NSI News Blog (legacy)

Federal energy-efficiency spending signals trend

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:04:00 +0000

By Kevin Matthews
Vice President, Energy and Environment Sector

A recent report from the Federal Times indicates the ongoing trend in spending and subsequent opportunities that abound for public sector energy efficiency projects will continue.

According to an article from Environmental Leader, federal agencies spent more than $1.7 billion last year on energy-efficiency projects, increasing their environmental spend by more than an 80 percent from 2008.

The Federal Times article reports that about two-thirds of the investments were paid for with federally appropriated dollars, primarily from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, with the remainder financed by private-sector financing arrangements, such as Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) and Utility Energy Services Contracts (UESCs). Under these programs, contractors pay for renovations upfront and are paid back over time with cost savings that result from reduced energy consumption.

Such spending most certainly motivated many state and local governments to reduce or monitor energy consumption. And, for those with mandates, the funding was crucial for meeting specific standards. What’s more, the funding boosted revenues for the innovative businesses behind the projects and, therefore, the green economy. This is one more example of how public-private partnerships are key to our nation’s future economic health.

Kevin Matthews is Vice President of the Energy and Environment Sector for NSI where he runs the day-to-day sector operations and works with clients on sustainable solutions for interfacing with state and local governments.Prior to joining NSI, Mr. Matthews held various positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. where he worked for Administrator Carol M. Browner and served as both Special Assistant and Senior Congressional Liaison. He also worked as an aide to U.S. Senators Dale Bumpers and Joseph Lieberman. Mr. Matthews holds a B.A. in History from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas and an MPA from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Brownfield News and Sustainability Report and is a certified Environmental Risk Manager from Texas State University.

New network to drive cost-saving energy solutions

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:59:00 +0000

By Kevin Matthews

Vice President, Energy and Environment Sector

There’s been a lot of talk on Capital Hill lately about saving ourselves from the slippery slope of increasing debt. No one answer will solve all of our economic woes, but some solutions don’t won’t a cent.

The State Energy Efficiency Action Network is one of them. The network, created by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is meant to help states achieve maximum cost effective energy efficiency improvements in homes, offices, buildings and industry by 2020, according to a recent announcement.

“The State Energy Efficiency Action Network will help provide states with the technical and policy support they need to invest in energy efficiency, saving energy and money for families and businesses across the country,” Energy Secretary Steven Chu stated in a press release.

Through the network, DOE, EPA and other member organizations will assist states with their energy efficiency initiatives, including residential efficiency programs, financing solutions, and improving availability of energy usage information. According to the press release, the network will drive energy efficiency by using a broad set of goals developed in the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency and strive to reach these goals five years earlier than originally envisioned. These goals range from establishing state-of-the art billing systems that provide consumers with consistent information on their energy use and costs to developing strong state policies to ensure robust energy efficiency practices.

This is a refreshing, yet simple way to spur dialogue among all levels of government and result in idea sharing and problem solving in one collaborative space. It could also become a place for ideas to acquire sea legs and become more widely distributed.

The new SEE Action Executive Group will meet for the first time in early March. A number of working groups will continue to meet throughout the year to deliver results on specific goals.

I look forward to seeing the results that come out of these meetings and hope to help businesses work with the government to implement them at the state and local level.

Kevin Matthews is Vice President of Energy and Environment for NSI where he runs the day-to-day sector operations and works with clients on sustainable solutions for interfacing with state and local governments. Prior to joining NSI, Mr. Matthews held various positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. where he worked for Administrator Carol M. Browner and served as both Special Assistant and Senior Congressional Liaison. He also worked as an aide to U.S. Senators Dale Bumpers and Joseph Lieberman. Mr. Matthews holds a B.A. in History from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas and an MPA from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Brownfield News and Sustainability Report and is a certified Environmental Risk Manager from Texas State University.

EPA budget follows pattern

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:28:00 +0000

By Kevin Matthews
Vice President, Energy and Environment Sector

I suppose it makes sense the theme flowing through the various federal department budgets would be streamlining. With the deficit as it is, anything else would be irresponsible. But sometimes the cuts trim more than fat.

As we saw with the recent budget request for the Department of Energy, the $10 billion proposal for the Environmental Protection Agency leaves less for local governments than many would have desired. However, they might find alternative funding sources via parts of the Healthy Communities initiatives and Clean Air funds.

According to a press release, this budget offers $27 million for EPA’s new Healthy Communities Initiative to address community water priorities; promote clean, green, and healthy schools; improve air toxics monitoring in at-risk communities; and encourage sustainability by helping to ensure that policies and spending at the national level do not adversely affect the environment and public health or disproportionally harm disadvantaged communities. As for Clean Air funds, the budget includes $60 million to support state efforts to implement updated National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These avenues involve more competition from bigger companies and may be more difficult to navigate. NSI has often been able to help clients succeed with these challenges. Specifically, the budget includes seven priority areas EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson outlined to guide EPA’s work.

“To meet our environmental challenges and ensure fiscal responsibility, we’re proposing targeted investments in core priorities. This budget cuts spending while promoting clean air, land and water, growing the green economy and strengthening enforcement,” Jackson stated in a press release.

Additional budget highlights include $1.3 billion to address Superfund sites that may be releasing harmful or toxic substances into the surrounding community and $215 million to clean up Brownfields. There’s also more than $43 million for additional efforts to address climate change and work toward a clean energy future. EPA will implement the greenhouse gas reporting rule; provide technical assistance to ensure that any permitting under the Clean Air Act will be manageable; perform regulatory work for the largest stationary sources of greenhouse gas emissions; develop standards for mobile sources such as cars and trucks; and continue research of carbon capture and sequestration technologies.

This article originally posted at GovConExecutive.com. Kevin Matthews is Vice President of Energy and Environment for NSI where he runs the day-to-day sector operations and works with clients on sustainable solutions for interfacing with state and local governments. Prior to joining NSI, Mr. Matthews held various positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. where he worked for Administrator Carol M. Browner and served as both Special Assistant and Senior Congressional Liaison. He also worked as an aide to U.S. Senators Dale Bumpers and Joseph Lieberman. Mr. Matthews holds a B.A. in History from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas and an MPA from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Brownfield News and Sustainability Report and is a certified Environmental Risk Manager from Texas State University.

State, local funds dropped from DOE budget

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:43:00 +0000

By Kevin Matthews

Vice President, Energy and Environment Sector

As with most budgets, good and bad news can be found within the president’s recent fiscal request for the Department of Energy.

