2GreenEnergy — Contemplating Taking on a Sponsor
I’d like to ask a quick favor of you.
Would you provide me with your thoughts re: 2GreenEnergy’s being sponsored by a commercial organization? What type of company do you think would be acceptable? Are there one or two in particular that you think we should approach proactively?
I hope you’ll post your ideas as comments, or hit “Contact” and reach me directly.
Thanks in advance,
Craig
Having a commercial sponsor will end your independence. Very large firms like GE, Siemens & Hitachi might be less of a problem since they are so large & have so many energy interests they might ask less of you after you promote their products.
Green issues, promoters, advocates, causes have, for as long as I can remember, been faced with the question of receiving financial support, sponsorship, donations etc., from commercial organizations. The question pretains to what is known as “greenwashing”. That is where a ‘dirty’ corporation that does not respect sustainability and the environment, does not have a sustainable agenda, regularly transfers externalities (its various kinds of harm and pollution), onto society, then try to green wash themselves by sponsoring green causes.
This must be avoided at all cost. Taking money from a polluter for a green cause is akin to a shelter for abused children taking donations from a sexual offender, or, using a more relevant example, a politician with a anti-crime, anti-violence agenda, taking money from the NRA.
It is ok for you to take a sponsorship from companies such as Vestas, Evergreen, probably even GE. It is a very different think to accept a sponsorship from BP, Halliburton or even Coca Cola.
Dans point is quite true. This question has been around for a while with only a minor change in attitude and awarenness. Waaaaay too many people think that certain corporations are doing positive things when they are just trying to make money. So, recomendations as to specific chanels of funding falls under due-dillagence, sorry!
I would agree with Dan – nothing wrong with raising some money advertising from companies that aren’t trying to destroy our planet. Some advertising is also informative to readers. Lets us know where we can go to purchase green products. If you were gentle on your fees to startups, all the better for consumers and growing companies.
Craig,
I understand your dilemma. I myself have a website dedicated to dispensing personally gathered information on renewable energy. I would love to be able to make my living in the industry. I have thought of putting commercial type ads on my website, but have refrained doing so because the minute I do that, I have an agenda that is no longer impartial. Even if one worked as a consultant in the industry and had a sponsor, one would be biased toward the sponsor.
So it comes down to your strongest desire, is it to impartially distribute information on renewable energy/green living, or is your primary motivation to make money? I personally do not think the two are totally compatible.
There is only one reason why any company spends money on sponsoring someone, and that is to promote themselves. Do you want to become like a Nascar driver, who mentions his sponsor even though it is completely out of context with what is being said in the interview?
Just my 2 cents Craig!
I feel a sponsorship can make or break your companies ultimate goals. It is alright just as long as your companies definition is in line with the sponsor you choose. From what I see on this website, you have a broad range of technologies, solutions and topics to help in Carbon reduction or emissions. One recommendation I would give you, mind me this is my opinion, to get a sponsorship from a Sustainable Consulting Company. They not only target one specific goal, but a multi facetted key waste reduction and solution for a more sustainable future. It may seem biased that I represent TaigaCompany, but my main expertise is in the Energy Efficiency field. There are many to chose from and your choice should fit your own criteria 🙂
It’s a tough question .I would love to see you rewarded for your efforts because I appreciate them so much but when you introduce commerce into the picture an agenda can arise even if only in someones mind.. I would limit advertising to industries with a very clear record of being pro planet and not so much pro money .Of course this is a lousy business plan so I guess ass suggested before DUE DILLIGENCE is formost. Good luck walking that line
It is too easy to dismiss all commercial advertising or sponsorship from the business community as being the work of the devil and therefore inadmissible for your website. All businesses must be vigilant about the bottom line, but there are many companies that are serious about reaching out to a like-minded community of customers and opinion leaders to convey messages about their efforts to be more sustainable and more environmentally responsible. If your portal provides that access, you should carefully choose those potential sponsors that you believe to be genuine in their efforts.
