Fall 2008 Climate Alert
Puebla and the Tickell Observatory [ PDF ]
In this Newsletter:
Climate Institute News
Nina Rinnerberger becomes Policy Advisor on Climate and Energy for German Embassy
Nina Rinnerberger, Director of Operations and Strategic Planning at the Climate Institute just before assuming her new post, in early September 2008 joined the Washington Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany as its Policy Advisor on Climate and Energy. Holding dual German and Austrian nationality, Nina Rinnerberger has a master’s degree from the School of International Service of American University. During her service at the Climate Institute since 2006 she was instrumental in the internationalization of the Institute’s website to a number of languages and with links to groups in over a hundred nations and in the strengthening of the Institute’s intern program to involve many international students studying in Washington. In carrying out her strategic planning mission Nina Rinnerberger worked to develop plans for two startup initiatives- a Tribal College Climate Leadership Program and an effort to remove barriers to energy recycling and local generation throughout North America. At the German Embassy, the Policy Advisor on Climate and Energy works both to advance Germany’s ambitious climate protection goals and to link German clean energy firms with US counterparts and potential partners.
Jack Werner becomes Director of Energy Office for District of Columbia
John F. (Jack ) Werner, Senior Associate at the Climate Institute for the past decade, was recently named to head the District of Columbia Office of Energy. The Office of Energy located in the Department of Environment has broad responsibility for administering DC Government energy programs including energy assistance to low income families and efforts to make the US’s capital city a world leader in green building design. The Office’s policy responsibilities will be greatly enhanced under the Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008 just passed by the DC City Council. This act moves the Renewable Portfolio Standard to be met by utilities from 4.5% to a level of 20% by 2020. For the past two decades Jack Werner has been at the forefront of the US clean energy effort. He was instrumental in the establishment of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NSASEO) and Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and for a while headed the national board overseeing certification of solar energy installers. DC’s dynamic young Mayor Adrian Fenty has a strong interest in having the District of Columbia play an active role in facilitating clean energy transformation efforts abroad as well as in its immediate region and the Climate Institute looks forward to working with Jack Werner to develop such linkages.
Other Articles in this Newsletter:
Tom Roper Honored for Pioneering Leadership in Climate Protection
Puebla and the Tickell Observatory: Moving a Nation to the Front in Climate Protection
Dr. Stephen Leatherman at the Forefront of Hurricane Research
Stephen Leatherman a la vanguardia de la respuesta a los huracanes
Climate Institute Awards [ Reconocimientos en Español ]