence. Our most recent work is listed below.

Television

Snow stamping puts ‘green’ ads on Mpls powder (12/28/2009) - Innovative business Element Six Media finds a new, more sustainable way for companies to build brand awareness. It stamps their logos in the snow. WCCO-TV features this effort with Fresh Energy logos. “We thought it was a clever approach to a low-impact promotional idea,” says Executive Director Michael Noble.

YouTube viral video heats up global warming debate (10/28/2009) - When the Minnesota Free Market Institute sponsored an event for global warming deniers, Executive Director Michael Noble lent his opinion to WCCO-TV. He calls it “silly” and “embarrassing.”

‘Energy Star’ label found on wrong appliances (10/19/2009) - Executive Director Michael Noble speaks with WCCO-TV about Energy Star appliances, their credibility, and the importance of understanding home energy consumption.

Good Question: Who is T. Boone Pickens? (10/15/2008) - WCCO-TV speaks with Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton about millionaire T. Boone Pickens. She says his plan rightfully gets everyone's attention, with the potential of harnessing clean, renewable energy domestically.

WE POWER: Charging the 10:00PM newscast (8/21/2008 - 9/01/2008) - Fresh Energy teams up with Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. and WCCO-TV at the Minnesota State Fair. For the second year in a row, Fresh Energy staff and volunteers powered the newscast through battery-charging stationary bikes.

Bachmann calls for more U.S. oil drilling (7/18/2008) - Executive Director Michael Noble lends his opinion to KARE-TV on whether the nation should drill offshore for oil. He explains that pursuing that last drops of oil will not make as much of a difference as building more efficient cars with better fuels.

Big Stone II power plant suffers big setback (5/10/2008) - When two Minnesota administrative law judges made recommendations against the controversial proposed Big Stone II coal plant, executive director Michael Noble joined clean energy advocates in supporting the recommendations. Years of testimony and thousands of pages of evidence prove that renewables are better for consumers, he says to the Associated Press.

Good Question: Why is mercury in florescent bulbs? (2/14/2008) - J. Drake Hamilton, science policy director, dispels the myth that mercury in CFL light bulbs is dangerous and to be avoided. She explains to WCCO that it's far more dangerous to use inefficient, old-fashioned light bulbs, which demand more energy from coal plants that emit mercury into the air.

Radio

Can Minnesota have a renewable energy supply? (6/16/2010) - Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton speaks with Minnesota Public Radio about the oil spill and how the nation can work toward energy independence. The Senate needs to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation that puts a strong limit on global warming pollution and drives the innovation necessary to create millions of clean energy jobs in America.

Copenhagen climate change conference enters its final days (12/17/2009) - Executive Director Michael Noble joins polar explorer Will Steger, Representative Kate Knuth and others on Minnesota Public Radio in a live report-back from the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen.

Would a cap and trade system burden Minnesota? (12/7/2009) - Minnesota Public Radio provides Cap and Trade 101 to listeners in the first story in a four-part series. The station quotes Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton about how we must develop the market for low-carbon technologies.

Experts say Obama’s U.N. speech a ‘right direction’ on climate change (9/23/2009) - After President Obama’s speech about climate change to the United Nations, Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton lends global insight. She says both China and Japan have put forth goals, and it leaves the door wide open for the United States to do the same.

Cap-and-cash, black carbon & blow, baby, blow (4/14/2009) - Executive Director Michael Noble speaks to National Public Radio’s Earthbeat about capping carbon and giving the revenue back to customers.

After the ethanol bubble (4/1/2009) - Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton speaks with Minnesota Public Radio about biofuels, tar sands, global warming, and the government’s role in driving innovation.

WOJB (2/25/2009) - J. Drake Hamilton, Fresh Energy’s science policy director, speaks with this Hayward, Wisconsin station about the economic stimulus package and what it means for jobs in the Upper Midwest.

WCCO (1/28/2009) - Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton talks about the Repower, Refuel, Rebuild America campaign and explains how Minnesota will see great benefits from a clean energy economy.

EPA Raises Objections to Big Stone II Power Plant (1/23/2009) - Shortly after the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the transmission lines for the proposed Big Stone II coal plant, the Environmental Protection Agency rejected the South Dakota air permit for the project. Clean Energy Director Linda Taylor explains the background and next steps to Minnesota Public Radio.

Truth to tell, Central Corridor: Is it really going to kill MPR? (1/14/2009) - When Minnesota Public Radio cited concern about the Central Corridor light rail line due to noise and vibration, Michael Noble lent insight to KFAI-FM. He says delaying the project is unnecessary.

Minnesota regulators approve power lines for South Dakota plant (1/15/2009) - Clean energy advocates spoke out when the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the transmission lines for the proposed Big Stone II plant. Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton points out to Minnesota Public Radio that the decision is a step backward from what Governor Pawlenty planned with a Renewable Energy Standard, in addition to President Obama’s plans for a lower-carbon future.