It’s hard to retain an independent voice and almost impossible to retain the appearance of independence once you take on a sponsor. Regardless of the sponsors agenda, ultimately there’s bound to be a conflict. Don’t do it. Fund the operation instead, with requests for donations or a fund raiser. Sell spagetti sauce, be creative.
Craig, Very hard choice as no matter who you select many will write you off to being a shill for your sponsor. I think it’s too risky IMO. Sponsorship is the same as being paid for blogging about Clean Tech. You would be better off writing another book than to take on a corporate sponsor.
I think the companies that are actively involved in the manufacture of Bioethanol would be more than happy to sponsor your organisation’s activities. Royal Dutch Shell has entered into the Bioethanol market in a very big way and I believe they could be the right organisation.
As you are aware Bioethanol is a renewable energy source for the 21st century
You will appear to have lost your independence; whether you agree or not. Perhaps you could make this arm of your organization a nonprofit, and solicit donations and grants. You will need a fiscal agent to allow donations to be a tax deduction right away. Careful selection of a fiscal agent organization could be used to make a strong argument for your independence. JEB
How about the US green building councils legal defence fund?They seen to have most of the mass medias exposure?
Hi, Craig:
You could consider listing your policies on sustainability in short form, using them as open criteria in the light of day to match yourself with sponsors. You have a valuable intellectual property here with the capacity to create and sustain positive change. Your sponsor(s) will find your exposure especially valuable. Some sort of polite “contest,” during which 2GreenEnergy allows itself to be courted by sponsors could be very effective.
Question: where are companies that need the most exposure and market matching advantage to what you’ve got. Wild answers worth considering: Russia, China and Eastern European companies. From what I see in the news I report, the United States are still behind the leading wave of renewable energy developments. Example: with a simple cold call to a native of Hong Kong, because I was interested in helping them and what they were doing, I was invited to come and teach.
I’m hoping to re-connect with you soon. Blessings and regards to you and yours.
Craig: I would agree on some of the comments above, but you could get several other sponsors from other fields in the market, as that would reduce your being “manipulated” into being just another way of add. The market is the market, you should take advantage of it by dissipating pressure by spreading the ammount of “power” any one of your sponsor could have; by having a sponsor in each field, the imparcial comments and news can be better balanced.
There are several large profitable (sometimes)corporations that come to mind from very different sectors of the economy- Ford is investing heavily in electric vehicles and their Chairman Bill Ford has long been an advocate of innovation in both the vehicles they sell and the buildings that manufacture them, General Electric has a wide range of innitiatives which are already having impact, Texas Instruments in co-operation with the Rocky Mountain Institure was able to demonstrate the superior economics of building a super energy efficient production facility in the US compared to one in a cheap labour asian location.
RealGoods would be a possible sponsor. But because they are a very green company, they do not have large revenues. Still they would be a good partner to align with. Even if you can only support each other in non-fiscal ways. They are connected to the much larger company, Gaiam. But it is RealGoods that carry solar products, green clothing, and have an ongoing education program for green building, green energy, and green living in general. Check them out at RealGoods.com. Join in their SolFest for 2011.
I SHOULD THINK THAT MOST ALL OF THE COMMERCIAL COMPANIES THAT PROMOTE SOLAR USAGE WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE, AS WELL AS THOSE PROMOTING WIND, GEO-THERMAL, ETC…
Yes nonprofit orgs or become a non-profit and commercialize renewable energy companies.
Craig,
Several options come to mind :
1. Asian Development Bank, Manila, Philipines
2. IFC – International Finance Corporation, Washington
3. Fuel Cell Corporation, Danbury, Connecticut, USA
4. Tata Group, India
5. Mahindra & Mahindra Group, India
6. USEPA
Pranav Mehta
5
Solutions to energy problems, if and when they arrive on a full scale basis, will do so in part because good responsible commercial enterprises believe in them and feel they can make money being part of the solution. They should be part of these discussions, and their input should be welcome. The problem, as I see it, is to prevent any one company (or even a few companies) from becoming the dominant support of a site like this so they are tempted to view it as a business-generating opportunity, not an opportunity to engage in dialog. The best arrangement, I would think, is support from a number of companies, ideally including those with conflicting sides of the discussion.