Overall, the $28.4 billion Fiscal Year 2011 budget request represents a continuing commitment to energy efficiency and the core goals of the Obama Administration as laid out during the campaign. For example, there’s still plenty of money for Smart Meter retrofitting and renewables as well as the electric vehicle battery market.

“The President’s budget cuts wasteful spending while making wise investments in innovation and clean energy that will put Americans back to work, save families money and keep our nation competitive in the global marketplace,” said DOE Secretary Steven Chu in a press release.

Unfortunately, there’s also a lot less help for local governments that previously came in the form of Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants. The block grants had been an excellent vehicle for local governments to access without having to dip into their own cash-strapped budgets. Their absence means it will be more difficult for small projects to get through, such as lighting and HVAC, as well as retrofitting. Those areas will suffer losses in coming year and likely create a ripple effect with the companies who provide them. Local governments might find alternative funding sources via a $75 million appropriation to supplement stimulus money for state energy plans as well as increased funding for other programs that will help energy efficiency, such as Weatherization Assistance Program and Clean, Renewable Energy Generation.

The good news: Mid-cap companies still have access to large grants and loan guarantees as sources of low-interest capital to increase manufacturing capability. According to a DOE newsletter, the proposed budget includes $500 million to support an estimated $3-5 billion in loan guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, as well as $10 million to support the continued administration of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. According to budget highlights, $300 million is also included for the Advanced Research Project Agency - Energy for transformational energy research that industry by itself cannot and will not support, as well as lending authority to support approximately $40 billion in loan guarantees for innovative clean energy programs.

In addition, there’s $35 million for clean energy transmission and reliability, $39.3 million for Smart Grid research and development, and $40 million for energy storage on the electrical grid.

Kevin Matthews is Vice President of Energy and Environment for NSI where he runs the day-to-day sector operations and works with clients on sustainable solutions for interfacing with state and local governments. Prior to joining NSI, Mr. Matthews held various positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. where he worked for Administrator Carol M. Browner and served as both Special Assistant and Senior Congressional Liaison. He also worked as an aide to U.S. Senators Dale Bumpers and Joseph Lieberman. Mr. Matthews holds a B.A. in History from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas and an MPA from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Brownfield News and Sustainability Report and is a certified Environmental Risk Manager from Texas State University.

Opportunity in Ocean State

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:28:00 +0000

By Christine Ferguson

Senior Advisor

Our current economic problems have hit some states more profoundly than others. My small home state of Rhode Island continues to suffer and those without jobs have few opportunities.

While unemployment hovers at nearly 13 percent, Governor Don Carcieri submitted a plan to cut millions of dollars in funding for local governments and schools, charge new bridge tolls, and increase fees for motorists in an effort to cope with a massive budget deficit. A story in the Boston Globe reported the plan would eliminate about $135 million in state support for cities and towns and cut millions meant to support local school districts. Carcieri cited the unemployment rate as a reason for the cuts.

This news comes just two weeks after state officials disclosed that they have spent less than half of the federal stimulus dollars earmarked for Rhode Island a year ago. The Providence Journal reported that the state has received $1.26 billion of the $787-billion package, but has only spent more than $551 million, largely to plug budget holes. Another $55 million has been assigned to various projects.

The stimulus package was designed to help fix just the sort of problems Rhode Island has. The truth is, the state has not put enough resources and time into getting more of their money out the door. But officials appear to be making an effort to step up. And the private sector can do the same.

Some in private industry may write off small states as not worth their time to look into possible partnerships to make use of stimulus funds. But they should know that navigating bureaucracy in a small state can be much easier and more fruitful. And, once engaged, if the partnership is successful, the benefits often continue via word of mouth between the leadership of the state and their colleagues in other states. New companies in particular might do well to break into the government market via a small state such as Rhode Island, where new ideas and technologies might get more attention and receptivity.

Rhode Island can be a place of opportunity, and sometimes opportunities born in difficult times can lead to brilliant results and partnerships. There is no more beautiful and resilient state in the nation – don’t ignore it because it is small.

Christine C. Ferguson, JD serves as Senior Advisor for NSI’s Health Care sector providing expertise and strategic insight to NSI’s health care clients. In addition to her senior advisory role with NSI, Ms. Ferguson currently serves as a research professor at the George Washington School of Public Health and Health Services. Ms. Ferguson has been engaged in the development of an educational program in state health policy and concentrates her research on health reform, health services for vulnerable populations, overweight and obesity, and health systems reform. Prior to her academic role, Ms. Ferguson served in executive positions at the state government. As Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health under Governor Mitt Romney from 2003 to 2005, where she led the Administration's efforts in the areas of emergency preparedness, substance abuse services, medical errors reduction, and early childhood education and child care. Most recently, Ms. Ferguson served as president of First Focus, a special initiative funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Atlantic Philanthropies. She is a member of the Board on Children, Youth, and Families of the National Academy of Sciences and the Board of the Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island. She has also served in a leadership capacity at the National Academy for State Health Policy and other organizations.

Rail investment a great start

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:04:00 +0000

By Parris Glendening

Senior Advisor

Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia got some very good news recently. They will soon claim their share of $8 billion in grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create 13 new high-speed rail corridor projects and for planning initiatives to lay the groundwork for future high-speed intercity rail service.

The move represents a clear commitment and understanding by the Obama Administration of this country’s dire need for a balanced transportation system. And we can all look forward to the many benefits of such a system, including job creation. On that point, a new analysis by Smart Growth America found that in the first 10 months of last year’s economic stimulus package, investments in public transportation created twice as many jobs per dollar as investments in highways.

Still, while understanding the necessity of spreading the new funds to multiple projects around the country, I agree with the Washington Post's editorial in that I would have rather seen some focused resources that could lead to the best overall transportation impact, particularly the Northeast corridor. This rail network from Boston to Richmond and almost every place in between is the nation’s most traveled rail line. It impacts 11 states and 110 million people and has the most potential for moving this country to a 21st century transit system.

Instead, the corridor is slated to receive $112 million in recovery money to help fund improvements along the route. As the Post opinion piece pointed out, these federal dollars are meant to be seed money to spur local and private investment. But these projects are massive, will take years to build and cost tens of billions of dollars. It is a start. Congress, however, must follow the lead of the Obama Administration and significantly reorder the priorities in America's transportation plan to make rail the investment of the future.

Stay tuned for NSI’s analysis of the potential public safety and security threats associated with these infrastructure and related issues.

