Solar energy providers have had to adjust their communications strategy as they seek to educate and engage consumers.

NEW YORK: Absolut was scheduled to initiate a lights out in Las Vegas June 21 as part of its "Global Cooling" campaign, launched in January, which aims to draw attention to the effects of global warming. With the support of AOR Ketchum, all the lights at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino were scheduled to go out for one minute at 9:30pm, including a momentary shut down of the Outernational Music Festival.

STRATHAM, NH: Timberland partnered with social networking site Changents to launch a new forum for environmental activists and further its CSR goals.

SOUTH PORTLAND, ME: Fairchild Semiconductor selected Topaz Partners for a six-figure contract to help broaden its coverage and brand awareness.

Fuel economy has long been part of the industry's PR efforts, but now it must be an emphasis

PublicRoutes.com, a Web site offering public-transportation riders directions in major cities across the US and London, relaunched in June 2006 after undergoing a redesign (Dukas staff had a previous relationship with the site dating back to 2005).

Who is your client? What are its media goals?

Anyone who thought that the economic downturn was a threat to the corporate sustainability movement should have come to the annual CERES conference, held in Boston in late April. Nearly 700 corporations, including large multinationals; small enterprises; major investors; NGOs; and, a range of consultancies, think tanks, and government representatives gathered to drive forward the environmental business agenda.

DETROIT, MI: General Motors (GM) said its announcement to shutter truck plants in favor of small-car production furthers its earlier message promoting fuel-efficient vehicles.

OAKLAND, CA: Kaiser Permanente selected GolinHarris for a six-figure AOR account to help the healthcare organization communicate the benefits of its operating model, database, and research to a wider audience.