Solar Is Sexy

Many recognize that solar power is good for the environment. But renewable energy has never been a particularly sexy topic. Until now.

The New York Times reports that in an effort to bring more attention to the issue, the Solar Power International Conference is enlisting the help of Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Melissa Baker who organizers hope will be just what their marketing campaign needs to attract a wider audience. Baker will be at the conference conducting interviews that will be posted on Solarvisonaries.org, a new Web site that is trying to make the idea of solar more mainstream.

The head of Solarvisionaries, Joe Boyce, explains to the Times how Baker fits in with their strategy: "The demographics of her fans align very well with the end users for the solar market."

Um, I guess all men would count as a pretty good demographic to target.

But really. "Demographics?" "End users?" Wash away the marketing-speak and this is what Boyce really means: "Hundreds of thousands of people will be looking at these videos just because of her," he tells the Times.

Photo courtesy RichardMasoner via Flickr.