Alliance Advances Efficiency at 2012 Conventions

Rallying at the RNC

After the Republican National Convention kicked off in Tampa on Aug. 27, Callahan and O’Grady attended a National Journal Morning Briefing on Aug. 28 in which Callahan asked Romney Campaign Senior Adviser Ron Kaufman about his candidate’s energy plan, which does not mention a role for energy efficiency. 

• Watch Kaufman’s answer by clicking on the video, above/right.

At a later session with Ed Gillespie, a senior adviser to Mitt Romney 2012, Callahan shared information about the Alliance and how it advances energy efficiency with the help of its 160-plus Associate members.

• Photo, below/right: Callahan and Gillespie at the 2012 Republican National Convention.

On Aug. 29, the Alliance – with its logo proudly displayed on the stage backdrop – was a sponsor of another National Journal Morning Briefing, where journalists, insiders, pollsters, and pundits examined the convention news of the day and the political forecast.

• Photo, below/left: National Journal's Morning Briefing, with arrow indicating Alliance logo on backdrop.

Live-Streamed and in the News

Callahan was a panelist at Politico’s live-streamed Energy and the Presidency Series Luncheon, joining  Martin Durbin of the American Petroleum Institute, William Levis of PSEG Power, and T. Boone Pickens. The rest of the Alliance team also were in attendance “working the crowd” of opinion, business and political leaders.

Callahan’s remarks caught the interest of several reporters, resulting in coverage of her comments.

The Twitter conversation included this from Hearst newspaper reporter Jennifer A. Dlouhy: "Alliance to Save Energy is developing a comprehensive proposal on #energy efficiency policies during first week of November."

The Hill newspaper later reported, “Callahan said during a Politico-hosted panel at the Republican National Convention that Romney, as governor of Massachusetts, compiled a sterling record on energy efficiency. Candidate Romney, however, has largely remained mum on the subject, she said.”

• Photo, right: Politico’s Jonathan Allen; the Alliance’s Kateri Callahan; and the American Petroleum Institute’s Martin Durbin at the Energy and the Presidency Series luncheon at the Republican National Convention.

Dialogue at DNC

On Monday Sept. 3 in Charlotte, Callahan and DesChamps participated in a Duke Energy and Charlotte Chamber of Commerce panel on energy attended by diplomats and aimed at attracting business from their countries to the United States. Duke Energy CEO, former Alliance Board Co-Chair, and DNC Host Committee Co-Chairman Jim Rogers made opening remarks. The Charlotte Observer’s resulting story reported this cautionary note, “Kateri Callahan of the Alliance to Save Energy urged the country’s political leaders not to ‘go to sleep’ on energy policy, but noted that with the partisanship and ideological divides in Congress, it will be hard to drive much new legislation.”

On Tuesday Sept. 4, the Alliance team joined one of its Associate members and strong allies, Ingersoll Rand, for a briefing titled “Building the Future of Energy Efficiency breakfast.” Ingersoll Rand Chairman and CEO Michael Lamach shared that policymakers can support energy efficiency by backing building codes and energy saving performance contracts.

Gen. Wesley Clark, a member of the Alliance Commission on National Energy Efficiency Policy, also addressed the breakfast. And, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) gave an impassioned address on the need/benefit of national energy policy and the importance of energy efficiency. She expressed optimism that the Senate could cross the partisan divide to enact impactful energy legislation, and she used the Shaheen-Portman bill, S. 1000, as a prime example of the type of measure that is “doable.” 

• Photo, above/right: Gen. Wesley Clark at the Building the Future of Energy Efficiency breakfast at the DNC.

As in Tampa, the Alliance hosted a National Journal Morning Briefing, which provided an opportunity for the whole team to interact with energy experts and party leaders about the future of energy efficiency.

• Photo, above/center: Alliance President Kateri Callahan and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen at the Democratic National Convention.

DesChamps also attended a National Journal panel on America's Energy Outlook where former Sen. Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and former Florida Rep. Jim Davis (D-Fla.) debated the differences in the parties' approaches to the nation's energy future. During the discussion, DesChamps noted the work of the Alliance Commission on National Energy Efficiency Policy as a possible blueprint for the next administration.

Energizing Delegates With Calls for Efficiency

In Charlotte, Callahan also took the energy efficiency message to two delegations – Virginia and Michigan. After Virginia delegates heard from members of Congress and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday, Sept. 5, Callahan addressed the packed room. She praised the city of Charlottesville, Va., for participating in SEEA’s BetterBuildings energy efficiency program and shared that the Volvo Truck Plant in Dublin, Va., has made significant cuts in energy use because of industrial upgrades.Callahan went on to challenge the delegates to help state leaders do even more to slash energy use, pointing to Alliance Honorary Board Chair Sen. Mark Warner as a leader who could help get them there. 

• Photo, above/right: Alliance President Kateri Callahan addresses the Virginia Delegation at the Democratic National Convention

On Thursday morning, Sept. 6, Callahan addressed the Michigan delegation after they heard from EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. The Alliance leader also challenged the Michiganders to continue to embrace energy efficiency as a way to increase jobs, reduce energy use, and save money. 

• Photo, right: Alliance President Kateri Callahan addresses the Michigan Delegation at the Democratic National Convention

The Alliance executives also attended several energy-themed receptions, Bloomberg- and Politico-sponsored energy panels, and National Journal events. 

See more Alliance Convention coverage in Alliance in the News and follow the Alliance on Twitter to see what we are up to.

• Photos, below: More Alliance representation at the Democratic National Convention.

From left: Alliance Government Relations Director Rob Mosher, Alliance VP of Communications Monique O’Grady, Alliance President Kateri Callahan, Sen. Mark Pryor, and Alliance Senior VP of Policy Floyd DesChamps at the Democratic National Convention.	Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack at the Democratic National Convention.