WOW, Craig,
You hit us with a real dilemma with this question. I liked a number of the responses you have received and a majority of them would be acceptable; provided you are able to maintain your objectivity. Perhaps the best choice would be sponsorship by several sponsors of whom you already have demonstrated your support of their agenda. We would not like you to become a single groups spokesperson but boxed ads from multiple sponsors even soliciting financial support for their organizations and links to their web sites so your readers might support them OR NOT ! with no pressure to participate, just promoting awareness of their presence in the world. If you used a pricing structure similar to Google Ads the more they pay the more often their ad is displayed and you could sort them so organizations could choose which topics they wanted to be advertised to one side of… It is a pricing system which works very well for Google thus organizations supporting your position (Or opposing it) would be displayed on the same pages wherein you are discussing those ideas. So there is my two cents worth…
Craig, your willingness to even ponder a sponsorship is curious in light of your shrill mini-rant last November about Chevron’s sponsorship of the PBS NewsHour program. That post (and your subsequent attempts to defend it) greatly diminished your ability to be seen by others as a reasoned source of credible renewable energy solutions for our collective future. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy reading your posts and many of the responses they generate. While your elitist dismissal of Wheel of Fortune as “commercial drivel” may play well with some in your audience, others see it for what it really is – a pejorative put-down of anyone who doesn’t hold your world-view (hey, I don’t watch it either but apparently lots of good folks do – I think Vanna has been turning letters for something like 25 years!).
In the real (free market) world, enterprises of every size succeed and their mission is advanced when they manage to consistently do three things well. First, they provide goods and/or services that are needed and valued by others. Second, they figure out how to make and deliver that good or service at a price that is competitive within the marketplace and still provide a reasonable return on the investment of the resources available to them. Finally, they find cost-effective ways to reach those who are not (and yet should be) customers and clients.
While some of the other responses are focused on how you might be perceived by some of your audience in light of this or that sponsor, the real question is more fundamental: what value do you bring to the business or organization that might be inclined to sponsor you (since presumably you would want them to pay you for your role in advancing their mission – commercial or otherwise)? From the varied responses to your posts, you must keep in mind that your global audience runs the gamut – from overt Marxists to avid followers of Milton Friedman; from rabid tree-huggers to narrow-minded so-called deniers of man-caused global climate change (pejoratives cut both ways…); from learned scientists and engineers to simply curious (and hopefully open) minds. Your potential sponsor(s) should see you as a way to reach their target audience. I don’t mean to be too harsh – keep up the good work and don’t let your own biases prevent you from getting to where you want to be.
You make some terrific points here, William. Thank you. It’s funny, I was wondering how long it would take for someone to mention what I wrote about Chevron and PBS; it’s certainly a fair comment. I’m flattered that you follow my stuff so closely. Btw, I hope you have a career — or at least an advocation — that taps your ability as a writer; you have a terrific command of the language. And you’re certainly correct about the incredible diversity of opinion here; I view that as a strength.
Thanks again for the blend of insight and encouragement.
That is a very difficult question.
Any sponsor, whether commercial or not, could be seeing as possibly exercising undo influence. Also, there is considerable disagreement on exactly what is green.
Some people see ethanol as green, but many people with impeccable scientific qualifications see it as very ungreen, expensive, and a serious mistake. Many of us see nuclear power as the only way out of moving away from fossil fuels and reducing green house gasses enough to matter, while others have a basic horror of nuclear power regardless of the particular nuclear technology used (and there are many possibilities).
Many of us see wind and solar power as impractical as a major source of power for a large industrialized country while others believe that they can provide most of our power.
