Energy Action Coalition, “a coalition of 50 youth-led environmental and social justice groups working together to build the youth clean energy and climate movement”, is an organization I have known about and participated with since 2009. In 2009 I had the opportunity to attend Powershift 2009 in Washington, DC, my fist time hearing about and participating with the organization. Since then I have been receiving emails and updates on the energy issues we learned about at Powershift 2009. Along with these emails I received emails about plans for Powershift 2011, which will also be held in Washington, DC. After receiving emails I wanted to learn more about what the upcoming Powershift would focus on, but when I went to the Energy Action Coalition website I found very little about Powershift 2011. I found a lot of information about what the Coalition is doing and issues they are focusing on, and information from Powershift 2011. I thought to myself how Powershift 2009 had much more web marketing so why doesn’t Powershift 2011 have just as much? I realized a couple weeks back that I had scene Powershift 2011 entered in the Pepsi Refresh Project to raise money for the event.
I came to the obvious conclusion that for this Powershift the Energy Action Coalition has a reduced budget from 2009, but why is that? Also instead of having the conference inside the Convention Center like before this time it will be held in the DC United Professional Soccer Team’s Stadium. But that could be a good thing in anticipation for a larger turnout, and if they plan on using the inside of the stadium and box seating for break out session it could definitely work in there favor. Case in point they would not have rent out a larger venue for performance because the soccer field is more than big enough to setup stage and conference participants would not have to leave to attend the performance.
I think I understand the change in location, but I can’t get over the decrease in marketing and promotion; maybe it will pick up in January 2011. Powershift 2009 was such a success and broke records from Powershift 2007, so I find it hard to believe a conference is doing so well wouldn’t at least maintain or increase its marketing after such success. I don’t know but hopefully Powershift 2011 will be a success like its predecessor’s. I will be sure to give all the details from the conference and a special note for my students who hope to present Climate Change Research they did in Glacier National Park at the conference.
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