Former Maryland Governor Parris Glendening serves as a Senior Advisor for NSI, where he works with the NSI team to develop winning legislative and marketing strategies for NSI’s clients. The Former Governor spent eight years as Governor of the State of Maryland, (1995-2003) where he made the environment, especially, smart growth-- education and inclusiveness the heart of his legislative, administrative and personal agenda. In addition, Governor Glendening had the honor of being elected chairman of the National Governor’s Association by his colleagues, where he made quality of life issues his top agenda item. He also served as President of the Council of State Governments. He was elected to statewide office after serving three terms as county executive of Prince George’s County, a jurisdiction of 800,000 outside of Washington, D.C. Mr. Glendening also serves as President of Smart Growth Leadership Institute, part of Smart Growth America, a nation-wide coalition of nearly 100 organizations promoting a better and more healthy way to grow; one that protects open space and farmland, revitalizes neighborhoods, keeps housing affordable, and makes communities more livable. As president, Mr. Glendening travels the country advising about the dangers of urban sprawl and its effect on our health, our prosperity and our communities as well as recommending a range of solutions to governors and public leaders.

New desktops won’t close real tech gap

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:10:00 +0000

By Peter Butler

Vice President of Technology and Telecommunications

A top Obama Administration official recently claimed “federal workers having better computers at home than in the office” has led to a technology gap between the public and private sectors that nets “billions of dollars in waste.” Unfortunately, the comments fell short of addressing the real crisis for America’s CIOs.

The Hill reported the comments made by Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag in a statement last week before a technology summit between Obama and dozens of corporate CEOs. While it’s probably fair to say government offices need technical upgrades, swapping out screens won’t solve the real issue. If only the solution were that simple.

The problem lies more with how government tracks and monitors the dollars it is allotted to support today’s most complex problems. Government could gain greater efficiencies through the enterprise deployment of asset management systems and project portfolio management systems. With an asset management system, government can track how its resources are being utilized. Also, they can determine whether the technology resources are up to date and being used in compliance with regulatory demands. With project portfolio management, government officials can better understand what they are spending our money on and, most importantly, why we are spending on that category. It’s imperative for our government leadership to have a real-time, birds-eye view into where their people, processes and technology are focused.

These are tough choices. And neither will come cheap.

Peter Butler is the vice president of the technology practice of NSI. In this capacity, Mr. Butler manages the day-to-day operations of the technology practice, leading efforts for new client acquisition, client management and P&L responsibility. Prior to NSI, Mr. Butler was an account director for Mainline Information Systems, CA, and Idea Integration. In 1998, Mr. Butler left the public sector to launch Homes.com as the vice president of Product Development. The site grew quickly, launching branded realtor and broker sites, and remains one of the leading portals today for online real estate. Mr. Butler also served as spokesperson for Florida Governor Bob Martinez in 1989 before changing his focus to internet communications. After launching the web strategies for Florida’s Leon County and the City of Tallahassee, Mr. Butler turned his attention to the State of Florida’s internet launch, and was project director for the State of Florida’s award winning web team under Governor Lawton Chiles.

Nevada governor’s threat should be wakeup call

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:54:00 +0000

By Christine Ferguson

Senior Advisor

We’ve seen this happen before. Unlike the Federal government, states must balance their budgets every year. The economy tanks, state budgets shrink and as governors crunch the numbers they can’t help but consider axing the biggest ticket item: Medicaid.

Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons has done just that, according to a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

A conservative Las Vegas-based think tank said the idea could save the state money and suggested that poor Nevadans probably would be better off without Medicaid, according to the article. But legislative leaders said Gibbons' idea would not receive their approval, which might be required. And a nonpartisan policy research group that monitors Congress said dumping Medicaid would leave many Nevadans without health care.

I’d be willing to bet it won’t happen after the governor’s staff researches the implications of such action. It’s a pretty difficult move to justify. If he follows through, Nevada would become the first state to have dropped Medicaid during tight times.

This should, however, be a wakeup call for Congress as to the magnitude of the problems facing states when it comes to health care and Medicaid costs. Despite at least a 50 percent match in federal funds, coming up with the remaining tab is getting more and more difficult in this economy. The cost of health care to states continues to grow and to infringe on other priorities – in some states health care consumes almost 30% of the state budget.

In the coming months, Congress must consider extending the enhanced match for Medicaid until the country climbs out of economic crisis. Otherwise, the results could be devastating, perhaps particularly so for 233,000 Nevadans who currently receive Medicaid benefits.

VC investments in clean-tech hold steady

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:55:00 +0000

By Kevin Matthews
Vice President, Energy and Environment Practice
Critics who question the future of clean technology and our government’s investment in the industry’s future might have to admit they’re wrong, once and for all.
Here’s a little bit of news for them from the New York Times’ Green Inc.: Venture capitalists invested $5.6 billion in green technology companies worldwide last year, according to a preliminary report from the Cleantech Group and Deloitte.
VC firms don’t spend that kind of cash on pipe dreams, particularly in today’s economy.
Although the report reflects a 33 percent drop from 2008 investments, the overall amount of venture capital fell further, to 2003 levels. But clean technology investments matched those from 2007, indicating a steady hold amid a global economic downturn.
Dallas Kachan, managing director of the Cleantech Group, said: “In 2009, clean-tech went from a niche category to become the dominant category in venture capital investing. Clean-tech continued to outpace software and biotech.”
Certainly, as the Green Inc. post points out, government subsidies are key. The clean-tech industry has experienced significant growth in recent months and analysts predict an ongoing upward trend due in large part to the Department of Energy’s $36.7 billion in stimulus funds.
As it turns out, NSI secured part of those funds for VC-backed companies Power Assure and SeaMicro, both of which develop data management products that increase energy efficiency. With help from premier investors in Silicon Valley, the startups leveraged that funding for NSI consultants’ strategy and oversight to win $14 million in grants from the DOE.
Power Assure reduces data centers’ energy consumption by an average of 50 percent, helping companies meet energy reduction targets and regulatory requirements, according to a company press release announcing the DOE grant. In fact, the DOE award was granted to Power Assure based on its principal goal of transforming data center energy strategy from an “Always On” to an “Always Available” model, which dramatically increases the efficiency of data centers. The root cause of high fixed energy expenses in data centers, according to the release, is that they are built to remain “always on”, consuming their full power load regardless of user demand.
In a press release announcing the project grants, DOE Secretary Steven Chu said, “By reducing energy use and energy costs for the IT and telecommunications industries, this funding will help create jobs and ensure the sector remains competitive. The expected growth of these industries means that new technologies adopted today will yield benefits for many years to come.”

