Kelpie Jennifer Wilson
Kelpie Wilson Consulting
PO Box 1444
Cave Junction, Oregon 97523
email contact link
Professional Experience
2008-present – International Biochar Initiative
Communications Editor. Managed public process and document editing to produce first international Standardized Product Definition and Product Testing Guidelines for Biochar That Is Used in Soil. Other duties include: edit IBI publications; produce content for IBI website; provide information and support to biochar project developers. Help network diverse membership and participate in strategy for global deployment of biochar technology.
2004-present – self-employed
Freelance Writer/Consultant. Wrote articles and essays on energy and environmental topics published by dozens of online and print publications, including Huffington Post, AlterNet, Yoga Journal, Yoga Plus Joyful Living; Truthout, Energy Bulletin. Authored novel and contributed to several anthologies on biochar, energy, environment and politics. See article archive at www.kelpiewilson.com.
2004-2008 – Truthout.org – Los Angeles, California
Environmental Editor and Columnist. Contributed daily news leads and wrote more than 100 news analysis columns on energy and the environment, many of which were widely republished online and in print.
2004-2006 – Energy Outfitters – Grants Pass, Oregon
Technical Writer. Wrote, illustrated and produced owner’s manuals for a variety of integrated solar power control centers built by the company. Produced Energy Trust of Oregon compliance manual for solar installers. Completed documentation of power control centers for national certification.
1993 – Greenwood Engineering - Takilma, Oregon
Assessment Engineer. Reverse engineering of Treehouse at Out n About Treehouse B&B. Produced drawings and preliminary stress loading assessment of treehouse.
1991-2003 – Siskiyou Regional Education Project – Cave Junction, Oregon
- Executive Director. Supervised staff of twelve to fifteen full and part-time workers. Responsible for fundraising, strategic planning, public speaking, media relations, organizational development, human resources and fiscal management. Quadrupled annual budget from $150,000 to $600,000. Oversaw production of scientific and technical reports on regional biodiversity resources, economics and conservation. Managed Siskiyou Wild Rivers National Monument campaign.
- Development Director. Wrote grant proposals, maintained donor relations and administered grant funding.
- Network Coordinator. Managed membership database and membership fundraising. Helped members organize events and activities. Wrote, designed and produced newsletters, action alerts and other publications.
1990 – California Forests Forever Initiative – Berkeley, California
Campaign Manager. Managed signature gathering campaign in four San Francisco Bay Area counties for forestry reform initiative.
1988-1989 – Mitchell Stirling Machines/Systems – Berkeley, California
Prototype Development Engineer. Designed and performance tested prototype cryocooler. Wrote reports and assisted in writing grant proposals for federal funding under the Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research program.
Summer 1986 – Stirling Power Systems – Ann Arbor, Michigan
Prototype Development Engineer. Established service procedures for advanced prototype V160-E Stirling Engine. Produced service and repair manual.
1985-1986 – Jet Propulsion Laboratory – Pasadena, California
Technology Assessment Engineer. Six-month student internship. Completed technology assessment of Integrated Power and Environmental Control Systems (IPECS) using Stirling cycle, organic Rankine cycle and gas turbine engines. Wrote interim report and portions of final report.
1980-1982 – Southport Importing Co. – Austin, Texa
Auto Mechanic. General auto repair. NIASE certified in engine performance.
Education
1987-1988 – California State University, Chico
Two semesters of graduate work in mechanical engineering.
1983-1987 – California State University, Chico
B.S. Mechanical Engineering. Graduated with Honors. GPA: 3.55/4.00.
1980 – Travis County Career School, Austin, TX
Automotive Technician’s Certificate.
1973-1977 – University of Illinois, Urbana
Major in political science, minor in anthropology.
Awards
1986 – Recipient, Rueben Bond Memorial Scholarship, mechanical engineering.
1987 – Winner of second prize in ASME Power Division National Student Paper Competition.
Technical Publications
K. Wilson, D. Reed, "Implications and Risks of Potential Dioxin Presence in Biochar," International Biochar Initiative, 2012.
M. Mitchell, K. Wilson, L. Bauwens, “Comparative Simulation of Stirling and Sibling Cryocoolers With Two Codes,” 24th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, Vol. 5, p. 2205, 1989.
M. Mitchell, K. Wilson, L. Bauwens, “A Simplified Sibling Cycle Machine,” 24th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, Vol. 5, p. 2289, 1989.
K. Wilson, C. Perkins, “Approximating the Ideal Stirling Cycle Through Discontinuous Motion of the Displacer Piston,” Senior Project Report and Second Prize Winner, ASME Power Division, Student Paper Competition, 1987.
K. Wilson, “V160E Stirling Engine Operation and Service Manual,” Stirling Power Systems, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1986.
L. Grondalski, N. Moore, K. Wilson, “Conceptual Design Study for Advanced Integrated Power and Environmental Control Systems for Mobile Military Applications – Phase Three Technical Report,” Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, June, 1986.