HourCar offers solar powered cars (10/21/2008) - J. Drake Hamilton, Fresh Energy's science policy director, speaks to Minnesota Public radio about the large-scale benefits of programs like HourCar, which just added solar-powered Toyota Priuses to its Twin Cities fleet. Companies and policy makers are seeing that people want smarter, cleaner, and cheaper ways of getting around, she says.

WTIP (9/25/2008) - Executive Director Michael Noble discusses why getting off of coal and oil is the right goal for the Cook County Local Energy Project.

Indian Uprising (8/24/2008) - Energy Justice Program Associate Daryl Sager speaks on KFAI's Indian Uprising. He and Tom Goldtooth of Indigenous Environmental Network warn against the pollution of the Alberta tar sands project and encourage indigenous people to be more active against it.

Does clean coal really exist? (5/20/2008) - Executive Director Michael Noble speaks with other industry experts on Minnesota Public Radio about the proposed Big Stone II project and the feasibility of zero emissions coal plants.

KUMD (4/22/2008) - Carin Skoog, Fresh Energy's global warming solutions coordinator, promotes an upcoming event on the University of Minnesota-Duluth's KUMD. She discusses Fresh Energy's legislative agenda and encourages listeners to attend UMD's event "Local to  Global Climate Change Solutions."

Forum Event on Energy Independence and Security (4/21/2008) - Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton visits Minnesota Public Radio for a discussion on energy independence and security. Audience members make comments and ask questions while she lends her expertise on clean energy.

Indian Uprising (4/13/2008) - Energy Justice Program Associate Daryl Sager speaks with Chris Spotted Eagle on KFAI's segment dedicated entirely to Native American issues. He explains the importance of weatherization programs for Native communities and speaks about the promise of the new green economy.

Print

Minnesotans plugging in to electric vehicles (6/26/2010) - Between a bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate and the Gulf oil spill, talk about electric vehicles is growing. Executive Director Michael Noble tells the Pioneer Press that people can use EVs even for electric storage.

Conservation hits home (3/26/2010) - The Pioneer Press reports that utilities are encouraging energy efficiency to meet the bottom line. Clean Energy Director Linda Taylor says efficiency will likely take off like recycling has. Recycling was never required, but now most people do it.

'Complete Streets' bill being considered in Legislature would pave Minnesota's roads with flexibility (3/1/2010) - Transportation Coordinator Ethan Fawley gives the Pioneer Press background about the state’s Complete Streets bill. He explains that the bill would easily translate to sidewalks and bike lanes, if a given city wanted them.

Greater energy efficiency called for (2/24/2010) - Fresh Energy assisted the Consumer Federation of America with the release of its report on energy efficiency. It found that Minnesota families could save up to $180 a year, if Congress enacted more aggressive efficiency measures in its bills. Clean Energy Director Linda Taylor empathizes with families going through difficult financial times in this Pioneer Press article.

Climate change and health vulnerabilities (11/1/2009) - Minnesota Medicine invited Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton to explain to readers the effects of global warming on public health. She says physicians should be part of the advocate community that is looking for clean energy solutions.

How did Pawlenty go from GOP’s ‘green edge’ to charges of a flip-flop? (10/10/2009) - The Pioneer Press describes clean energy advocates’ concern that Governor Pawlenty is not delivering on his commitment to reduce pollution. Executive Director Michael Noble says Pawlenty abandoned the high bar he set.

Macalester College gets prized LEED distinction for new building (9/30/2009) - Executive Director Michael Noble commends Macalester College in the Pioneer Press for its new LEED-platinum-certified building on campus. He says the school is showing how efficient buildings are a good investment.

Cap and trade legislation worries utilities (9/19/2009) - Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton sheds insight to the Brainerd Dispatch on how a cap-and-trade system would work.

Do we need coal for power? No (9/16/2009) – Executive Director Michael Noble co-authors an editorial in the Star Tribune about Otter Tail Power’s decision to leave the Big Stone II project and what it means for Minnesota energy.

Giving back to the grid (8/31/2009) - The Pioneer Press uses Clean Energy Director Linda Taylor as a source for information on the Waxman-Markey bill, renewable energy, and smart grids.

Aggravation mounts in Minnesota over governor's shift on climate (8/24/09) - Fresh Energy science policy director J. Drake Hamilton is quoted in a ClimateWire story about Governor Pawlenty's recent shift on global warming. She says, "At best, it's disingenuous to have created and staffed a process that says we're going to create economic opportunities around clean energy in the Midwest, and then to abandon that process without offering any other way to move forward." The article was lifted by the New York Times.

