Publications

Publication

Clean Break: The Story of Germany's Energy Transformation and What Americans Can Learn from It, by Osha Gray Davidson

December 4, 2012 - A modern industrial economy, the biggest and most powerful in the European Union, is making a clean break from coal, oil and nuclear energy. It is on track to be running on 80% renewable energy by 2050. Some predict it could even reach 100% by then. The country is Germany, and what is happening there has a name: the Energiewende, or energy transformation. more»

Policy Paper

Power and Profits in the Hands of the People

- December 7, 2012 - In September 2012, nine renewable energy policy makers and advocates from across the United States traveled to Germany to witness what amounts to a small town and rural revitalization phenomenon. What they learned broadened their perceptions, set the record straight on several prevalent myths about renewable energy, and spurred new ideas about how to move forward back home. Diane Moss more»

REPORT

Sharing Solutions: Transatlantic Cooperation for a Low-Carbon Economy

- September 19, 2011 - In this latest report of the Climate Network, policy-makers, civil society actors and local stakeholders in both the US and Europe address how to enhance renewable energy policies in rural and industrial regions despite current economic and political barriers. more»

Report

Harvesting Renewable Energy

- July 28, 2011 - This report is in the final product of the Midwest Renewable Energy Tour. It shares the German success of using policy to develop rural renewable energy projects and how farms in the US states of South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin can increase their renewable energy capacity. by Neil Vielleux more»

Policy Paper

Transatlantic Cooperation on Climate and Energy Policy after the US Midterm Elections

- February 17, 2011 - From a European perspective this paper explores ideas for enhanced transatlantic climate and energy cooperation after the US Midterm elections. by Sascha Mueller-Kraenner more»

REPORT

Beyond Biofuels: Renewable Energy Opportunities for U.S. Farmers

- August 27, 2010 - The Heinrich Böll Stiftung North America published a new report Beyond Biofuels: Renewable Energy Opportunities for U.S. Farmers. In a transatlantic comparison, the report suggests a variety of measures such as a "Biogas Roadmap" and others to encourage American farmers to become "energy farmers" in the 21st century. more»

Policy Report

Clean Energy Jobs for the U.S. Midwest -Lessons Learned from the German Success Story of Low Carbon Growth

- Germany has become the world leader in the development, manufacturing, and deployment of renewable energy technologies. By applying some of the lessons learned in Germany, Midwestern states such as Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota could strengthen their renewable policies, build truly local industries, and create new, well-paying jobs. by Christine Woerlen more»

Policy Paper

Three Hundred Thousand Clean Energy Jobs - Low Carbon Energy Growth in Germany and the U.S.

- This policy paper analyzes the succes of the German renewables industry and discusses which of the lessons learned could be applied to the U.S. states of Indiana, Michigan and Minnesota. In cooperation with the Blue Green Alliance the paper will be released during the Midwestern Green Jobs Tour from July 12-16. more»

Policy Report

Toward a New Climate Network: Transatlantic Solutions for a Low Carbon Economy

- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has contributed the foreword to the final report of the Transatlantic Climate Policy Group. The full report was released at a conference on October 7. more»

Policy Paper

A Missing Link to Sustainable Mobility

- December 8, 2009 - This paper analyzes best practices of integrated transportation planning in Europe and the US. The paper shows that public transportation should be linked to car and bike sharing programs. By Max Gruenig, Dominic Marcellino more»

Articles

ARTICLE

Harvesting Renewable Energy

Dirk Ketelsen, organic farmer and executive director of Dirkshof, a renewable energy producer and consultancy in Schleswig-Holstein, gives a first-hand report on the successes of his investment in renewable energies. by Dirk Ketelsen more»

Essay

Faith Groups and Climate Change

- Religious communities offer enormous potential for mobilizing transatlantic partnerships and commitment on climate and energy issues. In both Germany and the US, churches provide moral leadership and advocacy on behalf of the poor and future generations, encouraging a just transition from a fossil-fuel based economy to renewable energy. more»

Midwest Renewable Energy Fellow 2011

Neil Veilleux

- Neil Veilleux, a renewable energy consultant at Meister Consultants Group (MCG), will assess the potential of renewable energy and conservation policies to increase rural development and job creation opportunities for farmers in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. more»

Article

Schleswig-Holstein: German Energy Politics in the Making

- January 25, 2011 - Schleswig-Holstein, a German state with 60% reliance on renewable energy, faces decisions that are indicative of whether Germany as a whole is making headway with its announced transition to renewable energy. by Robert Habeck more»

Article

Binding Climate Change Targets and Economic Growth: North Rhine-Westphalia Shows How

- January 24, 2011 - North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s industry stronghold and most densely populated state shows how ambitious climate policy strengthens economic competitiveness. by Wibke Brems more»

2010 Transatlantic Climate Fellow Navin Nayak

Article

Small Government for Big Growth in Clean Energy Jobs

- Germany has witnessed a surge in clean energy production with 340,000 new jobs. The industry could not exist without prior involvement of the federal government. Yet this des not mean creating new bureaucracy or government spending. by Navin Nayak more»

Article and Video Interview

Stewards of God’s world and not owners to destroy it

- Gerald L. Durley, Senior Pastor at the Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia argues that faith leaders play a crucial role in facing the challenge of climate change. by Gerald L. Durley more»

Aleš Kuták , Former Deputy Minister of Environment, Czech Republic

Article

Using Proceeds from Emissions Trading -The Czech example of renewable heat and weatherization

- International trading in greenhouse gas emissions has raised a number of questions from its very inception. The example of the Czech Republic illustrates how this mechanism can be used to reduce emissions as well as to support job creation in the regions. by Aleš Kuták more»

Article and Video Interview

It's past time to get serious

- Roger Johnson, President of the National Farmers Union, argues that the US can learn from Europe for providing stronger rural economies, reducing the dependence on foreign oil and taking responsability for a more sustainable world. by Roger Johnson more»

Article and Video Interview

Why has the US accepted a position of inferiority around energy issues?

