Green Options

Named Connecticut’s “Environmental Hero” in 2008, Brian F. Keane’s career has been spent building and managing
political and not-for–profit organizations that directly deal with issues and topics that become part of the national
conversation. From economic issues in the 1990’s to environment issues today, Keane has used his background in politics
and communications to create organizations that challenge the conventional wisdom and ultimately set the national agenda.
Today, Keane is President of SmartPower, a nationwide non-profit marketing organization dedicated to promoting clean,
renewable energy and energy efficiency. Hailed as the “Got Milk” campaign for wind, solar and waterpower, SmartPower’s
award winning marketing campaign has been credited with creating hundreds of GWh of clean, renewable energy across
the nation. With a yearly budget of $3 million and operations coast to coast, SmartPower has become the unrivaled
marketing organization for the clean energy industry. For their efforts, Keane and SmartPower have been recognized with
numerous awards over the past years. Among them: the coveted Green Power Pilot Award presented by the US
Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy; Four Gold Awards from the Service Industry
Advertising Awards (SIAA); the People’s Action For Clean Energy “Environmental Heroes Award” (2004, 2008) and the
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protections’ “Green Circle” Award. In 2005 Brian Keane was recognized as one
of Connecticut’s “Outstanding Forty Under 40”.
A former advisor to the late Senator Paul Tsongas (D-MA) and a Congressional Aid to Representative Les Aspin (D-WI),
Keane has built an extensive background in non-profit management, political organizing and communications. He was one
of the architects of The Concord Coalition, a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating the federal budget
deficit. Keane was also the founding Executive Director of Economic Security 2000 (ES 2000), the nation's first
nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to saving and reforming Social Security. Keane’s testimony before the U.S.
Congress helped make ES 2000 a recognized national leader in the debate on Social Security reform. In fact, Presidents
Clinton and Bush have both recognized ES 2000 as a valuable resource in the discussion on Social Security. Throughout his
career, Keane has spoken extensively across the nation, internationally and to the local and national media. Today he is a
much sought after interview and presenter on clean energy and energy efficiency.
Keane is a 1989 graduate of The American University in Washington, D.C. where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in
Broadcast Journalism and Political Science. The 10th in a family of 11 children, Keane served as the Chairman of his eldest
brother’s successful campaign for the Boston City Council and his brother’s subsequent race for the U.S. Congress in
Massachusetts 8th Congressional District in 1998. Brian Keane was himself, briefly, a candidate for the Massachusetts
State Senate in 2002. Today Keane serves on the Board of Directors of the Vermont-based Clean Energy Group (CEG). He
also serves as the President of the American University Alumni Association.
Keane and his wife, Kate Sawyer Keane, live in Arlington, Virginia with their two children Karenna (4) and
Jack (2).