Reports indicate bright future for renewables

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:35:00 +0000

By Bruce Gruenwald

Director, Energy and Environment Practice
The green movement seems to have the blues lately. Many advocates and experts are still reeling over disappointment with the outcome in Copenhagen. Reports indicate climate change ranks far below reality TV on Americans’ priority lists.

Regardless, the green movement marches forward — at least when it comes to renewable energy. Reports from the end of last year and the beginning of 2010 actually illustrate a promising picture.

Last October, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance released an updated report that examines a state-by-state commercial renewable electricity potential. According to Environmental Leader, 36 states with either renewable energy goals or renewable energy mandates could meet them by relying on in-state renewable fuels. The report also finds 23 states could be self-sufficient in electricity from in-state renewables, and another seven states could generate 75 percent of their electricity from homegrown fuels. The study finds new technologies like smart grids, electric vehicles, distributed storage and rooftop solar will have a major impact at the local level. As an example, the integration of millions of electric vehicles into the grid will change the context for energy planning by creating, for the first time, abundant storage for electricity, according to the report.

Last month, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a preliminary report (the full version is due in March) indicated renewable fuels accounted for nine percent of all energy consumption in 2008. However, the report also projects that share to grow to 17 percent by 2035. Why? The extension of key federal tax credits and the loan guarantee program in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which greatly increases renewable generation relative to the projections in earlier outlooks. According to the report, additional growth is also supported by the many state requirements for renewable generation.

Clearly, the government is driving the market for renewable energy and has, in fact, mandated a percentage of energy derived from renewable resources by 2020. It’s already boosting business for companies such as Energy Xtreme, an NSI client that provides large-scale storage products and other modern energy solutions.

While it’s easy to feel the that progress toward a greener future has come up against the proverbial yellow traffic light, it’s important to remember how far we’ve come. As the EIA report stated, we saw vigorous and far-reaching debate about the scale of future energy systems in 2009. I believe we’ve arrived at a point where there is real potential for the centralized renewable energy future, which will be characterized by greater federal involvement in planning and local and state-based strategies. The report, as the Executive Summary indicates, truly does provide compelling evidence that if states retain their authority, energy self-reliance is within their grasp.

A look at good news with an eye on the future

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:13:00 +0000

By Christine Ferguson

Senior Advisor

A New Year always presents an opportunity to look back and look ahead and the crucial issues we have faced and will meet head on in the coming months.

Amid last month’s flurry of debate and voting on health care reform legislation, there was a bit of good news that came out of the Department of Health and Human Services. The department announced the award of more than $72 million to nine states for making significant progress in enrolling children in health coverage through Medicaid and improving access to children’s coverage through Medicaid and the state children’s health insurance program. Funding for the “performance bonuses” was included in the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization (CHIPRA) law. CHIPRA also set performance goals that states must meet to qualify for a bonus. The press release also pointed out that a short-term boost in Medicaid reimbursement rates authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) also provided relief to states with suffering economies, enabling them to extend care to eligible children.

Cindy Mann, director of the Center for Medicaid and State Operations within the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), had this to say:

“In the midst of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, decisive action in ARRA and CHIPRA, along with focused state activity, helped ensure that children got the health care they need. We are pleased to see the success these states have achieved as well as the actions to enroll eligible children taken by other states that we expect may qualify for the bonus next year.”

It was, in fact, great news. But the real issue of the day is what’s going to happen a year from now when the enhanced ARRA funding runs out and we’ve failed to dig out of the recession or implement health care reform. How will states that are barely hanging on meet their mission for children - let alone their overall Medicaid responsibilities?

States could be facing serious hardship in the years ahead. Meanwhile, it sometimes seems as though folks in Washington don’t understand what it means to live and work in an environment where budgets must be balanced on an annual basis. Without sustained help, states will continue to struggle to provide very important health care coverage in the very near future.

So while we celebrate and enjoy the benefits of ARRA and CHIPRA, it’s important to remember we need to keep discussion going about the very near and potentially disastrous future ahead when it comes to health care at the state level.

This article originally published at GovConExecutive.com. Christine C. Ferguson, JD serves as Senior Advisor for NSI’s Health Care sector providing expertise and strategic insight to NSI’s health care clients. In addition to her senior advisory role with NSI, Ms. Ferguson currently serves as a research professor at the George Washington School of Public Health and Health Services. Ms. Ferguson has been engaged in the development of an educational program in state health policy and concentrates her research on health reform, health services for vulnerable populations, overweight and obesity, and health systems reform. Prior to her academic role, Ms. Ferguson served in executive positions at the state government.

Green construction to account for billions in wages

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:07:00 +0000

By Kevin Matthews

Vice President, Energy & Environment Sector

Green construction in the United States has soared in recent years and there’s plenty of reason for optimism as we head into the New Year. A steady stream of statistics, studies and reports indicate the trend will continue in the coming years.

In November, a report from the U.S. Green Building Council and Booz Allen Hamilton showed green building will support 7.9 million U.S. jobs and pump $554 billion into the American economy through 2013.

The promise of the industry, fueled by a need to curb environmental impact for the sake of our future, has spawned new businesses and ideas from solar panels to insulation made from recyclables. It’s also led to the discovery that what some may consider to be more conventional materials may be every bit as gentle on our environment as new developments. Last year, the American Forestry and Paper Association successfully argued paper products’ eligibility for renewable energy credit. The distinction also allows companies using such products to qualify for LEED certification. There are many reasons for their success, including chemical-free forestry practices and insulation made with recycled paper.

Though rebuilding our national economy might appear daunting, green construction continues to contribute to signs of a rebound. The USBC/Booz report determined that green construction spending currently supports more than 2 million American jobs and generates more than $100 billion in gross domestic product and wages and will account for $396 billion in wages in the next four years.

Green construction has certainly soared. And, clearly, it’s about to reach new heights.

This article was originally published at GovConExecutive.com. Kevin Matthews is Vice President of Energy and Environment for NSI where he runs the day-to-day sector operations and works with clients on sustainable solutions for interfacing with state and local governments. Prior to joining NSI, Mr. Matthews held various positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. where he worked for Administrator Carol M. Browner and served as both Special Assistant and Senior Congressional Liaison. He also worked as an aide to U.S. Senators Dale Bumpers and Joseph Lieberman.

