Hartford Business Journal

20 Hartford Business Journal • September 7, 2020 • www.HartfordBusiness.com OTHER VOICES California blackouts offer a cautionary tale for New England By Tim Eves R ecently, as Californians endured a heat wave that sent temperatures well above 100 degrees, hundreds of thousands of families and businesses suddenly found themselves without power. No lights. No air conditioning. No internet. The reason behind the rolling blackouts called for by the state's grid operator, most experts agree, can be traced to Califor- nia's ambitious goal of relying only on renew- able sources of power, such as wind and solar, to meet the state's energy demand. In Sept. 2018, then-Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that established a state goal of relying entirely on zero- emission energy sources by 2045. Currently, approximately one- third of California's power comes from renewable energy sources. But as the ongoing blackouts demon- strate, current wind and solar power technologies are not capable of reliably meeting 100% of the power needs of a 21st-century world. The intermittent, unreliable nature of wind and solar simply doesn't align with the way Ameri- cans consume electricity. Solar power typically peaks midday when the sun is shining — if it is shining. But most families ramp up their power use in the evenings — when they turn on the lights, cook dinner and watch TV — right about the time the sun is going down. Wind power is even more unreliable. When the demand for power exceeds the grid's available capac- ity, you get blackouts and urgent requests for citizens to curtail dramatically their use of electricity — impacting their comfort, work productivity and even their health. Losing power in the middle of a sweltering heat wave is bad enough. But imagine the risks to public health and safety if the blackouts currently plaguing California happened in New England in the middle of winter. Making the transition to zero- emissions power is a worthy goal that will benefit all of us. But as the California blackouts demonstrate, that transition needs to be made carefully and strategically. As more renewable power sources are added to the electric grid, there needs to be a sufficient source of instantaneously available, reliable power to back them up when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing. Natural gas-fired electric facili- ties provide that 24/7 reliable pow- er while producing dramatically lower emissions than the coal- and oil-fired power plants of the past. As New England states work to achieve their own ambitious clean energy/climate goals, it's impera- tive that they recognize both the benefits and limitations of current renewable energy technologies. With cleaner, efficient natural gas- fired generation in the energy mix, states can power the transition to a clean energy future, without leaving their residents in the dark. Tim Eves is managing partner of NTE Energy, the developer of the proposed natural gas-fired Killingly Energy Center in Killingly. EXPERTS CORNER Zoom with confidence By Andrea Obston "I 'm really better looking than this!" If that's how you want to start ev- ery Zoom meeting, you're not alone. The videoconferencing app seems to amplify every flaw you've ever worried about. I, for one, often look like a pasty waif who hasn't slept since quarantine went into effect. So, as a public service to every businessperson who's wanted to throw up their business portrait instead of facing the Zoom camera, I offer these tips: Camera placement — You want to simulate a face-to-face meeting as closely as possible in a video call. Af- ter all, isn't that why you decided on it instead of a phone call? And what makes a live conversation work? Eye contact. On Zoom, eye con- tact is achieved by getting the camera at eye level and your face close enough to mim- ic an in-person conversation. Remember, cameras on laptops are at the top of the screen. If you put the laptop on your desk, you'll be looking at (and probably talking to) the middle of the screen. If you put the laptop on a couch, you'll be looking down on the screen. That gives you the "nostril shot." Not attractive. If you can see the ceiling in the shot, your cam- era is too low. I put the lap- top on my desk and put it on a stand that raises it. Then I angle the screen down, so the camera is eye level. By the way, if you use this set-up, you'll need a separate keyboard that's on the desk in case you need to share your screen or run a PowerPoint. Eye contact — And speaking of eye contact, this is the toughest part of achieving a personal con- nection on Zoom. We've all been trained to look at the eyes of those we speak to in nor- mal conversation. But if you're look- ing into the eyes of those on-screen during a Zoom call, you'll appear to be looking down. To appear to be looking into their eyes look directly into the "eye" of your camera. Lighting — Most people on Zoom conference look like they are audition- ing for a horror movie. It's all about the lighting. You want your primary light source to be behind the screen. I purchased an adjustable ring light. It has a variable intensity and color setting. Set the light on the brightest warm tone setting. If you are lucky enough to have nat- ural light coming from the side, that also helps. But make sure you don't sit in front of a bright, sunny window. The last person to successfully pull off the back-lit, silhouette look on screen was Alfred Hitchcock. And he was going for that. You should not. Background — Declutter your background. A plain, not bright- white wall is best. The viewer's eye should be drawn to your face. Not the bookshelf displaying your favor- ite tchotchkes. Have your Zoom meeting in an office-like space, even if it means finding a quiet spot with a neutral background in the basement. Dress — Yes, you're home. We get it. But you're also in a business meeting so dress like it. Good for you that you can wear a hoodie to work from home. That doesn't mean you should wear it on camera. Put on business attire, and we'll all believe you're there to do business. Zoom is here to stay The videocon- ference business meeting is here to stay. Whether or not we ever return to our offices or in-person meet- ings, I suspect the role of the humble business phone call will decrease. Seeing someone's face, even for the most mundane meetings, seems like a better way to connect. It's time to do what we can to look the best we can on-camera. And, by the way, I am better looking than this! Andrea Obston is the president of Andrea Obston Marketing Communications, a reputation management firm in Avon. OPINION & COMMENTARY Tim Eves Andrea Obston On Zoom, eye contact is achieved by getting the camera at eye level and your face close enough to mimic an in- person conversation.

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