Lexington, KY - On Earth Day (April 22), two Kentucky returnees launched a new Web-based TV station and social network aimed at connecting Kentuckians with all things green and sustainable. Under the direction of George Parker and Kiley Lane, http://www.kygreen.tv (Kentucky Green TV) will focus on topics such as green jobs and careers, green services and products, and green education and community building.
The project will be a model for other states, said Lane. She and Parker, soon to wed, have both recently returned to their Kentucky roots, bringing backgrounds in film production, education and media convergence. Lately they have spent their time on the road in Kentucky, filming for their new enterprise.
"We're literally driving all over the state right now," said Parker, "meeting some really incredible people. Last weekend we were in Hopkinsville, meeting with farmers. Saturday, we're going to be in eastern Kentucky, looking at a reclamation project near Pine Mountain Settlement School. The following week, we'll probably be in Whitesburg and other areas."
As a media channel, kyGREENtv will offer a range of programming, from 30-second green tips to longer documentaries and interview shows. Some programming will go into syndication. KET has picked up one show, Kentucky's Greenside, which highlights individuals and businesses around the state engaged in green projects. Another show, Kentucky Green Makeover, will bring together homeowners with green contractors and the show's host to examine ways to make their homes more energy efficient. How-to segments will demonstrate weatherization, insulation and other types of home greening projects. Downloadable instructions in PDF format will be available.
"The goal is to not only to help reduce energy consumption and make healthier, more energy-efficient homes, but to also put a lot of people back to work," said Parker. In discussions with people in state government, he saw the need to get the word out about incentives and funding available to home and business owners.
"There's zero budget for marketing (the incentives)," said Parker. "We'll have links to the appropriate agencies for different programs, state or federal, for tax incentives and rebates."
The more people take advantage of these programs, the more work there will be for contractors knowledgeable in green building or weatherization practices, Parker said. One contractor working on a project that Parker filmed told him that the weatherization/energy-efficiency programs were providing the only source of work for him and his employees in the current economy, he said.
The site will have a green business directory, listing certified green products and services.
"We're also planning on having a green collar job bank, where people can find those green collar jobs and green career building opportunities in the state," said Parker.
"Sooner rather than later, we'll have our own social media platform," Parker said. That platform will allow people to put up personal profiles and upload user-created content. In the meanwhile, Parker says that details are being worked out with potential partners.
"A lot of organizations don't have the resources or technical know-how to develop their content. We'll give them the vehicle that will have their content up on the Web, so that their members and the people they work with can have access to it. And we can embed it back on their Web sites," Parker said.
He also sees the site as a connecting portal for volunteers wanting to help out nonprofits and schools in need.
The project isn't state funded. Parker and Lane have been putting their own resources into it. They will carry advertising on the site, but it will be exclusively niche advertising for green businesses. Parker said that they've already been selling advertising to companies that specialize in energy audits and building weatherization.
Parker is originally from Louisville. He returned there after serving at the University of San Francisco as a director in a teacher education program. He grew that program from 42 to 206 students over four years. He was also an active member in the San Francisco Film Society. When he returned to Louisville a few years ago, he started a film production company.
Lane is from Lexington, and she returned to Kentucky from Colorado, where she had worked with a cable network with an online presence. She produced, filmed and edited environmental programs, eventually becoming an on-air interviewer and host. She also made trips back to Lexington to do documentaries for KET. Once back in Lexington, she co-founded the Lexington Film League with Gina Willis in 2009. Lane asked Sarah Wylie Ammerman VanMeter, Hannah LeGris and Lucy Jones to help administrate and execute the organization, which is now in its second year.
Colorado is a beautiful state with a robust tourist industry, which Lane credits for the heightened concern with the environment there. She also sees Kentucky as an extraordinarily beautiful part of the country, and she wants to see that beauty sustained.
"The focus will be on the entire state," said Lane, "on green issues and sustainability within the state. This is the future, not only for Kentucky, but for the world globally and the global economy. There are a lot of people in Kentucky who are doing great things, and we want to broadcast them. We want to promote our state."