In an increasingly polarized society, misinformation and false narratives--on everything from wildlife to human health--are purposefully being spread to stop projects from progressing, particularly at the local level. This session will focus on key strategies for developers and other clean energy stakeholders to create narratives of truth around projects using various communication tools and engagement strategies, as well as lessons learned from the field.
Karina Borger (Moderator)
Vice President, Communications
American Clean Power Association
Karina Borger is the Vice President of Communications at ACP. She leads ACP’s integrated communications team and oversees media relations, social media, and executive communications to promote ACP as the leading voice of the U.S. clean energy industry, as well as the priorities and stories of its member companies.
Karina previously served as U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski’s Communications Director for nearly nine years, amplifying coverage of the Senator’s work through earned media, online platforms, and other forms of external communications.
Prior to that, Karina worked as the Media Relations Coordinator for Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization that provides aid to victims of war, disaster, and disease in over 100 countries. She was also a reporter and weekend anchor at KTVA CBS 11 News in Anchorage, Alaska. Karina holds a Bachelor of Journalism in Radio-Television News with a minor in Spanish from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Maggie Sasser
Vice President, Government & External Affairs
Pine Gate Renewables
Kelsey Suter
Partner
Upswing Research
Kelsey Suter is a Partner at Upswing, where she leads digital engagement and social listening work. She has advised hundreds of progressive advocacy organizations, sitting prime ministers and foreign governments, democracy-building NGOs, and multinational corporations – helping them turn up the volume on their own messaging and develop digital strategies that build trust with audiences.
Kelsey has a special focus on countering online propaganda and disinformation. Since 2020, she has helped lead a first-of-its-kind effort advising the progressive space to detect and counter political disinformation ahead of the presidential and midterm elections. She has been cited in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington Post, Politico, and various research publications.
With a background in both research and strategic communications, Kelsey has worked at Drive Agency, GQR Research, and APCO Worldwide. In this work, Kelsey spent time embedded with political campaigns around the world, managed large-dollar digital ad campaigns, and secured top-tier media coverage for clients. She is also a trained focus group moderator and has conducted hundreds of focus groups worldwide.
She has an MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics and a BA in Political Science and English from the College of St. Benedict in Minnesota.
Matthew Vollbrecht, PWS
Wetlands Manager/Environmental Lead
Westwood Professional Services
Matthew joined Westwood's St. Cloud Minnesota office in 2002 and currently works remotely based in Lander, Wyoming. As Westwood’s Wetland Manager/Environmental Lead, Matthew is responsible for managing the wetland staff, reviewing the preparation of wetland delineations and functional assessments, wetland planning, environmental permit applications, environmental review documents, wetlands water resources, wildlife habitat, and land use. In his role as an Environmental Lead, Matt's 26 years of experience in the environmental field allows him to provide clients with his extensive expertise in each of the company’s markets including residential and commercial development, wind and solar energy, electric transmission.
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