A. Fabbro, J. Blyman, L. Grondalski, N. Moore, K. Wilson, Y. Wu, “Conceptual Design Study for Advanced Integrated Power and Environmental Control Systems for Mobile Military Applications – Phase Two Technical Report,” Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, June, 1986.
Selected Articles
Tea Party 2.0 - Tax the Rich, Huffington Post, February 23, 2010.
Democrats Are Blowing Our Best Chance for Clean Energy, AlterNet, June 30, 2008.
Talking Peak Oil in the Heartland, Energy Bulletin, June 10, 2008.
Why More Food Is Not the Answer, Truthout, April 22, 2008.
Improving Our Green Job Prospects, Truthout, Feb 15, 2008.
Terra Preta: The Good Black Magic That Could Save the Earth, Yoga Plus Joyful Living, Sep-Oct 2007.
Wearing My Hair Shirt, Truthout, March 29, 2007 (Italian translation published in La Stampa).
Children of Men, Truthout, Feb 22, 2007.
Virgin, the Dynamo and the Prize, Grist, Feb, 2007.
Diane Wilson: An American Hero, Truthout, March 28, 2006.
Telling Stories: The Restorative Power of Myth, Orion Online, Feb 2006.
The Tragic Abuse of Corn, Truthout, July 20 2005.
Books
Contributor – The Biochar Revolution, ed. Paul Taylor, Global Publishing Group, 2010.
Contributor – Red State Rebels: Tales of Grassroots Resistance in the Heartland, ed. Jeffrey St. Clair and Joshua Frank, AK Press, Sep 2008.
Quoted in – What Liberals Believe, ed. William Martin, Skyhorse Publishing, May 2008.
Authored – Primal Tears – a novel by Kelpie Wilson. North Atlantic Books, 2005.
Video
Producer – producer of Richard Pombo segment in Episode 3: Enemies of the Environment, Source Code, Free Speech TV, February, 2006.
Fundraiser – kicked off fundraising drive for long term video project, Klamath-Siskiyou documentary video for PBS stations, 1999.
Presentations
2010 – Biochar: Jump In and Try It! - presented at Biochar 2010, Ames, Iowa, July 29, 2010 and also at IBI 2010, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 14, 2010.
2009 – Biochar in Josephine County, Oregon - presented at the North American Biochar Conference, Boulder, Colorado, August 11, 2009.
2008 – Green Jobs and the Promise of Biochar - presented to students at University of Southern California - February, Josephine County Renewable Energy Task Force - July, Up the River Endeavors think tank, Martha’s Vineyard -July.
2006-2007 – Primal Tears and the Great Chain of Being: What it means to be human - main stage address and workshop presented at SolFest, Hopland, California – August 2006. Presented to Up the River Endeavors think tank, Martha’s Vineyard – July 2007.
1990-2005 – Numerous presentations on protection of the Ancient Forests of the Pacific Northwest and other environmental issues for university classrooms, community groups and conferences.
Selected Interviews
Wake Up! Podcast, April 20 2006 Earth Day interview with Electric Politics host George Kenney.
Interview on KPFA, January 20, 2006 - Karen Pickett and Kelpie Wilson talk about Richard Pombo, Jack Abramoff and the dirty trick Pombo helped Charles Hurwitz pull on the American People.
Interview on KBOO, July 13, 2005 - about the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
New Dimensions Radio Deep Ecology Series - 1998 - parts of an interview with Kelpie appear on several of the 13 episodes of this series.
The New Settler Interview, Issue #101, mid Nov/Dec 1996, “Kelpie Wilson: Discovering Her Ancestral Self.”
Teaching Experience
2010 – The Dome School – Cave Junction, Oregon
Developed and implemented semester-long biochar education program for grades 1-5 that included history of Terra Preta, science of the carbon cycle, biochar plant experiments, construction of biochar stoves, and design of biochar business plans.
2003 – Willow Wind Community Learning Center – Ashland, Oregon
Developed and taught semester-long Physics of Sustainability class, grades 7-12
2002 – Rogue Community College Community Education Program – Kerby, Oregon
Taught adult class on renewable energy technology and national energy policy.
1996 – The Dome School – Cave Junction, Oregon
Part-time science teacher for home school group, grades 6-7.
1995 – The Dome School – Cave Junction, Oregon
Part-time science teacher for combined classroom, grades 1-5.
Volunteer Positions
2010 - present – Advisory Board Member, US Biochar Initiative.
2008 - 2011 – Board Member, Spiral Living Center, Cave Junction, Oregon.
2002 – 2004 – Board Member, Alternatives to Growth Oregon.
Summer 1990 – Key Organizer, Redwood Summer campaign, Northern California.
Summer 1989 – Exxon Valdez oil spill campaign. Worked on Volunteer Independent Cleanup Effort organized by fishermen and residents of Homer, Alaska.
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