Either health bill will mean big IT changes

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:59:00 +0000

By Christine Ferguson

Senior Advisor

As reaction to the Senate’s health care bill reverberates, we have yet to fully understand how any final legislation will affect individuals, institutions and, very notably, state governments.

Leaders in the House and Senate have said that they will have a final bill for the President to sign by the end of January. If they succeed, the US will begin implementing one of the most far-reaching health care programs ever enacted. States will undoubtedly play a significant role in the expansion and management of coverage to 30 million Americans.

The Senate bill differs from the House version approved a few weeks ago in many ways, including increasing coverage through Medicaid, placing a cap the tax exclusion for employer provided health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid savings and how the new exchanges are structured. As the House and Senate work to reconcile these and other differences, it is almost certain that the final bill will increase the demands on states through Medicaid and the new Exchanges. States must be prepared to devise new ways to manage these new responsibilities and the cost that comes with them.

Whether we end up with something closer to what the Senate or the House approved, large pieces of both health care bills add up to a big impact on information technology and delivery systems. Significant coverage increases will mean close examination of quality, enrollment and coverage comparisons. Providers and insurers certainly will seek strategic methods of managing enrollment and costs. There will be rapid changes in the way Medicare and Medicaid are managed. States will be scrambling to come up with approaches to the many problems and opportunities that will come as a result of this bill.

No matter the final version of the bill, it’s clear that the demand for advanced information technology solutions will accelerate and such solutions have the potential to play a huge role in designing the changing face of health care in this country. For most of us, enactment of a health reform bill is just the beginning - the implementation of a very complex and challenging set of changes in the way we pay for and deliver health care will evolve over the next few years and States will play a lead role in making them a reality.

Decentralized system of renewables possible

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:34:00 +0000

By Kevin Matthews

Vice President, Energy & Environment Sector

States have a lot more power than they realize.

A recent report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance found that most states could meet their demand for electricity with renewable energy sources inside their own borders. The report, called Energy Self-Reliant States, examined the commercial potential for wind, rooftop solar, geothermal and small-scale hydro projects, according to the New York Times’ Green Inc. blog.

Thirty-one states, mostly west of the Mississippi, could meet all their electric demand, and all states could generate at least 25 percent of their demand using these in-state resources, the authors of the report suggest. Of the 36 states with current renewable energy goals or mandates, all could meet these goals by relying on in-state renewable fuels, the report found.

Why, then, are these states coming up short despite the possibilities? Finding the right products and services that provide sustainable solutions via renewable resources can be difficult. But they’re out there. Zero Base is but one example. Designed to harness the sun, wind and other resources, the technology has the ability to harvest, store and distribute renewable energy, providing a cost-cutting solution for emergency response to power outages as well as year-round power needs for municipalities.

The report offers a glimpse into what’s possible: Rethinking everything about how we use and generate power and solving more than one problem at a time with easy and affordable solutions. Bringing state and local governments and solution providers together to achieve what’s possible is the next step.

This article was originally published at GovConExecutive.com. Kevin Matthews is Vice President of Energy and Environment for NSI where he runs the day-to-day sector operations and works with clients on sustainable solutions for interfacing with state and local governments. Prior to joining NSI, Mr. Matthews held various positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. where he worked for Administrator Carol M. Browner and served as both Special Assistant and Senior Congressional Liaison. He also worked as an aide to U.S. Senators Dale Bumpers and Joseph Lieberman.

Copenhagen could turn tide on public opinion

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:10:00 +0000

By Kevin Matthews

Vice President, Energy & Environment Sector

As the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) wraps up in Copenhagen this week, hopes are high among the environmental community for a myriad of accomplishments to come out of the two-week-long talks. The most important outcome might be a chance to turn the tide on a strategic mistake in communicating the concept of climate change to the public.

As a recent NPR story noted, the conference yields an unprecedented showing of leadership for the issue, yet public opinion of climate change is souring - particularly in the United States. In a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, according to the story, climate comes in dead last among issues of concern to America. But that doesn’t completely explain why a number of recent polls show that people are less and less likely to accept the science of global warming.

Part of the problem lies in that very term: global warming. The concept has been a problem from the beginning that no one can grasp if they live in an area where temperatures are at record lows on a given day. It just doesn’t make sense to them. We have to make the concept of climate change applicable to people’s lives right now - not years into the future.

Proponents of action on climate change - both on Capitol Hill and in the White House - have tried to build public support for climate issues by actually not talking about global warming, according to the same story. Instead, they are framing their actions in terms of green jobs and energy security. A recent column from the New York Times’ Thomas Friedman puts things in thoughtful perspective.

Regardless of public opinion polls, business leaders already understand the benefits of new energy solutions and more and more companies are poised to offer those solutions that ensure energy security. And they will continue to succeed because of the cost savings they provide and legislation offering funds to fuel the opportunities. No matter what words we use to describe the issues related to our environmental future, that’s something no one will sour on.

Execs plan to boost 2010 clean-tech investments

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:47:00 +0000

By Kevin Matthews
Vice President, Energy & Environment Sector

Because of their future promise amid vanishing resources and long-term cost savings, the demand for renewable energy and clean technology continues despite our still-suffering economy. And a new survey by auditor and consultant Ernst & Young suggests the trend will continue.

The survey, Greenwire recently reported, indicates that business executives are indeed shrugging off concerns about the global recession and plan to boost spending on renewable energy and clean technology next year. The survey also revealed corporate spending on alternative sources of energy, energy efficient technologies and other innovations to lighten environmental impacts has risen to roughly 5 percent of annual revenues. The Greenwire article also stated that most executives participating in the study said their firms will have spent at least $10 million in clean-tech investments by next year, and more than 75 percent predicted that their spending levels will grow in 2010 and over the next five years.

The central findings show “multibillion-dollar companies have few qualms about buying clean-tech products from or otherwise partnering with nascent companies,” Ernst & Young officials conclude.

Business has become immersed in clean energy. It’s time for government to follow suit. Local, state and federal agencies make up a vast market - perhaps as large or larger than private industry - for buying equipment and systems aimed at reducing energy use.

For example, the Police Department in the city of Dallas, Texas purchased NSI client Energy Xtreme’s power cell technology to improve gas mileage as well as reduce maintenance costs and carbon monoxide emissions. The city of New York has also embarked on a pilot program to outfit its taxicab fleet with the same systems. Such programs bring to mind an article I wrote which appeared Monday about the most recent American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) state-by-state ranking. The ACEEE has provided the report on the adoption and implementation of energy efficiency policies annually for the past three years.

