Center for the Environment

The president of SmartPower, the agency that is partnering with the Center for the Environment on the Solarize Salisbury-Rowan initiative, will speak at the center facility on the Catawba College campus on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Solarize Salisbury-Rowan is a regional effort designed to educate area residents about solar power and help citizens save money on energy costs.

Brian Keane’s topic will be “Green is Good — From Solarize to Energy Efficiency: Making Green Work for You at Home and in Business.” He is the author of “Green is Good: Save Money, Make Money and Help Your Community Profit from Clean Energy.” He will be available to autograph his book after the 6:30 p.m. presentation.

SmartPower is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit marketing agency dedicated to promoting clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency. The company’s clients include major utility companies, state agencies, the federal government and private foundations.

SmartPower’s marketing campaigns have been recognized with numerous awards, including a 2010 Clean Air Excellence Award from the Environmental Protection Agency; the coveted Green Power Pilot Award presented by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy; four Gold Awards from the Service Industry Advertising Awards (SIAA); and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Circle Award.

Keane is scheduled to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the People’s Action for Clean Energy (PACE) later this year. A former advisor to the late Senator Paul Tsongas and congressional aide to Rep. Les Aspin, Keane has an extensive background in nonprofit management, political organizing and communications.

He is a regular panelist on “White House Chronicle,” a weekly public affairs television show that appears on more than 200 PBS stations and Sirius/XM radio. He is a 1989 graduate of the American University in Washington, D.C.

The presentation is open to the public without charge but registration is required. To register, call 704-637-4727 or visit www.CenterForTheEnvironment.org.