Energy-cost safeguards sought for climate bill (7/23/2009) - The Pioneer Press covers a coalition’s concern for low and middle income families in the federal energy bill. Executive Director Michael Noble says, “The point of a carbon dioxide reduction plan is to squeeze the pollution out of coal burning, not to squeeze families.”

Dispute over biofuels has a middle ground (6/13/2009) - Executive Director Michael Noble teams up with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Jim Harkness and Clean Up the River Environment’s Patrick Moore in an op-ed in the Star Tribune. They discuss the scope of the state’s agricultural industry. “We need to better understand the links between what happens here in the Corn Belt and what happens in the rainforest,” they say.

Incentives giving solar projects a bright boost (6/4/2009) - Clean Energy Director Linda Taylor talks about increasing the scale of solar energy in Minnesota in this Star Tribune article.

The best climate solution (4/26/2009) - Executive Director Michael Noble teams up with Chesapeake Climate Action Network’s executive director Mike Tidwell in a piece about Representative Van Hollen’s Cap and Dividend Act. They say it is simple, fair, and hopefully built to last in this Baltimore Sun piece.

MN Valley Business (4/01/2009) - Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton hosts a Q & A about how energy matters relate to the economy in this business magazine.

McKnight to join international battle on climate change (3/19/2009) - Executive Director Michael Noble tells the Star Tribune that the McKnight Foundation’s announcement to spend $100 million to fight global warming shows that it understands that the problem is overreaching, affecting the foundation’s many other goals.

Coen brothers join debate: can coal be clean energy? (3/16/09) - When Minnesota’s Coen brothers made a humorous video about how “clean coal” does not exist, the Star Tribune covered the topic. Executive Director Michael Noble explains that coal has risks beyond just pollution—for instance, mountaintop removal and ash.

Lawmakers want planning that reduces carbon emissions (2/28/2009) - J. Drake Hamilton, Science Policy Director, explains to the St. Paul Legal Ledger that the Building Sensible Communities legislation would help the state meet its mandated global-warming-reduction goals.

Minnesota ‘Clean Car’ bill moves forward (2/27/2009) - Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton tells Finance and Commerce about the importance of the state’s Clean Cars bill. The transportation sector must play a part in carbon reduction goals, she says.

Letter to the editor (1/28/2009) - Carin Skoog points out how the PUC's decision to approve transmission lines for the Big Stone II coal plant directly conflicts with Pawlenty's and the Minnesota Legislature’s 2007 commitment to "make deep, science-based reductions in global warming pollution." The Big Stone II coal plant would add 5 million tons of carbon annually.

Letter to the editor (1/22/2009) - Global Warming Solutions Coordinator Carin Skoog authored a letter to the editor in the Star Tribune commenting on how the Minnesota PUC decision to allow the Big Stone II plant to move forward is a giant step backward: "We should be sending a price signal to the marker that the old polluting technologies of the past have seen their last bailout and it's the growing clean energy economy that will help put America back on track to be a leader in innovation and sustainability."

Letter to the editor (1/22/2009) - In the LTE titled, "Minnesota also should pressure automakers," Carin Skoog emphasized the need to pressure automakers to push innovation and stop fighting vehicle emission standards by promoting the legislature to adopt the state-based Clean Cars standards in 2009.

EPA files objections to Big Stone II (1/23/2009) - When the Environmental Protection Agency rejected the South Dakota air permit for the proposed Big Stone II plant, Clean Energy Director Linda Taylor explained the repercussions to the Associated Press. It could be a real killer for the project, she says.

Minnesota regulators approve power lines for South Dakota plant (1/16/2009) - Clean Energy Director Linda Taylor expresses extreme disappointment to the Associated Press after the Minnesota Public Utilitie Commission approved the transmission lines for the proposed Big Stone II coal plant. She calls it the “worst decision the PUC has made in a generation” and says it will produce “a lot of puzzlement across the country.”

Letter to the editor (12/11/08) - Executive Director Michael Noble authors a joint letter to the editor in the Wall Street Journal, highlighting his opinions about the nuances of a cap-and-trade system.

Will we put the pedal to the metal again? (10/25/2008) - When gas prices skyrocketed to $4 a gallon, people drove far fewer miles. With gas prices back down, many wonder whether old driving habits will resurface. Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton tells the Star Tribune that better transit and urban planning could help keep mileage down.

The power of the consumer cartel (10/15/2008) - Transportation Connections Director Lynne Bly provides background to the Star Tribune about transportation trends. The article finds that accessing transit, biking, carpooling, and driving fuel-efficient cars improve the economy.

Data show state is warming (10/15/2008) - Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton confirms Environment America's new findings that show temperature is increasing. She tells the Pioneer Press, to reduce the effects of global warming, Minnesota must reduce fossil fuel pollution.