The partnership with Energy Extreme could go far in putting New York and Texas in a higher standing for next year’s ACEEE ranking.

Mandate boosts environmentally preferred products

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:07:00 +0000

By Bruce Gruenewald

Director, Energy & Environment Operations

The past few weeks have brought much discussion regarding an executive order signed last month that mandates 95 percent of new contract actions require energy-efficient or environmentally preferred products and services.

The order signed in October is the fifth in a series of orders that have been issued over the past two decades and is the strongest yet in terms of EPP requirements and an explicit federal contracting performance mandate. The federal government defines EPP as the purchase of products and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products and services that serve the same purpose.

The Lenzing Group, a National Strategies client, celebrated the news. The company manufactures a sustainably grown and manufactured fiber that has environmentally preferred purchasing characteristics (i.e., it’s EC eco-labeled). The military buys it for their uniforms. Certainly, this product could be valuable to other departments in order to meet their sustainable product requirements.

But while the order creates a plethora of opportunities for Lenzing and other companies that provide environmentally preferred products and services, it has also sparked confusion and questions. The Environmental Protection Agency has already put together some guidance with regard to the impact of the mandate. In the coming months, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will issue detailed implementing guidance to federal agencies, according to one of my sources within the EPA.

The bottom line is that companies who want to take advantage of the opportunities that the sustainable acquisition requirement will create for their products or services have ample time to position themselves in the federal market. Full implementation of the contracting performance mandate may not be accomplished until the spring of 2010. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is expected to issue implementing guidance to federal departments and agencies in late December or early January. The departments and agencies will then need an additional two to three months to train their staff and modify their procedures before the contracting performance mandate can be implemented.

This article was originally published at GovConExecutive.com. Bruce Gruenewald is the Director, Energy and Environmental Operations for NSI. He runs the day-to-day operations of the sector and works with the vice president to help clients develop sustainable energy and environmental solutions for state and local governments. Prior to joining NSI, Mr. Gruenewald served as a program manager on several US EPA contracts. He provided technical leadership for the contracts, supervised multi-disciplinary consulting staffs, and managed the business and contractual relationships with the government. He also positioned his employers for new business opportunities in federal, state, and local markets, evaluated potential teaming partners, and wrote proposals and developed pricing and cost strategies in response to RFPs.

State energy report indicates growth potential

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:44:00 +0000

By Kevin Matthews

Vice President, Energy & Environment Sector

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) recently released its third annual state-by-state ranking on the adoption and implementation of energy efficiency policies. Clearly, several states continue to log impressive scores while others have made significant strides, as was reported by the New York Times’ blog on energy and environment issues, Green Inc..

However, and perhaps more importantly, the report also suggests the enormous growth potential that still exists despite such accomplishments.

The ACEEE suggests in a press release that the current economic downturn has not sidetracked state-level efforts to make the most of energy efficiency as the cheapest, cleanest and quickest of all energy resources. Analysis of The 2009 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, which ranks states in six categories, indicates this is most certainly true. The report concludes states known for past energy efficiency prowess are retaining their hold, while more have joined the upper ranks of energy efficiency with comprehensive strategies to improve efficiency, including utility rebate programs.

ACEEE Scorecards show state energy efficiency expenditures are climbing, with $1.6 billion spent in 2006 followed by $2.2 billion in 2007 (the most recent years for which statistics are available). Federal expenditures were and will be $2.2 billion, according to Department of Energy budgets for 2009 and 2010; stimulus funding adds another $ 16.8 billion.

However, statistics within the report also indicate, despite the increased spending, that renewable energy usage in the commercial and government sectors leaves substantial room for growth. The commercial sector, which includes government, accounts for less than 2 percent of renewables consumption. Renewables account for 7 percent of power generated, which means total commercial consumption of renewable power is 0.14 percent of electricity consumed.

Quite simply, these statistics point to opportunity. A recent Greenwire article suggests some business executives are ready to seize it. According to the article, most executives participating in a survey by the auditor and consultant Ernst & Young said their firms will have spent at least $10 million in clean-tech investments by next year; more than 75 percent predicted that their spending levels will grow in 2010 and over the next five years. The central findings show “multibillion-dollar companies have few qualms about buying clean-tech products from or otherwise partnering with nascent companies,” Ernst & Young officials conclude.

This article was originally published at GovConExecutive.com. Kevin Matthews is Vice President of Energy and Environment for NSI where he runs the day-to-day sector operations and works with clients on sustainable solutions for interfacing with state and local governments. Prior to joining NSI, Mr. Matthews held various positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. where he worked for Administrator Carol M. Browner and served as both Special Assistant and Senior Congressional Liaison. He also worked as an aide to U.S. Senators Dale Bumpers and Joseph Lieberman.

Health bill puts IT opportunity in closer reach

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:25:00 +0000

By Christine Ferguson

Senior Advisor

The proverbial tortoise that is health care reform finally took a step last month.

The House narrowly approved a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s health care system. Senate majority leader Harry Reid brought major health care legislation to the floor and he said he wants to complete work on the bill before Christmas, the New York Times reported. Meanwhile, other Democratic leaders said it was unlikely that a bill could reach President Obama’s desk by year’s end.

Here’s what’s certain:

The House vote was a significant first step toward reform, whatever form it may take.

It’s unlikely the House bill looks anything like what we will ultimately end up with.

There’s still a lot of drama left to unfold and many steps to take before this journey is over.

Regardless of the details of a final Health Care Reform Bill, the impact on health information technology and opportunities for such will be significant.

Health IT has been a key driver in the reform movement since Day One. Regardless of if or when a bill passes through all the necessary hoops, states have to address several issues using health IT as a tool, including insurance eligibility and enrollment, fraud and abuse, predictive modeling, management of those with chronic disease and, possibly, rate-setting.

There is no doubt that the more sophisticated our technological tools become and the better access we have to those tools, the more effective as a nation and as states we can be in identifying opportunities to ensure that every health care dollar is spent for high quality, cost-effective care. However, we can expect arguments to intensify over privacy concerns in the coming weeks and, perhaps, months. But they must be mitigated and addressed to allow health IT to move forward and offer its crucial benefits to the health care industry.

Green alternatives awash in red and blue

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:06:00 +0000

By Kevin Matthews
Vice President, Energy and Environment Sector

An unlikely power couple has emerged on the clean energy stage. And it’s been suggested that lawmakers take notice.

In a recent New York Times article, Texas and California were highlighted as important policy laboratories on the cutting edge of alternative energy in the absence of sustained federal action to support such efforts to fight climate change.

