|
News
Stories
Calendar
of Events
Obituaries
Sports
Staff
Tell
it to the News
At the Movies
Home
Country
Rock Doc
The
Harman Report
Local
Churches
Places
to Visit
Entertainment
Feature
Historical Society
Library
Weather
Businesses
Spotlighted
Financial News
Anniversary
Birth
Engagement
Wedding
Main Street 1980s
3rd & 5th Streets
Early HB
Food & Wine
Home Improvement
Horoscopes
Lawn & Garden
Radio
Weekly
Ad
Rates
This site
is designed
and maintained by:
Huntington Beach News
18582 Beach Blvd #204
PO Box 228
Huntington Beach, CA
92648
Phone: 714-378-1243
Fax: 714-378-1244
E-mail:
hbnews@hbquik.com
|
Here you will find a story of an event, meeting,
business or an interesting article, which we at the Huntington
Beach News think you will enjoy reading or maybe just looking
at the pictures. It may be a story about a local event or business
or it might be a story about someone or something that's happening
around the world.
“Oleander” Frontman, Thomas Flowers,
Bridges Music and Alternative Energy Worlds
Thomas Flowers, frontman for post-grunge rock sensation, Oleander, and Account Executive at California-based, renewable energy firm 808 Renewable Energy Corporation (808 Energy; www.808renewableenergy.com), is determined to strengthen the already-existing bond between the music and alternative energy worlds. Since the firm’s inception as 808 Investments, LLC in 2006, Mr. Flowers has been gathering investors for 808 Energy’s green energy projects, the most successful of which, is 808 Energy’s current project, 808 Energy3, LLC. Energy3 is the largest owner of cogeneration units in the State of California and to date, has brought on-line 5.2 megawatts of energy.
Speaking about Mr. Flowers’ investment work with 808 Energy, the company’s CEO, Patrick S. Carter, says, “Thomas is a stellar example of the music industry’s support of alternative energy efforts. He’s reaching out to other artists, teaching them about renewable energy options, and offering them what can only be seen as a win-win situation – a chance to invest in a greener future for our environment.”
Mr. Flowers’ band, Oleander, originally hails from Sacramento, California. Officially formed in 1995, Oleander is an award-winning, major label recording artist, and has collectively sold no less than one million records. Through their ties with artist management firm, Union Entertainment Group, Oleander has been affiliated with other notable and award-winning acts such as Nickelback, My Darkest Days, Golden State, Default, and Red.
Oleander took a brief hiatus from recording, but is now putting the final touches on what will be their first major-label album release in five years. The band anticipates that the album will be released by the holidays, and shortly thereafter, Oleander will launch a major domestic and international tour in support of the new album.
On the topic of using their rock-star powers for good, Mr. Flowers says, “Our upcoming tour will present us with a fantastic opportunity to not only practice responsible energy use, but also to spread the word about green energy.”
In 1999, Oleander released a smash-hit single, “Why I’m Here”, and played in front of hundreds of thousands of music lovers at Woodstock ’99, taking the stage after the legendary James Brown. Oleander’s music has been featured in box-office blockbusters such as “American Pie” and its sequel, “American Pie 2”, “Spider-Man”, “Scary Movie”, in the Showtime film “Bang Bang You’re Dead”, as well as on the popular TV show “Dawson’s Creek”.
Mr. Flowers toured with Oleander extensively, worldwide, for a good part of the time spanning 1997-2004. The band played with other successful artists of the era such as Nickelback, Creed, Collective Soul and 3 Doors Down. Throughout the band’s career, Oleander has supported the armed forces, performing numerous USO shows for troops around the world, in far-flung locales such as Kosovo and Bosnia.
“In the throes of all of that touring – and realizing everything that accompanies global travel of that nature – [Oleander] became very conscious of our carbon footprint. We have always gone to great lengths to recycle and reuse, and are very supportive of green energy efforts,” says Mr. Flowers.
When Mr. Flowers found himself attracted to this cause, he sought out 808 Energy. After securing a meeting with the firm’s CEO, Patrick S. Carter, and seeing first-hand the well-thought-out business plan that Carter had sculpted for the company, Mr. Flowers knew that 808 Energy was where is belonged. “808 is like a second family to me,” says Mr. Flowers.
Mr. Flowers is just one of many music industry vets fighting to keep green energy moving forward. In 2008, Oleanders’ fellow Sacramento-based, rock music success, Cake, removed their studio from the city’s power grid and installed solar panels on the studio’s roof. Cake subsequently recorded their sixth album, using nothing but solar energy.
Another well-known music business individual who has joined the green energy team, is none other than Radiohead’s Thom Yorke. Yorke has been known to speak out about the music industry’s violation of the environment by the extensive use of air travel as the industry-preferred touring method.
Mr. Flowers continues, “Over the last 10 years, the entertainment industry has become very aware of alternate energy options. I've been amazed by the sheer number of individuals with whom I speak, who are so supportive of what we are up to at 808, and of green energy, in general.”
Thomas Flowers is available for interviews and/or comment, as well as public speaking opportunities, as a music industry, investment and green energy expert.
Headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, 808 Renewable Energy bridges the gap between industry and investors with renewable energy cogeneration investment packages. 808 Renewable Energy’s primary focus is to provide and manage renewable “green energy” projects for manufacturing companies and other large facilities. This is accomplished by installing or acquiring for clients, cost-free cogeneration, solar and other renewable energy equipment, which lowers energy costs, reduces environmental emissions, and produces a smaller carbon footprint for everyone involved.
 Huntington Beach News
|