Xcel to disclose info on CO2 costs (8/27/2008) - Xcel Energy heeded the request of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo by agreeing to disclose more detailed information to investors about the financial risks of carbon. Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton reinforces the fact that coal is becoming increasingly more expensive— due to global warming and future carbon regulation— to the Pioneer Press. Her quote was later lifted for a Wall Street Journal story.

When gas prices rose, Americans drove less (8/13/2008) - Fresh Energy's newly-hired transportation director Lynne Bly explains to the Pioneer Press how high gas prices have affected drivers. They stopped thinking about changing their behavior and actually took action, she says. The article reports that Minnesotans drove 211 million fewer miles in June of 2008 than the same month a year earlier.

Climate change petition pits scientists against each other (5/28/2008) - Executive Director Michael Noble speaks to the University of Minnesota newspaper about a petition of scientists who do not believe in global warming. "It's a curious little cultural artifact," he says. "It's like people talk about Sasquatch or alien abductions."

Training Green (5/01/2008) - Energy Justice Program Associate Daryl Sager graces the cover of The Circle. He and Honor the Earth's Valerie Martinez show off a solar panel, soon to be installed on the Little Earth Residents Association building.

A Force in Wind Power (4/26/2008) - J. Drake Hamilton, science policy director, lauds Mortenson Construction's extensive clean energy projects. "As a result, they are able to expand and respond to the new energy economy," she says. The Pioneer Press reports that Mortenson produced 30 percent of all North American wind energy projects last year.

Oil Consumption at the Tipping Point in US? (4/24/2008) - The Star Tribune's Neal St. Anthony writes about the public's dropping rate of oil consumption. Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton says that the high oil prices have led the public to use transit more often and turn to conservation.

Manitoba, Minnesota Wrangle Over State Energy Law (3/26/2008) - Executive Director Michael Noble expresses his disapproval of the attempted repeal of a law that requires Manitoba Hydro to report on how its dams impact First Nation peoples in this Canadian Broadcasting Corporation article.

Xcel to Use Massive Batteries to Store Wind-generated power (2/29/2008) - When Xcel Energy announced its plans to test large-scale batteries to store wind power, Executive Director Michael Noble told the Pioneer Press that in the future, the batteries could help the utility derive up to half of its power from wind.

Explorers Say Fate of Planet in our Hands (2/12/2008) - Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton continues her global warming solutions public forums, this time in Hutchinson, Kansas. The Hutchinson News quotes her discussion of change, saying "We decide how clean it will be, whether it will benefit rural economies, whether it will keep more of our energy dollars in the United States."

Ely Forum Highlights Threats from Climate Change (1/07/2008) - Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton moderated an Ely forum on global warming solutions with special guests polar explorer Will Steger and Governor Tim Pawlenty. The Timberjay paraphrases her information about the Midwest Governors Association's commitment to regional CO2 reductions.

New Media

Can Gulf spill spur change in Minnesota? (6/23/2010) - Online news site Politics in Minnesota profiles Fresh Energy, as told by Executive Director Michael Noble. He talks about the organization’s issue areas, the recent oil spill, and also his personal history.

Energy-efficiency strategy could cut household bills by $450 a year (3/15/2010) - Executive Director Michael Noble tells SolveClimate that energy efficiency projects have a lot of momentum right now. He provides information about Home Star and Building Star, after the Consumer Federation of America released its report about the economic advantages of energy efficiency.

Pumping up the grid: Key step to green energy (9/8/2009) - Yale Environment 360 publishes another opinion piece by Executive Director Michael Noble. He discusses the importance of a strong transmission system, calling the aging one a “renewable energy’s Achilles heel.”

The Waxman-Markey Bill: A good start or a non-starter? (6/18/2009) - Executive Director Michael Noble authors an opinion piece in Yale Environment 360 about the much-talked-about Waxman-Markey bill. He discusses pros and cons and urges legislators to address coal plants.

PUC’s Big Stone II decision smudges new law to reduce carbon emissions (1/19/2009) - Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton tells MinnPost why the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission made the wrong decision when it approved transmission lines for the proposed Big Stone II plant. With the state’s commitment to renewable energy and the 4.5 million tons of pollution the plant would produce annually, it will be very costly to the state, she says.

Clean Energy Groups Pledge to Stop Coal Plant Progress (1/18/2009) - When the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the transmission lines for the controversial proposed Big Stone II plant, Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton expressed her disappointment. She says the decision fails to recognize the state’s leadership from 2007, in a video on The Uptake blog.

Climate change getting the attention of both parties (9/11/08) - Science Policy Director J. Drake Hamilton gives a nonpartisan assessment to MinnPost on the presidential candidates' energy plans. She mentions that this is the first time that both candidates have agreed that global warming is real and human-caused.