Power Economics

Chapter 6Focus on What's Doable

Over the course of my career as an energy consultant, I've noticed that the most successful projects are often the ones initiated by the owners or operators of a business or by the leaders of a community-based organization. Why do these individuals succeed while others fail?

Here's what I have observed: An energy project is more likely to succeed if its champion has hands-on operational knowledge of the business or organization and has the clout to keep the project moving forward, even when surprises and setbacks are encountered along the way. If you can deal with disappointments and weather the storm, you are much more likely to succeed than if you throw in the towel at the first sign of difficulty.

Another characteristic I noticed was a fascination with energy. Most of the owners and executives I work with are genuinely interested in energy. They like the idea of being smart leaders and good stewards of our shared environment. For them, energy efficiency isn't a passing fad—it's become a deeply embedded part of their lives, influencing every aspect of their worldview. They've become “energy believers.”

In this chapter, I offer short profiles of successful energy projects and the people who led them. After you've read these profiles, you'll understand why I stress the importance of focusing on what's doable, practical, and affordable.

The Solar Brewery

Rob Kaye didn't expect to open a brewery in his sixties. “I didn't even like beer,” he recalls ...