Donors

Current Project Opportunities

 
Below is a list of projects available for interns/volunteers to undertake. We have also found that many interns or volunteers come with their own ideas which contribute greatly to the overall mission of GENI, which is to say, this is not a definitive list.
  • Expand the Renewable Energy Maps and National Grid Maps on the GENI website. Check current maps on GENI website against those referenced in Lesley's paper. Upload any that we don't have or that are better than what we have.

  • Create new webpage on geni.org which integrates by country the renewable energy maps and information (gathered by Shawn) and transmission maps, using a layout similar to the UN Millennium Development goals pages for each country: www.mdgmonitor.org/factsheets_oo.cfm?c=COD$cd=180

  • Where are the gaps in global cross-border interconnections? Who are the decision makers in those gap-countries? Focus on marketing GENI Initiative information to countries in the gaps.

  • Complete "Global Energy Trends" on GENI website in the Library.

  • World's largest machine--the electric grid--is old and outdated: How do we get multiple jurisdictions to cooperate for mutual benefit regarding transmission? It would fall under our Transmission Policies section. http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=worlds-largest-machine--the-electri-2008-08-28&sc=rss

  • Expand on how we can use Google Earth's capabilities for enhancing awareness of the GENI Initiative. An example might be attaching pictures of renewable facilities around the world to the map, or putting maps of interconnections on Google Earth. Find out more about Google Earth Outreach, Google.org and how they help not-for-profit organizations to raise funds.

  • Online outreach administration: expand internet marketing on the social networking sites by posting events, articles and any other videos we create to our RSS feed and our social networking accounts .

  • How do we open the flood gates of support for the GENI Initiative?
    1. Send articles through 400 global media, Energy Biz and PR Newswire (costs$$)
    2. Peter to write articles: Stop Smoking: 155 New Coal Power Plants Scheduled, The Definition of Insanity


  • Research International Renewable Energy Policies by continent/country (resource: DSIREUSA.org). What types of incentives exist? Where and what are best practices?
    • Research:
    'Cap-and-trade-regulatory systems,'
    'Taxes in various forms,'
    'Electrical feed-in laws,'
    'Government buy-downs,' and
    'Incentives and subsidies in various forms.'

  • We need a global price for carbon. What does it take to change the economic model of the carbon industry? Research pros & cons of various strategies: carbon tax, cap & trade, carbon credit, carbon auction. Who are the decision makers in setting this price on carbon? Is it the Chicago Climate Exchange, Cap & Trade, GROCC (contact with Jeffrey Sachs), and legislators?

  • Study of Carbon Market Mechanisms

  • What are the Best Renewable Energy Practices in Sub Sahara Africa? Find the wind/solar maps for Africa and make the case for their development, like in the Power Point regarding Hydro for Africa (see Patricia's GENI email, Apr 8, 2008)

  • Rural Electrification: Who in the world is doing such projects? Has anyone developed a turnkey, small village, small island renewable electrification energy package? This is a great entrepreneurial project, a business of the future, doing good in the world, the services for which could be paid for by various local governments who want "rural or island electrification."

  • Swap debt-for-renewables development in developing countries: Find the top 5 - 6 CO2 emitting countries; list the countries which are indebted to them and the indebtedness amount. Get contact information for whoever is responsible for managing those debts in the 'lender country' and debtor country. Contact WWF for the legal and operational framework for this transaction based on their debt-for-nature exchange in Madagascar. Suggest this debt-for-renewables development exchange to the UN and the individual lender countries.

  • Create a marketing plan for the top 120 utilities, beyond the E8, to ask the same four questions which were sent to the 2007 WEC.

  • Thirty five countries provide 50% or more of their energy from renewables. Several countries and states including Portugal, Spain, Germany, Denmark, California, Pennsylvania and Texas are becoming leaders in the use of renewables. Using data gathered by a previous intern, summarize what they are using, what standards and types of incentives they have set, and also what industries have emerged and what the impact has been on the economy - jobs, tax revenues, etc.

  • Chart where in the US (or other region) renewables are being developed; who are the developers; what country are they from. Write an article highlighting the fact (using numbers to substantiate the case studies) that international companies see an opportunity for developing renewable resources in the US that we are missing out on. Address article to Congress and the candidates.

  • Find and add top 100 People of Influence to GENI-us monthly mailing.

  • Research topic: Greening the Church

If you see a project you like or have an idea of your own, contact GENI or call us at +1-619-595-0139