- Stacy Bare, Director of Operations at Veterans Green Jobs and Co-Founder of Veteran Expeditions argues that the US could transition to a low carbon economy by putting aside political name calling and focusing on common sense solutions. by Stacy Bare more»

Article and Video Interview

The clean energy revolution is happening

- Michael Williams, Legislative Representative at the Blue Green Alliance argues that there are lessons that the US has to learn from Europe. But to jumpstart a clean energy revolution, the US needs strong political leadership and consistent support from America's workers. by Michael Williams more»

Article

Europe Leads on Decentralized Renewables, but Lags on Effective Building Retrofits

- John Farell, Transatlantic Climate and Energy Fellow, compares policy measures for renewable energies and energy efficiency in Germany and the US. by John Farell more»

Article

How Germany Surpassed the United States in Renewable Energy Development

- Transatlantic Climate and Energy Fellow, Dan Conrad, set out to understand what it was that had allowed countries such as Germany to surpass the United States at such lengths in terms of renewable energy development. by Dan Conrad more»

Article

Regional Frontrunners for the Low-Carbon Economy

- Europe and the US can build the political support that is needed to pass federal legislation and enhance the strategy of the 27 EU member states by enabling core regions on each side of the Atlantic to adopt the necessary economic strategies to become frontrunners in the shift toward a low-carbon economy. by Till Kötter more»

Article and video interviews

Synergy of Opposites- New Alliances for a Green Economy

- A look at the crisis-ridden states of the Midwest reveals how difficult it is to reform climate and energy policy, but it shows also how unprecedented alliances are pushing for bipartisan cooperation on green jobs. by Till Koetter more»

Article

The Blue Green Alliance

- A coalition of labor unions and environmental organizations wants to create green jobs in America.With public information, training programs, and advertising, the BGA is trying to combat the widespread notion that environmentalism costs jobs. In 2010 the BGA partners with the Heinrich-Boell-Stiftung for the Midwestern Green Jobs Project. by Frauke Thies more»

Article

The American Way of Change

- Researchers, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists go beyond politics to find, on their own account, openings for green energies. by Till Kötter more»

Past Events

Event

Solar Power Trends: German and U.S. Perspectives

March 12, 2012 - In light of the international race to a low-carbon economy, Germany has generated particular interest with its quick transition from coal and nuclear energy to a renewable energy based economy. Over the last ten years, Germany has increased the share of electricity from renewable sources from 5 percent to over 20 percent, while creating more than 380,000 new jobs in this sector. more»

Event

Germany and the Czech Republic – different paths to a secure energy future?

- December 8, 2011 -

In light of common European energy challenges the Czech and German energy policy concepts represent two rather divergent energy strategies. While the current Czech government advocates a larger share in nuclear and coal driven energy generation Germany puts the emphasis on renewable energy and energy efficiency measures and a phase-out of nuclear power by the year 2022.

Event

Transatlantic solutions for a low-carbon economy: Are regional initiatives the best solution for U.S. action?

- November 7, 2011 - The Heinrich Böll Foundation EU Office and the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) co-hosted a panel debate at the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia to the European Union. The debate aimed to create a discussion about the latest developments in U.S. climate and energy policy as well as the future opportunities for progressive climate and energy policies at the regional and state level on both sides of the Atlantic. more»

Event

European Union Green Jobs Tour 2011

- October 7, 2011 - In cooperation with the BlueGreen Alliance, the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s Climate Network brought eight representatives of labor unions and environmental organizations on a green-jobs focused tour to Europe from September 26 to October 5, 2011. more»

Event

Gaining Strenght - Clean Energy Solutions for a Resilient Economy

- September 22, 2011 - On September 20th, policy makers from Germany and the United States came together to discuss common ways for making renewable energies the driving force of industrial revolution of the 21st century. The conference took place as part of the Climate Network of the Heinrich Boell Foundation and marked the release of the publication Sharing Solutions: Transatlantic Cooperation for a Low-Carbon Economy
more»

Event

How Will Germany meet its ambitious energy goals?

- July 27, 2011 -

The country has taken some fundamental energy decisions this year and can provide a good case from which other countries can learn from. Dr. Felix Matthes from the Oeko Institute outlines the three strategic approaches of Germany’s energy transformation until 2050.

Event

Transatlantic Perspectives on Shale Gas Development

- On June 21, 2011, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) hosted an event on the development of shale gas using hydraulic fracturing technology. Fracking, as the technique is widely referred to, is controversial in terms of its environmental impact. more»

Event

Shale Gas in Europe – What for?

- April 20, 2011 - The EU Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation gathered policy experts and decisions makers from the United States and Europe to discuss challenges and opportunities for shale gas production in Europe. Discussants agreed that a transatlantic scientific and policy related exchange on the issue would prove to be of great value for the future development of shale gas in Europe. more»

Event

In the Spirit of Solidarity - an External Energy Policy for the EU?

- March 16, 2011 - The EU Office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation hosted an event on the prospects for a common EU external energy policy. The roundtable discussion took place just after the disaster of Fukushima which led to intense debates in many member states regarding their future energy mix, particularly with regard to the role of nuclear power. more»