Clean Energy 

GETF’s Center for Energy & Climate Solutions (CECS) was founded in 1999 by Dr. Joseph Romm to promote clean and efficient energy technologies as a money-saving tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.  The Center helps businesses, government, and environmental organizations develop high-leverage technological, strategic, financial, and regulatory tools to foster the adoption of clean solutions.  

GETF and CECS assist the world's most environmentally committed businesses through the development and adoption of innovative climate and energy solutions.  CECS also provides strategic counsel and consulting services to the Executive Branch agencies, states and communities, non-governmental organizations and multilateral institutions.  Our core services include:    

Outreach on Global Warming and Energy Efficiency                         In collaboration with the Hewlett Foundation, GETF’s Center for Energy and Climate Solutions (CECS) and its Executive Director, Dr. Joseph Romm, are working to reframe the climate and energy debate with high-leverage outreach and education efforts.  In an effort to reach more people while developing a permanent archive of climate and energy analysis, Dr. Romm facilitates Climate Progress (http://climateprogress.org), a dedicated climate blog.  Dr. Romm’s blog entries are routinely reprinted at Gristmill, HuffingtonPost, Alternet, and several other websites.  

Global Climate Change Research                                                             The book Hell and High Water: Global Warming—the Solution and the Politics—and What We Should Do, written by CECS Executive Director Dr. Joseph Romm, was recently published by Harper Collins in 2006.  This book examines the science of global warming, the history of the debate, and the potential solutions.  Hell and High Water discusses many of the impacts of climate change, from sea surface rise to increased hurricane strength, presenting the best available science in an accessible format.  CECS has also done extensive research on a great range of technologies and market-based solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Other leading books on energy efficiency and climate by Dr. Romm include:
	The Hype about Hydrogen:  Fact and Fiction in the Race to Save the Climate		Cool Companies: How the Best Businesses Boost Profits and Productivity by Cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Brazil Atlantic Rainforest Reforestation Program                                In 2007, The Coca-Cola Company made a commitment at the Clinton Global Initiative to reforest 3,000 hectares of Brazil’s Atlantic Rainforest.  GETF is supporting The Coca-Cola Brazil Institute by providing partnership development support as they work to fulfill this commitment.  The program will restore 3,000 hectares of the forest with native species, reduce greenhouse gases and remove more than 300,000 tons of CO₂ over five years (and more than 3 million tons over 30 years), and improve the health and vitality of major watersheds. The project, which will be certified under the Kyoto protocol, will demonstrate how global partnerships can ensure local access to clean and safe water, strengthen local communities, and combat climate change.

Outcomes of reforestation include reduced river bank erosion and waterway sedimentation, which will improve water flow and habitats. In addition, the project will connect pockets of forests to create wildlife migratory corridors, strengthening habitat protection.  Reforested areas will also act as carbon sinks, mitigating the effects of global warming.  Carbon offset credits produced by the project will be used to fund its expansion, most likely through monetization via the international carbon markets. Through nursery operations, the project will also create local jobs, strengthen local capacity for reforestation services, and provide an additional revenue base of environmental services to support ongoing, sustainable operations.  To learn more about this project, click here to visit their Clinton Global Initiative Commitment page.

Energy Management and Climate Protection Support             GETF provides strategic counsel and consulting support to The Coca-Cola Company’s Energy Management and Climate Protection Team.  This support includes development of long-term strategic options and near-term actions to reduce the company’s carbon footprint and cost effectively implement its climate protection programs, including partnership development support.  To learn more about The Coca-Cola Company’s climate protection initiatives, visit their website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/energy_climate_protection.html.

National Commission on Energy Policy                                                 Since the inception of the National Commission on Energy Policy (NCEP) in 2002, GETF has provided NCEP and its staff with strategic outreach and communication support to promote the key findings of the Commission’s recommendations.  GETF’s Vice Chairman, Hank Habicht served as an NCEP commissioner.  GETF has also provided the Commission with research and analysis on a wide range of energy issues that include unconventional oil strategies and alternative hydrogen pathways.  

State Climate Web Sites                                                                           A growing number of public officials are turning to the Center for Climate Strategies (CCS) for help respond to the challenge posed by global warming and strong new opportunities to create economic development, clean energy, and a safer environment. GETF is supporting CCS by developing and hosting climate-related websites for a number of states, including Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vermont, and the Western Climate Initiative. These websites offer the public a high level of transparency by providing a schedule of events, work group member directories, technical workgroup documents, and the opportunity to view final reports such as State Climate Change Action Plans.

Climate Savers                                                                                           GETF's Center for Energy & Climate Solutions (CECS) supports the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) U.S. Climate Savers Program.  CECS works with the WWF to help businesses develop and implement leading edge climate and energy solutions.  Corporate partners include The Coca-Cola Company, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Polaroid Corporation, Nike, Lafarge and the Collins Companies, among others.  CECS works with companies in the program to achieve energy efficiency goals and increase the use of clean energy as well as recognize their efforts through the WWF’s communication channels.  By helping companies set reduction goals and achieve them, CECS demonstrates both a strong business and environmental case for making greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and ways a company can do so without putting up its own capital.  Corporate demonstrations of this type continue to provide a yardstick for what the entire country can do to reduce GHG emissions while accelerating economic growth and job creation.  CECS consultation to both the WWF and the individual companies in this project has helped recruit several companies into the Climate Savers Program and develop pathways to achieve critical greenhouse gas reductions.

Powering Health Guidebook:                                                                Electrification Options for Rural Health Centers                                 GETF, working in conjunction with USAID’s Energy Office, developed the Powering Health Guidebook, published in December 2006, to highlight electrification options available (utilizing both renewable and non-renewable energy sources) for off-grid, rural hospital and clinic facilities in sub-Saharan Africa.  The guidebook provided USAID Mission personnel and stakeholders with an overview of key considerations for utilizing various energy technologies in off-grid clinics and hospitals.  The guidebook provides health facility managers with the tools necessary to weigh the costs and benefits of energy technologies, capital and operating cost data, as well as reliability, durability, emission, and optimal use information.  Additional focus was placed on reoccurring cost and maintenance considerations, as well as lessons learned in order to provide the reader with a complete understanding of the financing and operating expenses involved with each technology.