RMI Outlet

RMI Launches Canary Media, Independent Energy Journalism Powered by Former Greentech Media Staff and David Roberts

Canary Media will cover the global effort to combat climate change from business, technology, and policy perspectives. Editors include Eric Wesoff, Jeff St. John, and David Roberts.

BOULDER, Colo., April 6, 2021 – The leading voices in energy journalism are back, RMI today revealed, with the hiring of a cadre of the foremost energy and climate technology writers to launch Canary Media, an independent newsroom at the forefront of the clean energy transition. Canary’s editorial team will be led by news industry veterans Eric Wesoff and Jeff St. John and feature Julian Spector and Emma Foehringer Merchant. The team’s mission is to cover the global effort to combat climate change.

In addition, RMI is excited to announce David Roberts, formerly of Grist and Vox, will join as Editor-at-Large, bringing his incisive columns and podcast to Canary Media readers.

“We are in the race of our lives and winning slowly is the same as losing. During this decisive decade for the climate crisis, we need to urgently build broad awareness of the accelerating clean energy transition,” said Jules Kortenhorst, CEO of RMI. “To help build this awareness we are adding a set of talented energy reporters to the RMI family of companies. We need powerful climate journalism now more than ever, and RMI can provide the reach and resources for this experienced team to flourish.”

Canary debuts today at www.canarymedia.com with a free subscription newsletter.

“The solid support and enthusiasm of RMI, a dream partner, has empowered our team of independent, expert writers and reporters to fight another day,” said Eric Wesoff, managing editor of Canary Media. “We share an urgent mission of addressing climate change with maximum reach and impact.”

Backed by the world-class data resources and analytical insights of RMI, Canary Media will provide the cutting-edge information, insights and expert analysis needed by policymakers, investors and industry leaders who are under pressure to plan and execute the rapid and far-reaching changes required to meet much needed decarbonization imperatives. Canary Media will become the go-to site for vital information on what’s happening and what’s next and offer a marquee venue for influential thought leaders and common-cause activists to share knowledge and coordinate on new approaches to bring about the clean energy transition.

“Our team is committed to understanding and explaining the complex challenges we face in decarbonizing our global economy,” said Jeff St. John, Canary Media editor-in-chief. “You can trust us to tell the truth, follow the money, and leave no stone unturned in our mission – and I can’t imagine a better partner than RMI to support that effort.”

Canary’s brand of dogged journalism is more important than ever. Corporate television coverage of climate change in the U.S. decreased 53% in 2020, according to Media Matters. For a sector that is poised to see $12 trillion of investment by 2050, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Canary Media will fill an information void and provide foundational knowledge on the sector’s business, technology, and policy impacts.

As a non-profit outlet, Canary Media will work with mission-driven corporate partners, as well as individual supporters. Marketing and content specialists Nicholas Rinaldi, Katherine Tweed, Michael Munsell, and Stephanie Primavera have signed on to build the organization’s digital platform and brand studio in the coming months. The platform will amplify Canary Media partners making meaningful impacts in the industry.

“Our goal is to create the next energy and climate community,” said Rinaldi, general manager at Canary Media. “We have a mandate to advance the energy transition through ambitious, independent journalism and welcome anyone aligned with that mission to join us.”

Canary Media wants to recognize its launch sponsors for their support. Thank you to AWS Power & Utilities, Black & Veatch, Hannon Armstrong, Schneider Electric, and Uplight.

Visit www.canarymedia.com to subscribe and learn more about upcoming activities.

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What The Industry is Saying

“I’m pleased to see RMI invest in covering the clean energy industry. While it’s disappointing to see Greentech Media shut down, I’m encouraged to know the amazing reporting will carry on at an institution that has long covered and supported clean energy innovation. There is an urgent need for better, nuanced industry coverage as we continue rapidly accelerating our transition to a more sustainable energy system.”
— Lynn Jurich, CEO and co-founder, Sunrun

“Decarbonizing by 2035 is not really about celebrating every new project. It is about teaching a generation of Doers how to take risks smartly through in-depth reporting on technology, finance, and regulatory know-how. We need to increase investment into decarbonization at least 4X and that means you have to support diversity of voices while having an intelligent arbiter. I couldn’t be more pleased that the spirit of Greentech Media will live on at RMI. Eric Wesoff has always been a skeptical voice in search of the truth; glad to see him returning to bring this important voice back to the cleantech community.”
— Jigar Shah, Director, U.S. Department of Energy Loan Program Office

“This rocks. RMI is a fantastic home for the GTM editorial team and I can’t wait to have dozens of new browser windows open on the new stories.”
— Shayle Kann, Partner, Energy Impact Partners

About RMI

RMI is an independent nonprofit founded in 1982 that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world’s most critical geographies and engage businesses, policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions at least 50 percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing.

Media Inquiries please contact:

Alexandra Chin
+1 973.262.0002
media@rmi.org

About Canary Media

Canary Media is an independent newsroom covering the global effort to combat climate change from the business, technology, and policy perspective. Our mission is to discover, reveal and explain the most vital developments determining the course of the world’s multi-trillion dollar shift to a decarbonized economy and society. Our newsroom will cover this shift, and our media platform will serve as a hub for a diverse and inclusive community dedicated to this cause.