Kat Friedrich

Kat  Friedrich
Freelance writer
University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering, 2000 University of Wisconsin-Madison Nelson Institute (Science and Environmental Journalism), 2006

A former mechanical engineer with graduate training in journalism and environmental studies, Kat Friedrich is a freelance writer with expertise in energy, sustainability and technology.

Kat was former editor of the Clean Energy Finance Forum and has edited two magazines: BuildingEnergy and Renewable Energy World Magazine. Her reporting has appeared in Midwest Energy News, Scientific American, Earth Island Journal, and many other publications. She is a local co-organizer of Online News Association Western New England and the former organizer of NetSquared Boston.

Kat holds a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Nelson Institute. Her thesis analyzed media framing of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge energy resources debate.

For close to two years, Kat worked for American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy on website strategy, technical writing, and environmental psychology research.

For four years, Kat was a writer and editor at the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning, a national initiative advancing diversity-friendly teaching techniques in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at colleges and universities.

As an engineer, Kat constructed parts for hybrid race cars before hybrid cars were on the market. She also built and tested systems to cool power electronics that were connected to utility power grids.

Authored Articles
View from an arch in Mexico

What Will It Take to Catalyze the Energy Transition?

Vastly higher clean energy targets are essential to empower the international community to make the leap to a sustainable future, according to Richard Heinberg, coauthor of “Our Renewable Future: Laying the Path for One Hundred Percent Clean Energy.” In this interview, he delves into the practical challenges involved in the...
Faneuil Marketplace in Boston

Sustainable Energy Takes Flight in Massachusetts

Among the many clean energy successes Massachusetts has had so far, some gaps remain, said Larry Chretien, executive director of Green Energy Consumers Alliance, in this interview. There are policies that could amplify sustainability further at the state level. Public enthusiasm has helped programs take flight.
Great Bay Wildlife Refuge in New Hampshire

Solar Hasn’t Won New Hampshire Over, But Efficiency Has

Although New Hampshire isn’t in the forefront of clean energy in New England, the solar power and energy efficiency industries are active there, according to Michael Behrmann, director of New Hampshire Clean Tech Council. In this interview, he said that some solar developers are working around bottlenecks at the state...
Anmol Vanamali

DC Designs Multifamily and Commercial Energy Solutions

When the District of Columbia develops clean energy programs, it has to handle many types of buildings – including commercial and multifamily properties of various sizes. In this interview, Anmol Vanamali, director of financing strategies at District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU), outlines the approach stakeholders have taken to...
Janine Benner

Oregon Takes a Strong Stand for Clean Energy

There is a strong groundswell of support for solar power and energy efficiency in Oregon. This has boosted the state’s programs and amplified their accomplishments, according to Janine Benner, director of Oregon Department of Energy. In this interview, she said Oregon is using these technologies to offset the environmental impact...
Alejandro Uriarte

Puerto Rico Climbs the Rocky Road toward Resilience

Since Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico has been a productive location for entrepreneurs who are eager to get involved in installing solar power and energy storage. One of them is Alejandro Uriarte, CEO of New Energy Consultants & Contractors. In this interview, he describes the rocky road that the island territory...
Greg Smith

Entrenched Decisions Stall Ohio’s Clean Energy Industry

Legislative reluctance to support clean energy has held back entrepreneurial opportunities for companies in Ohio, according to Greg Smith, president of Energy Optimizers USA. In this interview, he said energy efficiency has massive potential in the state but fossil fuels have a solid base of support.