Our publicity programs focus on seven specific areas of Renewable Energy:

• Biofuel (Agrofuel) - Biofuel is defined as solid, liquid or gas fuel derived from relatively recently dead biological material and is distinguished from fossil fuels, which are derived from long dead biological material. Theoretically, biofuels can be produced from any (biological) carbon source; although, the most common sources are photosynthetic plants. Various plants and plant-derived materials are used for biofuel manufacturing. Globally, biofuels are most commonly used to power vehicles, heating homes cornstoves and cooking stoves. Agrofuels are biofuels which are produced from specific crops, rather than from waste processes such as landfill off-gassing or recycled vegetable oil. The use of biofuels reduces dependence on petroleum and enhances energy security. Also, unlike fossil fuels, which return carbon that was stored beneath the surface for millions of years into the atmosphere, biofuels can produce energy without causing a net increase of atmospheric carbon. This is because as new plants are grown to produce fuel, they remove the same amount of CO2 from the atmosphere as they will release as fuel.
  
  
• Biomass - Biomass refers to living and recently dead biological material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Most commonly, biomass refers to plant matter grown to generate electricity or produce biofuel, but it also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibers, chemicals or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. It excludes organic material which has been transformed by geological processes into substances such as coal or petroleum. Industrial biomass can be grown from numerous types of plants, including miscanthus, switchgrass, hemp, corn, poplar, willow, sorghum, sugarcane [1], and a variety of tree species, ranging from eucalyptus to oil palm (palm oil). The particular plant used is usually not very important to the end products, but it does affect the processing of the raw material. Production of biomass is a growing industry as interest in sustainable fuel sources is growing.
  
  
• Geothermal - Geothermal resources range from shallow ground to hot water and rock several miles below the Earth's surface, and even further down to the extremely hot molten rock called magma. Wells over a mile deep can be drilled into underground reservoirs to tap steam and very hot water that can be brought to the surface for use in a variety of applications. Geothermal energy offers a number of advantages over traditional fossil fuel based sources, primarily that the heat source requires no purchase of fuel. From an environmental standpoint, emissions of undesirable substances are small. It is also nearly sustainable because the heat extraction is small compared to the size of the heat reservoir, which may also receive some heat replenishment from greater depths. In addition, geothermal power plants are unaffected by changing weather conditions. Geothermal power plants work continuously, day and night, making them base load power plants.
  
  
• Hydro Power (Hydroelectricity) - Hydroelectricity is electricity generated by hydropower, i.e., the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy. Once a hydroelectric complex is constructed, the project produces no direct waste, and has a considerably different output level of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) than fossil fuel powered energy plants. Some jurisdictions do not consider large hydro projects to be a sustainable energy source, due to the human, economic and environmental impacts of dam construction and maintenance. Most hydroelectric power comes from the potential energy of dammed water driving a water turbine and generator. In this case the energy extracted from the water depends on the volume and on the difference in height between the source and the water's outflow. This height difference is called the head. The amount of potential energy in water is proportional to the head. To obtain very high head, water for a hydraulic turbine may be run through a large pipe called a penstock.
  
  
• Solar Power (Photovoltaic)
- Solar energy is the light and radiant heat from the Sun that influences Earth's climate and weather and sustains life. Solar power is sometimes used as a synonym for solar energy or more specifically to refer to electricity generated from solar radiation. Since ancient times solar energy has been harnessed for human use through a range of technologies. Solar energy technologies can provide electrical generation by heat engine or photovoltaic means, space heating and cooling in active and passive solar buildings; potable water via distillation and disinfection, daylighting, hot water, thermal energy for cooking, and high temperature process heat for industrial purposes.


• Wave Power - Wave power is the transport of energy by ocean surface waves, and the capture of that energy to do useful work - for example for electricity generation, desalination, or the pumping of water (into reservoirs). Wave power devices are generally categorized by the method used to capture the energy of the waves. They can also be categorized by location and power take-off system. Method types are point absorber or buoy; surfacing following or attenuator; terminator, lining perpendicular to wave propagation; oscillating water column; and overtopping. Locations are shoreline, nearshore and offshore. Types of power take-off include: hydraulic ram, elastomeric hose pump, pump-to-shore, hydroelectric turbine, air turbine, and linear electrical generator. Some of these designs incorporate parabolic reflectors as a means of increasing the wave energy at the point of capture.
  
