Two weeks ago, Al Gore returned to Capitol Hill to press the case for quick action on climate change legislation, particularly the components in President Obama’s stimulus package that he feels will spur renewable energy and energy efficiency investments.

His accomplishments and impact on the debate are well known by now, and the world is preparing for the next round of climate negotiations in Copenhagen in December. With the former vice president in the spotlight again, I can’t help but reminisce about “An Inconvenient Truth”. The movie hit theaters in May of 2006, and at Community Energy, we wondered aloud what impact the movie would have, if any. What we did know was that the movie was essentially Al Gore giving a slide show. Al Gore had written books, appeared on talk shows, and been vice president; could he really reach a new audience with his message of imminent planetary danger?

Selfishly, I wondered what the movie might mean in terms of carbon offset and renewable energy sales. More profoundly, would the message truly reach people in a way that could affect national mood or even alter personal behavior?

To say the movie dramatically affected the discussion of global climate change may be understatement or just the misguided thoughts of someone who works and breathes – no pun intended – these issues.  But I will always remember the phone calls our office took that summer from people who saw the movie. I specifically recall a woman in Connecticut who had received a bill insert offering the CTCleanEnergyOptions program, and placed the sign-up form down on her desk, while thinking seriously that she should just toss it. Immediately after seeing the movie, she went right upstairs to her desk and promptly called us to sign up. I didn’t have to wonder any more if the movie could positively affect behavior.

What events or influences have inspired you to support renewable energy?  Was it a friend, a moment in the outdoors, a newspaper headline?  Please share your experience with me by posting a comment below.