Case Study: Beacon Power Corp.
Industry: Alternative Energy Technology

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Beacon Power was entering the alternative energy market with an entirely new and disruptive technology: a flywheel system that stores and recycles electricity to balance supply and demand on the grid. After securing a contract from the state of California to demonstrate the technology, a system was installed in San Ramon. The PR objective was to raise the industry’s awareness of the system in advance of its expected success.

Matter organized a media event, including attendees from the U.S. Department of Energy, the California Energy Commission, the statewide utility that ran the site, and the Chairman of the Board of California’s power grid operator. To generate interest, the team sent out media alerts, along with a full press release on the day of the event, and brought in a video crew to tape the event and gather footage from subsequent on-site interviews.

The result was wide coverage in major city newspapers, several key electric power industry publications, and repeated spots on the area’s ABC news radio affiliate. Matter also secured a two-minute news report on KTVU television, including footage from the site, which was broadcast later that week in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Subsequently, the technology was certified for grid operation and became more familiar to industry influencers. The video footage shot that day is still being used on the company’s website and in investor presentations.

Results

• Secured coverage in major California newspapers and industry trade publications
  
  
• Raised client profile statewide and nationally, leading to technology certification
  
  
• Videotaped interviews and technology endorsements from key attendees for later use at trade shows and on website