  
• Wind Power (Wind Turbines) -
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form, such as electricity, using wind turbines. Wind energy has historically been used directly to propel sailing ships or converted into mechanical energy for pumping water or grinding grain, but the principal application of wind power today is the generation of electricity. Large scale wind farms are typically connected to the local electric power transmission network, with smaller turbines being used to provide electricity to isolated locations. However, utility companies are increasingly being encouraged to buy back surplus electricity produced by small domestic turbines. Wind energy as a power source is favored by many environmentalists as an alternative to fossil fuels, as it is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, and produces lower greenhouse gas emissions.

1. Create awareness for your company's renewable energy programs by generating free news stories in newspapers, magazines, vertical trade publications, business journals, internet news portals, and broadcast media outlets that explain the features and benefits of renewable energy programs, which utilize biofuel, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectricity, solar, wave and wind power to generate power without burning fossil fuels and significantly reduce the amount of harmful carbon emissions into the Earth's atmosphere.



2. Generate consumer interest in renewable energy by generating news stories that demonstrate how customers can install renewable energy technology such as solar panels and take advantage of Net Metering programs to reduce the power their home consumes and begin a market transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Utilities should partner with energy consultants that can provide energy audits and recommend the best renewable energy products for residential customers that want to reduce the monthly energy bills and do their part to stop global warming. PR programs should publicize the benefits of renewable energy, the list of vendors that can help consumers make the transition and specify where to get rebates and state and federal tax credits to help consumers pay for the renewable energy technology.



3. Generate commercial business interest in renewable energy by generating news stories that demonstrate how customers can install renewable energy technology such as solar panels and take advantage of Net Metering programs to reduce the power their business consumes and begin a market transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Utilities should partner with energy consultants that can provide energy audits and recommend the best renewable energy products for commercial customers that want to reduce the monthly energy bills and do their part to stop global warming. PR programs should publicize the benefits of renewable energy, the list of vendors that can help commercial customers make the transition and specify where to get rebates and state and federal tax credits to help businesses pay for the renewable energy technology.



4. Generate better community relations by generating news stories on how the company goes the extra mile to help low income and fixed income senior citizen customers afford and install renewable energy products and services recommended by the company's renewable energy programs.



5. Drive readers to Renewable Energy and/or consumer-related websites containing education forums on best use renewable energy practices, free customer premises evaluation forms, contractor business lead forms and other lead generation processes to promote, educate and convert more customers to utilize more energy efficient products, services and consumption patterns.

1. The first step is to make sure that all executives or spokespersons are media trained, which teaches them how to understand a reporter's news beat, understand the media outlet's editorial environment and help them understand how to present information, facts and figures that the reporter can use to write a positive feature story on the company's Renewable Energy program. Executives will also learn how to stay on topic during interviews and how to redirect or bridge to another topic if a reporter tries to get them to discuss a topic they are not prepared to discuss.



2. The second step is to build a message map. A message map is a graphic representation of all possible topics that could be covered during an interview. The message map is a series of big circles with the main points on inside and all the sub-topics on the outside displayed on lines attached to the main circle. There are multiple circles with their own message points, but they are all connected. At the end of an interview reporters usually will ask if there was anything that they forgot to ask or cover during the interview. A message map makes it easy for an executive to scan all the topics and add one or more important topics at the end of the interview. Many times this will lead to a follow up story.



3. The third step is to build a FAQ Sheet. Each message map is supported by a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) sheet. The FAQ sheet contains every question that a reporter might ask, complete with a polished answer. The FAQ sheet is a used for two purposes. One is to make sure all responses from execs are consistent. The second purpose is to lead reporters down a topic path that executives want to pursue. FAQ Sheets are evolving documents that are updated after every single interview. There are usually two FAQ Sheets. A public FAQ sheet contains positive discussion points that are shared with reporters. A private FAQ sheet contains negative discussion points and is not made public. The private fact sheet provides executives with company approved statements on hard-to-answer subject matters, and then provides a bridge (escape route) to another positive discussion point that the executive does want to cover during the interview.



