Regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants through market-based mechanisms can go hand in hand with economic benefits. That’s the conclusion of a new report from the economic consulting firm Analysis Group, which examined the experience of states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, providing valuable lessons for states across the country now evaluating their options under the EPA’s Clean Power Plan. Cater Communications generated media coverage that reached a wide range of key stakeholders, including pieces in the Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, Bloomberg Business, Washington Post, Forbes, Politico, ClimateWire, SNL Energy, Platts, Inside EPA, Bloomberg BNA, Penn Energy, Baltimore Sun, Boston Globe, Hartford Business Journal, and Albany Times Union.

Actors Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio joined New Yorkers from all walks of life and every political persuasion to launch The Solutions Project’s 100% campaign to make clean energy more accessible and affordable for 100% of the people. Cater Communications contributed to messaging efforts and handled media outreach. In addition to coverage by the New York Observer (video + article), the Chicago Sun-Times/SPLASH magazine, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and The Tavis Smiley Show, AP video and wire stories were picked up by top-tier international, national, and state-level outlets across 100% of the country.

Next 10’s Green Innovation Index went international in 2015, measuring how the Golden State’s innovative clean energy economy matches up against the world’s top greenhouse-gas-emitting nations. Coverage generated by Cater Communications included the International Business Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Europa Press and GreenBiz Italia, as well as amplification by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Australia’s Climate Council.

When the Obama Administration released draft rules to increase fuel economy for heavy-duty trucks, major fleet owners, manufacturers and suppliers including FedEx, PepsiCo, Eaton, and Cummins supported the move. Cater Communications led the effort to get these business voices heard in major national outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Bloomberg.

Pope Francis made history this June with his highly anticipated encyclical, "Laudito Si", calling on the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics to take action on climate change. One of the first to identify climate change as a moral issue, national non-profit Interfaith Power & Light has been active in uniting all faith groups to take concrete action to reduce carbon emissions for over 15 years. Cater Communications worked with IPL to amplify the Pope’s message beyond the Catholic community, receiving coverage by major outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Guardian, The Hill, Newsweek, and International Business Times. IPL leaders were also featured guests on programs including The Diane Rehm Show, Thom Hartmann Program, and Interfaith Voices.

Supporting passage of the nation’s first energy efficiency standards for computers, the Consumer Federation of America and other top consumer experts provided hard evidence of consumer dollars saved when computers stop guzzling energy. Cater Communications worked to generate coverage including a strong editorial in favor of the standard by The San Francisco Chronicle, as well as stories on KPIX-TV, KGO-AM, KCBS-AM, KPBS-FM and Capital Television News Service featuring CFA’s Mark Cooper. The Sacramento Business Journal published an opinion column by the Consumer Federation of America and Consumer Action.

Consumer Federation of America polling found that consumers expect gas prices to rise by 80 percent in the next five years, so it’s no wonder 86 percent of respondents say miles-per-gallon ratings will be an important factor they consider when shopping for their next vehicle. Cater Communications worked to place stories in national outlets including NBC News, Time magazine and The Washington Times.

American Lung Association in California launched its Doctors for Climate Health campaign, highlighting 32 doctors from across the state who support AB 32, California’s pioneering climate and clean air legislation. Cater Communications produced 32 custom social media graphics for the campaign, showcasing each doctor and their climate concerns.

In the midst of California’s historic drought, Clean Water Action discovered that the oil industry is illegally contaminating hundreds of wells with chemical-laden wastewater in oil-rich Kern County. The sassy and satirical social media campaign Stop Fooling CA started the influential #WaterNotOil hashtag campaign, which reached millions of Facebook and Twitter users and caught on with high-profile voices such as actor Mark Ruffalo and EarthWorks.  

In March, CNA Military Advisory Board (MAB) members traveled to Texas, Florida and Minnesota to highlight the urgent need to act on climate change for the sake of America’s national security. The MAB and Cater Communications worked closely with partners on the ground, including Young Conservatives for Energy Reform and the British Consulates in Houston and Miami, to set up meetings with key leaders and generate coverage. In addition to five TV stories in Texas and one in Minnesota, coverage included radio stories, print articles, and op-ed placements in the Austin American-Statesman, the Miami Herald, and the St. Cloud Times.

Leaders from the clean fuels industry gathered at the California State Capitol to discuss the state’s innovative Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) as part of CALSTART’s exclusive annual Clean, Low-Carbon Fuels Summit. Cater Communications coordinated opportunities for reporters to get exclusive access to these leaders as the California Air Resources Board prepared to re-adopt LCFS. The event was attended by Inside Cal-EPA, Reuters, ClimateWire, Sacramento Business Journal and other news outlets.

Cater Communications worked with the National Association of State Energy Offices and Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships to develop compelling messaging, graphics and sample strategic communication plans designed to help families and businesses reduce energy use during winter peak months. Officials used this positive, action-oriented campaign to help consumers take control of their energy use, save energy and money, and stay warm all winter. 

To protect California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, Cater Communications worked with partners to publish a series of compelling op-eds to tell the story of success around the state’s pioneering clean fuels standards. Cater worked with Anaergia’s CEO to place an op-ed with the Los Angeles News Group, collaborated with San Diego investor Paul Zorner on an op-ed for the San Diego Business Journal, and worked with national security expert Leo Goff of the CNA Military Advisory Board to place an op-ed in Sacramento’s Capitol Weekly.