Let's Hope NStar Steps Up - The Next Shot Heard Round the World

graphic representation from www.ecopolitology.org

One of the goals of PBLN is to have more diverse pro-business points of view expressed in the media when the public is learning about complicated issues. A great example of our modest success to-date appeared very quietly on the inside pages of the Boston Globe yesterday with a small quote pointing out there are plenty of business leaders who support the Cape Wind project and want to see NStar "step up" and find an economically sound way to partner with this new home-grown source of renewable energy.

One disclosure: Cape Wind Project CEO Jim Gordon is one of the nearly 120 executives who are members of PBLN. It is important also to note that our position statement in support of dramatic reforms in energy policy and the aggressive pursuit of developing renewable energy sources and markets goes back to our first-ever adoption of position statements on policy issues in September of 2009.

For those who may just be learning about the PBLN, we have held 5 Summits on progressive business leadership in the past three years, all of which featured a robust discussion of the need for innovation and re-invention in energy policy and energy usage (among other issues). And yesterday was the third time we have weighed in via the media about Cape Wind in particular. The first was a comment by PBLN's Energy and Environment Coordinator Roger Freeman (CEO, Solventerra) where Roger pointed out how good Cape Wind will be for jobs and economic development. The second was a letter to the editor in the Boston Globe signed by PBLN Executive Director Andrew Tarsy and PBLN Energy and Environment Chair Mitch Tyson (CEO, Advanced Electron Beams, Inc.) making the argument that over a short time, Cape Wind energy would be revealed to be a bargain.

Jon Karlen of Flybridge Capital Partners (L) with
 U.S. Rep. Ed Markeyat the 2010 PBLN Washington
 Summit with Tim Rowe of the Cambridge Innovation
Center in the background on right

At a recent PBLN CEO Summit in Washington, U.S. House of Representatives Energy Chairman Ed Markey told 75 PBLN executives that being against clean energy is like being against the internet or cell phones during the telecom reform debates of the 1980's and 1990's. He also pointed out that those technologies and the economic growth engines that they have become would have started sooner if not for the pressure applied by incumbent industries (like the phone companies) who chose to fear the change rather than lead it.

PBLN has praised Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's
strong support of clean energy investment including
 Cape Wind, Commonwealth Solar and other initiatives
in particular. He is pictured here addressing PBLN's
Fall 2009 Summit in Boston at the JFK Library.

Today's entrepreneurs are ready to lead on clean energy - and so, by the way are many of the big players in the incumbent energy industries, from power producers to utilities and even big power users. Cape Wind is the product of entrepreneurial vision and grit. It represents the opportunity for safer, more stable and ultimately lower energy costs for business and for families. It is a mere glimpse of the future that is coming and the American business community can either fear it or lead it. Ask the old phone companies which path they wish they had chosen "back in the day."

In that spirit of innovation, we are calling on businesses on the sell and buy side of power to consider all the advantages of renewable energy, and to consider the urgency of federal policy reform to drive new markets for entrepreneurial vision. The American Power Act introduced in the US Senate recently by Senators John Kerry and Joseph Lieberman has earned and is worthy of strong support by visionary business leaders. Cape Wind can be a shot heard round the world - something Massachusetts has some experience with...This time the shot would signal our resolve to become energy independent via our own ingenuity and vision. Let's hope we all "step up."

Member Spotlight

Diane Hessan, President & CEO - Communispace
According to Advertising Age Communispace is one of the fastest growing marketing and technology companies in the country, with a Blue Chip client list that would make a Madison Avenue giant jealous. A pioneer in creating online communities to help marketers deeply engage customers, Diane helped found Communispace in 1999 and hasn't looked back.