Some see geothermal energy as promising (which it may be), but others assert that over time, geothermal installations gradually lose capacity to the point that they become impractical to maintain, the problem being that the area where the heat is extracted gradually cools off.
The various environmental organizations have their agenda and some dogmatically resist changing their positions even when new information becomes available.
About all we can agree on is the need to phase out fossil fuels by almost 100% and do it as quickly as reasonably possible.
My feeling is that natural gas is a very viable source of electrical power when used to power diesel electric g enerators as finning tractor has done for some time in Vancouver with very little pollution , ialso feel neuclear power generators are another possibility rendering the electric car avery viable mode of transport.
Hmm ! Really dodgy territory ! Any commercial outfit is bound to want its ‘pound of flesh’, even if it were limited to publicity (which would surprise me). I can’t think of a suitable company off the cuff, but will keep thinking.
Brief further thought : maybe, just maybe, you could be sponsored by a company wholly and exclusively devoted to manufacturing electric vehicles – and I don’t mean ‘hybrid’; or maybe a company wholly and exclusively devoted to developing renewable energy – but not using wind. But as I said earlier, you must expect any such company to want some tangible return.
Dear Craig,
Sponsorship can be beneficial to all parties, but you need to be careful. One newsletter I get, http://www.RenewableEnergyWorld.com/ has numerous sponsors/advertisers in the industry, and they change regularly. This might be a way to keep your independence. Or look at partnering with REWorld. Another way may be to look at combining forces with the Scientific American newsletter. SciAm profiles renewable energy in almost every issue, but I have never seen anything on investing. Joining forces with an NGO working in this area might also be beneficial. Good luck & keep up the great work!!
Consider Rentech (RTK). It’s not one of the darling technologies, wind or solar but a Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) technology company. Rentech’s F-T technology converts coal, natural gas or synthetic gas to clean burning diesel and jet fuels. Combining their patented F-T technologies with those of SilvaGas and CleanFuels Technology, they can take green cuttings material, virgin wood waste and sugar cane waste materials and convert that to synthetic gas (syngas) which is then used to produce electric power or converted to clean diesel and jet fuels. They are in the engineering and permitting stages of their first bioplant in Rialto, CA. Rentech was also named by Biofuels Digest as one of the 50 Hottest Companies in BioEnergy. OK, yes, I’m long RTK,
Dear Craig;
If you have to ask then the answer is; ‘yes’. What you didn’t tell us is why? Do you need the money, want more exposure or all of the above. I would approach Tesla and Toyota. If you need the money then follow your own advice for renewable energy business plans; “ask before it’s too late, which could be embarrassing”.
The Green Chief
I want to thank everyone for the wonderfully helpful and insightful comments. I’m very glad I asked for your guidance; at this point, I feel confident that whatever decision we make here will be the correct one. I’m also encouraged by the kind words. Thanks again.
Several above suggestions prompt ideas. How about sponsors from anywhere, provided they do not have a say in where or how the ad money is spent. An agreement could be fasioned that gives equal ad copy or space, with support where needed, to ALL venues in RE, not only the established ones. In other words, raising the tide for all boats on the sea equally. Also posted in the the various vendors chosen geographical area of influence. Tremendous self interest here, since my business cannot support much ad business.
Another idea may to petition candidates in government with equal $ to ad money, or using equal money to flood government offices with RE promotion. Since our pay-for-influence government will not change the way it does business, it is a way to buy in. I really don’t like this, but ………..
“Wheel Of Foutune” has a wrong minded pig-headed philosophy, not supportive of co-operation. If I were runing the show, I would have the least winner go to the bonus round.
Most people in this country, business included, operate in a fantastic illusion of winning the big prize. Good co-operative ideas support everyone’s welfare and diminish conflict. It takes a while for most minds to wrap around this idea, but think about it.
Why not?
As long as you are free to write objectively, and without conflict of interest, how does a sponsor harm your your credibility?
