Five questions for ...

• Position: Interview with Jo Anne, CEO of Conservation Law Foundation Ventures - Interview

1 CLF Ventures' model uses business solutions to solve environmental problems.

How does that work?

What's unique about us is that we're mission-driven--our work seeks to advance CLF's advocacy in ways that are also economically sound. We work with companies and organizations who want to implement changes in the marketplace, whether it's siting new facilities, gaining market access for new technologies or otherwise changing how they do business. Being able to show that economic gains and environmental benefits aren't mutually exclusive motivates others to be more sustainable in their operations.

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2 What's an example of a recent Ventures project?

We are leading a team of organizations in New Hampshire to provide technical assistance to municipalities for energy efficiency through the Energy Technical Assistance Program for New Hampshire Communities [ETAP-NHC]. Our team measures energy consumption and identifies opportunities to reduce energy usage and costs. This work advances energy efficiency, a critical piece of the clean energy future CLF is advocating for throughout New England.

3 How does CLF Ventures' work advance the mission of CLF?

Ventures works to implement changes in the marketplace that are consistent with CLF's advocacy in the policy arena. Ventures' role is to help public and private organizations achieve environmental goals that also have economic benefits. Together, we're able to take a comprehensive approach to solving environmental problems.

4 How does CLF Ventures avoid conflicts of interest with CLF's advocacy?

We review each project extensively before going forward to ensure that it doesn't conflict with CLF's mission or advocacy efforts, and that it will complement, not compete with, CLF's work. Our contracts have an "out clause" stating that we reserve the right to stop working with an organization that takes...