As the article points out, both states are striving to retain leadership in the energy industry and the subsequent economic sustenance such status brings. This means Texas must reduce its love of hydrocarbons and take to the wind, literally. In California, clean energy offers a viable insurance policy in case of a mid-1990s redo that results in the same economic peril.

Texas Governor Rick Perry challenges the Environmental Protection Agency frequently and recently branded the climate bill that passed the House of Representatives a “legislative monstrosity,” the Times story states. Yet the state has emerged as the nation’s top wind power producer. Texas has taken an interest in a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) program developed by AC Propulsion, an NSI client. The technologyprogram involves drawing excess power from electric vehicles plugged into the grid during peak demand.

In California, another NSI client has developed a wireless lighting controls technology that can be retrofitted in any existing building. Adura’s technology is frequently eligible for utility rebates that California and the utility programs there have pioneered - creating more rapid paybacks for those accepting the challenge to reduce energy consumption.

Clearly, despite the vast differences in Texas and California, it’s clear leadership in energy use and supply is the key to future economic growth for both. And the tale of these two states is proof that energy efficiency is truly a nonpartisan issue. Whether one leans red or blue on any given Election Day, green alternatives are the answer to an economically sound future.

This article was originally published at GovConExecutive.com. Kevin Matthews is Vice President of Energy and Environment for NSI where he runs the day-to-day sector operations and works with clients on sustainable solutions for interfacing with state and local governments. Prior to joining NSI, Mr. Matthews held various positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. where he worked for Administrator Carol M. Browner and served as both Special Assistant and Senior Congressional Liaison. He also worked as an aide to U.S. Senators Dale Bumpers and Joseph Lieberman.

ARRA funding offers chance to curb obesity

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:54:00 +0000

By Christine Ferguson
Senior Advisor

Americans have been becoming increasingly and exponentially obese and overweight since the mid-1980s. While many debate where responsibility for the problem lies, as the gateway to chronic illness such as diabetes and heart disease, it continues to be a driver of costs in both private and public insurance. The problem must be addressed on a number of fronts, from what we serve for lunch in schools and our built environment to more effective community prevention and treatment programs.

To that end, the Department of Health and Human Services has released $373 million in competitive grant funds for local communities to adopt and implement evidence-based policies and programs to improve nutrition, increase physical activity, decrease obesity and decrease tobacco use. According to a press release, these funds are the first of the $650 million for prevention and wellness from ARRA funding.

This newly-created program, “Communities Putting Prevention to Work,” will operate through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where communities and tribes are able to apply for funds to address healthy eating and active living and/or tobacco use among people of all ages and across all community sectors. Businesses that offer healthier alternatives should look to partner with schools and communities and participate in this initiative.

This is a big opportunity for communities and business to work together to attack obesity among both children and adults. These grants can be used to administer programs that could help people reach achievable and measurable weight management goals via healthy school lunch programs, community-administered wellness programs and infrastructure plans such as bike paths or parks. Let’s not forget the National Hearth Lung and Blood Institute research from the late 1990s that showed a weight reduction of as little as 5 to 10 percent leads to significant health improvements. Such outcomes would bring welcome relief to our local economies as well.

One of the largest expenditures in most state and local budgets is health care costs through Medicaid and state or municipal employee health plans. We are paying for obesity as it leads to costly chronic disease. “Communities Putting Prevention to Work” is a chance to help struggling state and local governments trim their costs.

This article was originally published at GovConExecutive.com. Christine C. Ferguson, JD serves as Senior Advisor for NSI’s Health Care sector providing expertise and strategic insight to NSI’s health care clients. In addition to her senior advisory role with NSI, Ms. Ferguson currently serves as a research professor at the George Washington School of Public Health and Health Services. Ms. Ferguson has been engaged in the development of an educational program in state health policy and concentrates her research on health reform, health services for vulnerable populations, overweight and obesity, and health systems reform. Prior to her academic role, Ms Ferguson served in executive positions in state government.

Partnerships could solve energy, economic problems

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:46:00 +0000

By Kevin Matthews
Vice President, Energy and Environment Sector

State governments have long been on the front line in the pursuit of energy efficiency, and for good reason. Studies indicate it’s far cheaper to invest in energy efficiency than to build new power plants.

The emphasis will apparently continue for many years to come. The Wall Street Journal has reported total annual spending on state energy efficiency programs is expected to rise from $3.1 billion in 2008 to $7.5 billion to $12.4 billion by 2020, according to a study released this month by the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab.

According to the Wall Street Journal, California utility regulators approved a program last month authorizing utilities to spend $3.1 billion from 2010 through 2012, including on programs to cut energy use 20% at 130,000 homes, install energy-efficient lighting at businesses and help cities and counties cut electricity and natural-gas use in public buildings. The state hopes the next push will eliminate the need for three additional 500-megawatt power plants.

A separate study cited in the article found that it costs an average of 2.5 cents to save a kilowatt hour of electricity through the programs. Building new resources like power plants, by contrast, would cost three or more times as much, not counting pollution costs.

Beyond immediate energy and costs savings, such spending fuels opportunity for green jobs and cutting-edge approaches to energy efficiency via new technology making its way to market through various government programs. And so it goes, from the states on up and across the globe.

Some mistakenly believe our lofty climate change goals can only be met with grandiose solutions. The truth is, we don’t necessarily need to build massive wind farms to make great strides. Instead, we can each take many small but significant steps that, as a whole, create a big difference and help heal our economy along the way. Energy efficiency solutions are available via technology that already exists, it just has to be brought to market. We can accomplish more than half of our goals for energy conservation by doing just that. And state governments are our gateway to make it happen.

This article was originally published at GovConExecutive.com. Kevin Matthews is Vice President of Energy and Environment for NSI where he runs the day-to-day sector operations and works with clients on sustainable solutions for interfacing with state and local governments. Prior to joining NSI, Mr. Matthews held various positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. where he worked for Administrator Carol M. Browner and served as both Special Assistant and Senior Congressional Liaison. He also worked as an aide to U.S. Senators Dale Bumpers and Joseph Lieberman.

Recent elections signal importance of 2010

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:19:00 +0000

By Timothy Onoff
President

As the 2009 election season is now behind us and we look to 2010, there are some obvious and not so obvious trends that will serve as indicators for what the following year’s election season may present.

Since the economic downturn over a year ago, government has played an increasingly central role in the economy through the structure of programs, funding, regulation, policy and even the direct involvement in companies and industries. As we watched the recent election results, one of the strongest themes was frustration and fear around the economy. Voters fear our economic future and sent message at the polls.