PBS has sponsors, without anyone confusing the news and program content with advertising material. The advertisers in news papers are a sort of sponsor, but most editors would be very offended if you suggested that editorial policy was directed by an individual advertiser.
In fact, a sponsor may help to provide an atmosphere of balance. (depending on the sponsor?)
Hello Craig,
Good Idea. To move forward for the worthy cause at a faster rate you will need sponsorship.
It will come at a cost. Independence should not be surrendered at any cost.
Sponsorship by pure capitalistic companies should be avoided
NGOs, ROCKFELLER Foundation, Kennedy Foundation, MIT Association, TATA (INDIA)
MASDAR (UAE ) are some that cross my mind.
Wish you good luck
Shrinivas
Dear Crag,
in india many telecom organisations are opting solar energy for their towers but it is small scale;but people are now started using green energy.
If you get sponsors that are BUYERS of alternative energy, then I don’t see a conflict. For example a house builder that often buys solar panels would be a great sponsor for your site.
I thought your consulting entity WAS the sponsor of your site! And the site was to promote your work &/or skills. I believe, as others, that sponsorship will undercut your independence and credibility. Sorry!
About sponsor I think that it is necessary a company connected with CSR and ISO 14001 environmental management systems, perhaps in the area of renewable energies and sustainable movility by electric vehicles, involved in national and international networks to promote human rights and environmental justice.
This is just a shot in the dark, but what about companies that would like to be seen by their target audience as supporting sustainable renewables concerns like this one, but who don’t present any conflict of interest and won’t be percived as exercising editorial influence – like Whole Foods, Lassens, Trader Joes, etc.
it is very differcult to sponser something that does not benefit the company that is the sponser.
the best route for yourself is simply, donations from the people who read your articules and give them discounts on your books.
if you do it any other way you end up like a non beliver as your story would say wind farm tec sponcered by GE makers of the turbo wind mill, then people who read it would say does wind tech work or is it GE saying it?
we have people over here saying we should use energy saving light bulbs but they don’t say replace when they go with them, so people replace for replacment sake, i tell all my customers to replace bulbs with 1 type of bulb all the way though their building this reduces the cost and also the facilities manager only needs to stock 1 bulb pack easy really.
Hi Craig,
I am a passive reader of your writings and believe the success of your writing is the fact that it is independent of a fixed profit-motivated agenda. In that regard, I would like it to remain that way. Hope that helps.
Neeraj
Hi Craig,
Possibly consider Popular Science magazine as a model. It’s sort of energy solution responsive but gets ads from liquor businesses, Ford and other vehicle producers, even sex performance enhancements. Maybe let the sponsors decide if it would be worth their support, but I think you can still be true to yourself.
There are some rather amazing products coming online in the HVAC and electrical world.
for instance Mitsubishi produces a miini split heat pump that can absorb heat from the atmosphere at minus 15 degrees F.
Good luck!
Dear Graig You asked me such question where you are well doing I know it is easier said than done but be independent just I got a forbes mail about toyota I clicked before opening the full story there was a fine quote just for you and only for you About Me Quote first Graig LIFE IS AN ETERNAL QUEST ABOUT KNOWING ONESELF so go and read the quote
‘ Life is an eternal quest about knowing oneself. It’s time to challenge yourself,
to rediscover your hidden traits, talents, and tendencies.” AND THIS YOU READ ” Patience and time do more than strength or passion.”