4. The fourth step is to build a media relations database. Once executives are media trained and the message map/FAQ sheet is prepared, Front Page builds a giant database of every reporter that covers energy related topics. We begin building relationships between executives and reporters, one industry at a time. Company execs are positioned as subject matter experts that are available for positive stories on the energy industry. The more reporters that know what topics an executive can discuss, the more stories they will be quoted. Reporters always search backwards to see what has been written and who was quoted. One quote leads to two more stories, then four and so on. Reporters talk to many important people and are very good resources for facilitating new business relationships. The more reporters an executive knows, the more access they will have to other executives in the industry, which can be very good for developing new business deals and career moves. If you manage the public relations for your company, our media relations expertise will make your job very easy.



5. The fifth step is giving news scoops to leading publications. One way that we build relationships with reporters is by offering them scoops on stories. We can offer reporters stories a week before they hit the newswire. This allows reporters to write a big feature story that shows up on the front page (this is how we got our company name). We share the scoop with a different publication each week. Once reporters realize they can get the story ahead of time, it trains them to call us on a weekly basis to see what stories we have ready for them. It also encourages them to call us when they are working on other energy stories because they know us and want to return the favor for us giving them the scoop.



6. The sixth step is to build events that interest the press. Another successful strategy we use to generate news stories is to hold energy technology days. Energy Technology days show off the latest and greatest energy technology such as the latest ways to add energy star appliances or new energy production capabilities to homes and businesses. Energy Technology days are very similar to tradeshows except the entire focus of the show is squarely on one company. These events are very successful. We set up 5-6 related presentations, followed by a Q&A session. After the presentations, which are loaded with potential news story material, we hold a big luncheon and use a seating chart to sit people together by subject matter. For example, if a company wants to market solar power technology to large business such as hotels, hospitals, schools, shopping malls, etc., we would sit executives, reporters, industry analysts, customers and vendors, together by topic. This gives reporters everything they need to complete a phenomenal feature article. They have executives for quotes, analysts for third party verification, customers for testimonials and vendors for product details. A typical event might have 10 tables with 5 reporters. These events generate a massive amount of positive press because we make it easy for reporters to get access to everyone they need to talk to for a story at one event. They are extremely effective at generating the exposure for their Renewable Energy programs. They cost hundreds of thousands of dollars less than attending one tradeshow. No travel expenses, no floor space rentals, no drayage costs, and senior executives only need to spend three hours at the event. Their directors and senior managers do the majority of the work for the event.



7. The most important strategy of all is building relationships. Just like in sales, it is important to build good relationships with the people who buy your products. The same is true of reporters. The better the relationship is, the more stories they will write. To create these types of relationships, utilities need an aggressive PR firm that proactively calls every single reporter in the industry that covers energy and makes friends with them. That is what we do and why we have been so successful with our clients. If you want more exposure for your pet projects, please call us at (480) 218-4441.



8. The last step is building a news story clip portfolio. Clip books are used to show clients the value of our work and their return on investment. We use a clipping service to track, clip and send us a copy of every story that we get published. We then compile a cost/benefit analysis measurement sheet that details the article headline, publication name, publication circulation, and the number of gross impressions (number of people that read the story). We also compute the amount of money that would have been spent with advertising dollars to buy the same amount of press we received for free. These books are awesome for Marketing Directors because they will show upper management that they reduced their advertising budget by millions of dollars, but reached three to five times more readers through free publicity. More importantly, utility CEOs and Presidents can submit copies of these clip books to the state utility regulatory commissions to demonstrate the massive amount of work they have been doing to market their Renewable Energy projects.

The Residential New Construction Solar Energy (Photovoltaics) publicity campaign will market high efficiency solar power plant construction practices to new home builders. The program will publicize incentives to builders who meet solar energy installation standards in order to increase the penetration of solar powered homes. Despite the slowdown in the housing market, the annual increases in expected incentives to builders should increase the number of participating builders.