The Communicating Renewables Webinar Program kicked off the first of its six part series designed to help arm communications professionals with the tools they will need to approach, head on, the challenging task of getting the positive message about renewable energy, technologies and research out to consumers, stakeholders, policy leaders, and the media. Jay Byrne, president of Fluence Interactive Public Relations, Inc. (v-Fluence) presented yesterday on Social Networking and how one can refute the misconceptions and negativity in the renewable energy arena.
“The internet is the starting point where people collect information,” noted Byrne. “It is more influential than all other media.”
Byrne also said that over 90 percent of individuals use a search engine to inquire about issues and this is where organizations can target their message. He stressed the value of influencing search results against terms people use with your content and that of others who agree with you; extending availability and visibility of supportive content into multi-media channels; making your content available (and part of) relevant new and social media conversations; and finally having your content validated (amplified) by appropriate third-parties online (via repetition and links).
As the host of the Communicating Webinar Series, Joanna Schroeder, APR, Principal of 4R Communications said, “In an over crowded marketplace, content and relationships rule. It’s important that communicators remember that some of the most simple and effective tools will help us gain consumer support. Some of these tactics include coalition building, developing relationships with energy experts and energy reporters, and bringing all of these people together through dynamic web content.”
The next Communicating Webinar Series will be on June 9 and presented by Sean O’Hanlon, Founder and Executive Director of American Biofuels Coalition and Tom Collina, Executive Director of 2020 Vision. The topic of the webinar will be Unification of Messages through Coalition Building — Best Practices. For more information, click here.
Biodiesel producers won’t have to fly blind when trying to decide if an operation will be profitable or not.
Pennsylvania’s governor is looking to the federal government to help along his state’s biodiesel and alternative fuel vehicle industries.
The Ethanol Summit 2009
“(But) the world would say if we let Brazil help us solve our problem at the price of more rainforest destruction, have we really gained anything? That’s what you have to answer.”
One of the world’s biggest makers of aircraft says that in initial tests, biofuels don’t affect performance and present no technical or safety problems, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 percent.
About 300 investors, workers and local officials toured the new Producers’ Choice Soy Energy biodiesel plant near the north-central Missouri town of Moberly over the weekend.
A bill that would provide a state tax credit for installing alternative fuels into retail facilities will be up for discussion in the North Carolina state capitol building on Wednesday. House Bill 906 will be in discussion by the North Carolina House Energy Committee that could provide a tax credit of 30% for infrastructure of biodiesel, E85, natural gas, propane and electric refueling infrastructure and a $2,000 tax credit for vehicles that operate on natural gas, propane and electricity. 
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The American Lung Association in Wisconsin’s highway sign program pays for the production and installation of the signs, plus one year of rent under the state’s Specific Information Sign program. “The blue highway signs do a great job alerting those passing through the area that E85 is available,” explains Jackie Blackburn, clean fuels coordinator for the American Lung Association in Wisconsin. “Now, flex fuel vehicle drivers can more easily incorporate E85 into their road trips.”
Among the options considered was increasing the allowable blend of ethanol in gasoline to 15 percent, which the study found would result in slightly higher corn and ethanol prices and an overall increase in net farm income. “Allowing 15% ethanol blends increases ethanol use and average corn prices, but the effects are modest,” the report states. “Such intermediate blends expand the potential ethanol market and raise corn prices by an average of 1.1%.”