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| Connecticut River, Below Middletown, CT © 1995 B. B. Greenbie, Courtesy of the Connecticut River Watershed Council
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Archived Biennial Reports
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 The Foundation''s Global Warming work, one of two tracks of Tremaine support for environmental activities, gained tremendous momentum in 2004-2005. Success occurred on many levels and flowed from the focus on state and regional initiatives.
The Foundation efforts in the field of Open Space protection, the second track of its grant making in this field, benefited from a reassessment process that identified place-based grant-making as the strategy of greatest potential going forward.
Global Warming
During the two-year time period covered by this report, Connecticut went from laggard to leader on the issue of climate change. In addition to a state level action plan, a crucial piece of legislation was signed into law that commits Connecticut to measurable progress on climate action. The bill, "An Act Concerning Climate Change," outlines a framework for progress on the issue of climate change. Key efforts by Tremaine Foundation grantees, including both non-profits and a state agency, spurred the creation of this touchstone legislation.
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Several other achievements at a state level can be attributed to the collective activities of Tremaine-funded work in this area. In 2004 the state government agreed to purchase 20% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2010 with the percentage increasing incrementally to 100% by 2050. SmartPower led the effort. The current Governor M. Jodi Rell enhanced her support for this executive order, as well as the broader climate agenda contained in the Connecticut State Climate Action Plan .
In addition, a clean cars bill requiring tougher auto emission standards for new cars was signed into law. Through EHTF funding, Connecticut Fund for the Environment was able to inform the public about the health concerns associated with auto emission and educate the legislature, which led to the creation of the bill.
Also signed into law was an energy efficient appliances bill that featured EHTF grantee Environment Northeast (ENE) as the lead group.
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Spotlight: Brian Keane, SmartPower
 SmartPower President Brian Keane is a man with a mission. His organization is leading the effort to promote clean energy -- electricity from sources including wind, solar, and water. "Just like Coca-Cola markets Coke, SmartPower is marketing clean energy," he explains.
A big challenge, SmartPower has discovered along the way, is convincing consumers that clean energy really does work. "We found that, overwhelmingly, people know that clean energy is good for the environment, human health, and security," Brian says. "The problem is, many people just don''t believe that clean energy technology actually can keep their lights on at night."
To show consumers that clean energy really does work, SmartPower decided to think big. The organization''s "20% by 2010 Campaign" challenges cities, towns, faith communities, educational institutions, and businesses to begin choosing clean energy. Those joining the campaign pledge to meet 20% of their energy needs through clean energy by the year 2010. Connecticut was the first New England state to commit to 20% by 2010, and the first state in the nation to commit to 100% clean energy by 2050.
"The Foundation has been phenomenally supportive in allowing us the freedom to work through these challenges," Brian says. "Today, Connecticut is recognized among the states leading the nation in clean energy solutions, and the Foundation has been key in making that happen."
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Riding the tremendous momentum started in Connecticut in 2004, the Foundation began to expand its Global Warming grant making to other key Northeastern states. By using Connecticut as a model for other state-level initiatives, EHTF''s new, broader focus will enhance the work going on in Connecticut by ensuring that compatible action is taking place in other key states and regions.
Along those lines, in 2004-2005, the Tremaine Foundation expanded its state-level climate work to Pennsylvania. In grants to Penn Future, and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), the Foundation has sought to lay important groundwork for state action on climate initiatives beyond New England. Penn Future, PEC and other like-minded groups have made steady progress in a variety of sectors including transportation, power, and the promotion of new clean energy investments.
Open Space
In the spring of 2004 EHTF made the decision to suspend grant-making in the field of Open Space until the end of the cycle to re-examine its strategy. This period of reassessment led to the conclusion that building a place-based program is the best focus for Tremaine''s limited resources.
With that in mind, the Foundation investigated a variety of grant-making opportunities within the Connecticut River Watershed and decided to help provide key organizations working within the watershed with public communications support.
Looking Ahead
In late 2005, the Foundation completed an intensive evaluation of its Global Warming program, aimed at informing the direction in which EHTF should take its program in the future. The Foundation decided that while progress in Connecticut and the rest of New England is not complete, there is a strategic need to explore other opportunities in states like Pennsylvania, and in coastal southeastern states like North Carolina.
The Foundation''s recent decision to pursue place-based opportunities for its Open Space efforts will result in new grants for the funding of communications programs in the Connecticut River Watershed. The Foundation has also decided to continue to support the Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Consortium''s Green Assets program, which educates local citizens about the value of the northern Shawangunk Ridge with the goal of rallying support for its conservation. This model effort will also inform the communications approaches now being identified for the Connecticut River Watershed.
To view grants made in the environment program during 2004-2005, please click here.
Return to the 2004-2005 Biennial Report Table of Contents.
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