Tuesday’s election results were not as much about national political parties as they are a clear sign of the voters’ economic fear and dislocation with the recession, concern over government’s role and our place in the world. Exit polls from Tuesday’s elections in both Virginia and New Jersey showed that on average, 87 percent of voters were concerned about the economy and the forecast for the coming year.

Clearly, consumer frustration and lack of trust is growing. This trust between business and citizens has suffered a precipitous drop since the economic crisis in late 2008, causing many citizens to look to government as the safety net. As company executives look to improve their standing with consumers, they also need to consider their role and relationship with government. When it comes to providing services as well as understanding the regulatory and oversight of commerce and industry, executives who run successful companies realize the importance of having a proactive partnership with government.

As we saw from the Tuesday’s Elections, government leaders have their work cut out for them too. As exit polls captured voter frustration and fear, much like the private sector, government must show action and convince voters they can be trusted to get the job done. Moving beyond the economic crisis, government leaders must address their standing with citizens.

The 2009 election was mostly profiled as involving two state gubernatorial races and special elections to fill Congressional seats. It has also included key mayoral races around the country. For certain, the defeat of incumbent, Democratic Governor Jon Corzine, could be seen as a dent to the national Democratic Party as well as the Republican sweep of state offices in Virginia. However they can also be isolated candidate-specific and state specific trends.

On a larger level, there is a more important trend from 2009: voter fear and frustration focused on incumbents. Governing during economic crisis is not popular. As an example, a look at the 2009 mayoral races around the country has shown that several prominent mayors were defeated and many incumbents that won did so at a much tighter margin than prior elections. In New York City, incumbent Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg spent $90 million; a rate of almost 20 times more than his opponent, to win an election that was much closer because of low turnout and anger toward incumbency.
Next year’s sizeable and significant election will include mid-term races for Congress, Governors, State Legislatures and Attorney Generals. These races will create both an impact on and consideration of the importance of understanding and navigating the intersection of policy, governance and elections.

Next year will continue to be a time of change for government and how leaders do business. We’ll see candidates running on the ability to create opportunities and solve problems. With the initiatives around the stimulus and government’s expanded role, the time for government and business to work together has never been greater. The ability to understand the intersection of policy, governance and electoral issues is even more important.

Want to learn more? Read Tim’s Special Report and Forecast on the 2010 Gubernatorial Elections.

Timothy Onoff is President of NSI and serves as a political mapping expert helping organizations understand how policies and the political landscape impact business. Mr. Onoff has extensive experience developing strategic government marketing campaigns and assisting companies in the leadership and execution of winning government sales programs. Prior to NSI, Mr. Onoff founded and led a consulting firm Assisted Initiatives, that specialized in helping corporations with state and local marketing efforts involving comprehensive legislative, intergovernmental, grassroots communications and issue-advocacy campaigns. He has also served in senior level positions within New York State government.

CEO shares expertise with investor community

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Al Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of National Strategies, LLC (NSI), a nationally recognized business-to-government strategic consulting firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., will address investors and advisors from Pegasus Capital Advisors on Thursday, October 29, 2009 regarding “Real Opportunities at the Crossroads of Business and Government.” Founded in 1995, the Firm currently manages close to $2.0 billion in assets through several private equity funds and has made more than 80 investments since its inception.

Mr. Gordon will share with Pegasus’s investors and advisors how economic recovery initiatives, the Presidential Election, legislative policy and 2010 gubernatorial elections collectively drive business growth opportunities. Additionally, his comments will address the escalating government oversight and spending, and outline how the investment community can engage the public sector market and become strategic partners to help reinvigorate our new economy. Mr. Gordon will provide insight on how executives should direct their resources to be strategic partners with their government counterparts.

“NSI is one of our most exciting portfolio companies. Achieving the growth it has in this economic environment is quite an accomplishment and it is perfectly positioned to benefit from Stimulus Package initiatives going forward,” stated Craig Cogut, Founder and Co-Managing Partner, Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P. “We invited Al to share his insights on the new political and economic construct that we operate in with investors and the Pegasus team because he acutely understands this dynamic and demonstrates this through the results NSI is generating.”

Prior to establishing NSI in 1995, Mr. Gordon had extensive experience in government and politics in New York State, where he worked as a senior member of former Governor Mario Cuomo’s staff. In this capacity, he oversaw such areas as legislative relations, intergovernmental relations, constituency affairs, and regional services. Mr. Gordon also served for over two years as Chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee. Mr. Gordon currently serves on the Boards of Policy Studies Inc (PSI) and Inmate Health Services (IHS).

Mr. Gordon received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from Clark University and a J.D. from Fordham School of Law.

ARRA remains crucial for renewables

noreply@blogger.com (NSI) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:56:00 +0000

By Bruce Gruenewald
Director, Energy and Environmental Operations

The Department of Energy recently announced another round of funding from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help accelerate the development of conventional renewable energy generation projects.

Such loan guarantees allow access to capital for advanced renewable project development as credit markets continue to struggle and remain crucial for this reason. As part of the latest effort toward that end, the Department of Energy has created the Financial Institution Partnership Program (FIPP), which offers a streamlined set of standards designed to expedite DOE’s loan guarantee underwriting process and leverage private sector expertise and capital for the efficient and prudent funding of eligible projects.

The DOE funding will cover the cost of loan guarantees which could support as much as $4 to 8 billion in lending to eligible projects and invite private sector participation to accelerate the financing of these renewable energy projects. The first solicitation under the new program will seek loan guarantee applications for conventional renewable energy generation projects, such as wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and hydropower.

The department’s Loan Guarantee Program provides a much-needed source of funding to ensure continued investment in renewable technologies in a struggling economy. NSI continues to believe these are crucial elements to get for-profit companies to embark on energy efficiency efforts that will later lead to cost savings but require investment at the outset.

Bruce Gruenewald is the Director, Energy and Environmental Operations for NSI. He runs the day-to-day operations of the sector and works with the vice president to help clients develop sustainable energy and environmental solutions for state and local governments. Prior to joining NSI, Mr. Gruenewald served as a program manager on several US EPA contracts. He provided technical leadership for the contracts, supervised multi-disciplinary consulting staffs, and managed the business and contractual relationships with the government. He also positioned his employers for new business opportunities in federal, state, and local markets, evaluated potential teaming partners, and wrote proposals and developed pricing and cost strategies in response to RFPs.