Michael Krasny: how he became a top NPR host

Michael Krasny: how he became a top NPR host

Michael Krasny on Fresh DialoguesBy Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues

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On the eve of Earth Day, I sat down with Forum host, Michael Krasny, at the KQED studios in San Francisco to discuss his journey from scrappy youth to celebrated interviewer, professor, and author. We talked about his book “Off Mike: A Memoir of Talk Radio and Literary Life” and explored his views on the green movement, and why he thinks it’s smart to be green.
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Celebrity Forum host, Dick Henning reflects on 40 years

Celebrity Forum host, Dick Henning reflects on 40 years

By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh DialoguesDick Henning on Fresh Dialogues

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Celebrity Forum founder, Dick Henning is a hero of Silicon Valley. He’s brought every U.S. president* since Richard Nixon; world leaders like Mikhail Gorbachev and Margaret Thatcher; and cultural icons like Jane Goodall, Robert Ballard, Cary Grant and Lauren Bacall to Silicon Valley for his award-winning speaker series.
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Maureen Dowd talks green – from Emerald Isle to Eco-Issues

Maureen Dowd talks green – from Emerald Isle to Eco-Issues

By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh DialoguesMaureen Dowd on Fresh Dialogues

Download or listen to this lively Fresh Dialogues interview

 

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Yesterday, I met with the enchanting Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Maureen Dowd. We had an animated conversation during a green-themed morning in downtown San Jose. Over cups of delicious mint tea, we discussed Maureen’s Irish heritage and how that inspires her fiery prose. We also discussed her belief in America’s green future.

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Rob Bernard, Microsoft’s Green Czar talks clean tech

Rob Bernard, Microsoft’s Green Czar talks clean tech

By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh DialoguesRob Bernard of Microsoft on Fresh Dialogues

On Monday, I was invited to Greens Restaurant in San Francisco to meet Microsoft’s Chief Environmental Strategist, Rob Bernard. We then joined a small group of  researchers and media to discuss  Microsoft’s efforts to lower its carbon footprint and leverage information technology globally to address climate change and other environmental issues. The sun setting beyond Golden Gate Bridge was an apt backdrop for the conversation.

Cambridge scientist, Rich Williams (one of Microsoft’s 1000-strong Ph.D. researchers)  emphasized that environmental challenges go beyond climate change and counting carbon footprints, “Just reducing CO2 to zero – and all will be fine – is not our goal.” The researchers have broader perspectives that take into account water resources, migration patterns, and longer term “blue sky” projects.

Joining the discussion were Eric Berlow, Director of the Sierra Nevada Research Institute field station in Yosemite, Surj Patel of the Gigaom Network; and Peter May and Matt Wheeland of Greenworld Media.

Rob Bernard talks with Alison van Diggelen Fresh DialoguesRob and I had a lively conversation which covered:

The roots of his green passion

Where Microsoft’s greatest energy reduction opportunities lie and how he plans to cross the chasm

How the company plans to leverage and scale IT to impact the world’s environment

Steve Ballmer’s recent announcement re. Cloud Computing and how that will impact server design and energy efficiency targets

Microsoft’s Ingenuity Point Competition showcasing and supporting green software companies, eg Green Building (Santa Rosa) and TR Controls (London)

How Microsoft leads by example at its Mountain View campus

Free Verdiem Edison software that allows optimization of desktop power settings for Windows

The interview was recorded on Monday March 23, 2009

Listen to Microsoft’s Rob Bernard on Fresh Dialogues

Download or listen to this lively Fresh Dialogues interview

 

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Check back next week for part II of the interview when Rob answers:Greens Restaurant San Fransicco A Fresh Dialogues favorite

Why Microsoft is late to the green world (or at least late in talking about its green initiatives)

Why the 2008 Green Peace Report ranking for Microsoft was so low and what he’s doing about it

Microsoft’s Climate Change research and modeling

How he plans to emphasize the urgency of action

Scotland’s edge in clean energy development

Scotland’s edge in clean energy development

By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialoguespaul-obrien-sdi-on-fresh-dialogues

Last month, during a lecture trip to Scotland, I sat down for tea at Scottish Development International in Glasgow with Paul O’Brien,  senior executive of Renewable Energy Development. We discussed how Scotland is leveraging its expertise and natural resources in the renewable energy sector. Claiming up to 25% of Europe’s offshore wind, wave and tidal energy potential,  Paul is bullish about Scotland’s energy future. We discussed (in very strong Scottish accents):

The Beatrice Wind Farm Project: the largest offshore wind turbines deployed in the world (5 megawatts) and why the project’s success could be a turning point for wind energy in Scotland.

The Crown Estates announcement on February 16th of ten new sites for offshore wind that have the capacity to deliver 6.4 Gigawatts of power.

Scotland’s use of oil rig technology for the first time ever to develop new wind power opportunities in over 45 meters of deep water.

Visual intrusion and the Cape Wind Project in the U.S.

Public sector input from The Scottish Government, the European Union and the UK Government

The Ten Million Pound Saltire Prize

The impact of the credit crunch

Scotland’s comparative advantage in the server farm sector, Morgan Stanley’s data center

Scotland’s bullish clean energy targets: 31% of electricity from renewables by 2011 and 50% by 2020. (Paul claims they are close to achieving the former and may well surpass the latter by 2020)

Listen to Paul O’brien, SDI on Fresh Dialogues

Download or listen to this lively Fresh Dialogues interview

 

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paul-obrien-sdi-on-fresh-dialoguesQuotes

On wind turbines in 45 meter depths, over 12 miles offshore

“By overcoming the depth issue, we’ve opened up a hellavalot more of the North Sea to development.”

On selling Scotland as an energy efficient location for server farms.

“We have tremendous weather here (mostly cold ALL the time). That could save you money just by siting your server farm in Scotland.”

On the concept of using renewable energy to power low-cost coastal data centers for Google etc.

” If we can prove to the world it can be done here, we’ll see more and more of such projects…when you’re on a coastal site, there is the opportunity to use sea water for the cooling. ”

The interview was recorded at Scottish Development International in Glasgow, Scotland on Thursday February 19, 2009

Cool Earth Solar

Cool Earth Solar

By Alison van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues Rob Lamkin Cool Earth Solar on Fresh Dialogues

Listen to Cool Earth Solar’s Rob Lamkin on Fresh Dialogues

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Rob Lamkin is CEO of Cool Earth Solar, a solar energy company -with a difference. The Cool Earth team (which includes several rocket scientists) has developed low-cost balloon shaped concentrators that capture up to 400 times magnified solar energy. Check out their power station simulation. It looks like a party!

Rob Lamkin discusses

His passion for solar energy and why windmills are beautiful

Why solar energy jumps out as being the solution to our energy crisis:

“Solar energy is the only thing we have in near enough abundance to solve the energy problems that we have.”

“The promise of solar has not come true and one of the main reasons is cost and availability.”

“I went from being a solar technology agnostic to ALL IN.  I think Cool Earth has a huge advantage.”

“Where the magic comes in is: we use 1/400th the amount of solar cell material in order to produce the same electricity as conventional photovoltaic panel technology.”

How a passion for clean energy is a prerequisite for hiring at Cool Earth Solar

Cool Earth Balloon on Fresh Dialogues

Cool Earth Solar’s Rob Lamkin on Fresh DialoguesCool Earth party power plant simulation Fresh Dialogues