-Jean de La Fontaine
SO have patience Graig Life is to be yourself is a big challenge but its joy and take care I wont sugess est to get into powerfull people who dont have any etical base if you still wish here I may give you HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL Professor Micheal E POTTER AND PLEASE VISIT http://hbr.org/2011/01/the-big-idea-creating-shared-value/ar/1
this is the place many surprises you are bound or sure to see Thanks Graig you put me in a trouble I respect your feelings but you wishto move that road map I wish to avoid till I dont find I am not a fish you know one has to be carefull just that.otherwise I ONLY CAN WISH YOU MY BEST When people never or dont bother to give credit to the past geiuses name while printing their qoutes in their business model which commercial corporate will respect your true feelings Graig such is this world we live one must stand up for his her well deserving work this is my life you may know some I WISH AS john lennon said you may think I am a dreamer but I know one day you all will join me for his famous song “IMAGINE” Yes Graig I am a dreamer but you be careful with them
You have built your vision and the answer is within it. You have venture capitalists and a Green network. Ask and you will receive. Put together an Executive Summary of what your next step is and Why we should all be part of it. The answer is near by and most likely by the time of this comment, you will have met the person to add the right resource you need. Good luck — you are so close to the answer just look for the answer with every person you meet till you have it.
Bob
Better Place(Battery Swapping stations)
Tesla(Electric Sports and Sedan cars)
BloomEnergy(a different type of renewable energy)
Google(Trying to improve their carbon footprint)
Facebook(Don’t control their carbon footprint!)
I tend to agree with those who believe you should maintain independence. Perhaps you should reach out for some nominal sponsorship to a variety of like minded non-profits such as Institute for Local Self Reliance or even the Solar Energy Industries Association. Otherwise, for the commercial route you might maintain a minimum diversity of sponsors or none. My concern is that it is easier to market a product such as a car, based on past centralized decisions for large public outlays for dedicated infrastructure, than to “sell” urban rail as a product, for example. You might consider whether you are more interested in planning and policy or product development and application for your answer.
I think because of their emerging leadership in the field of green technology on a nationally commercial level that Ecotality would make an incredibly substantial commercial sponsor in this case.
I agree with Robert that a well crafted Venture plan will spell out exactly what you hope to achiev — and will communicate with potential sponsors. I would recommend looking to large non-profits for support (they have no axe to grind) — and suggest the Russell Investment Fund foundation. The environment is one of their primary causes. Easy to search for others on the internet.
My dad always told us that the foremost important part of “making choices” is the “intent”.
Second was the “impact” that the choice has on you and the ones who support you.
Only third was the actual “benefit” that could come from that choice.
With that said….
For an outsider looking in, seeing what you, and those who have supported you, have built and achieved, I see something that you and others could be nothing but pleased with, and you’ve done so on your own. You stand for something, and you so transparently, with no forced agenda.
The general public has a sour taste in their mouth right now when it comes to the topic of “Corporate America”. Families forced to leave their homes over a matter of a couple thousand dollars a month, while big business gets bailed out over a couple million a month. Regardless of our individual opinions on that particular matter, the point is this…
People are becoming more and more comfortable and even intimate with the concept of Green Industry. And because its “new” to a lot of people, they are looking for honest “authorities” in the green sector, that have a history of providing legitimate information, and more importantly, practices what they teach. Your have impacted a lot of people with quality information and practices. You have people and outside partners that I’m sure gladly contribute to what you’re doing. And I’m sure that they take a little pride in the honest “unbiased independence” that you currently have. “A ruler of my own, and a servant to non”.
What’s the intent is a question for you alone. I’m sure there are benefits, but those are sometimes married closely to “sacrifice” somewhere down the line when it comes to sponsorship. “If I succeed, I will do so honestly, based on what I feel was the right choice. If I fail, I will do so honestly, based on what I thought was the right choice.”
The biggest problem with our green sector, is “profiteers” that don’t care about a better planet, and “greenwash” a corporate business plan solely for money and capitol growth, but no real conviction. That doesn’t seem to fit your presence in the market.
I think we should be practical not just talking and dreaming about a clean world with clean energies.
Craig
I have several companies I think would fit.
Waste Management,Republic Waste,Stericycle
Landfills are cash cows and their trucks are rolling billboards.But most waste companies cant seem to get..Going Green..rite. They could use our help. I could see 2GreenEnergy on the side of my fleet.