Laurie is a Senior Writer/Editor for Rocky Mountain Institute.
Laurie has over 20 years of experience in renewable energy technologies. Prior to joining RMI, Laurie was the International Program Manager for Solar Energy International (SEI), where she organized renewable energy trainings around the world. She also wrote articles for environmental magazines and was green building editor for Home Power magazine.
Laurie has extensive experience working on and documenting rural electrification renewable energy projects throughout Latin America. She spent a year installing solar rural electrification systems in repatriated refugee communities in El Salvador with an organization she cofounded called Solar Community Projects, and spent a year working on solar water distillation at the Engineering University in Managua, Nicaragua. Laurie has also led renewable energy and energy efficiency tours of Cuba with Eco-Cuba Network since 1996. Laurie currently serves as an advisory board member to Remote Energy, a nonprofit organization serving as a technical/teaching arm for organizations that are working on international clean energy programs.
M.Sc., Energy Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
BA, Mathematics, Colorado College
Awards: Phi Beta Kappa, National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow
Basalt, CO
“The best thing about working at RMI is knowing that I am part of transforming the energy system and creating a better future for not only my son but all the children on the planet.”
Today, in 2013, we are approximately halfway between the Arab oil embargo of 1973 and the fossil-free future RMI envisions by 2050 in Reinventing Fire. There are both similarities and differences in what happened in the 70s and what is happening today.
A small town in Austria that had no significant industry or trade business is now thriving thanks to local renewable resources.
Leaving your car home just twice a week can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 1,600 pounds each year. In fact, every mile you pedal instead of drive saves about one pound of carbon dioxide.
Switching to renewable energy can not only decrease fuel expenditures for many island populations, but can also show the world what can be done in the face of climate change.
How could we build our dream home and stay within our budget, all while contributing the least amount possible towards climate change?
A small town in Kansas has taken a disaster and used the opportunity to emerge stronger and greener. While RMI’s Reinventing Fire campaign lays out a blueprint for ending our addiction to fossil fuels, Greensburg, Kansas is an on-the-ground example of how renewables can not only power our communities, but also help them thrive economically at the same time.
An in-depth visual infographic showing various options available to homeowners for utilizing solar power.
As the cost of owning a car and environmental concerns continue to rise, and transportation options continue to grow, people are realizing we don’t necessarily need to own cars, we just need to get where we want to go efficiently.
Halfway between the island state of Tasmania and mainland Australia, tiny King Island is becoming a big leader in electricity generation, demonstrating that a high-renewables future is possible.
In many regions of the world there may be no other option for people to get access to electricity than through renewable-powered microgrids.
Join us to answer the global call for a brighter energy future