Author: Frances Beinecke

Frances Beinecke has led American environmental advocacy through work on climate, energy, and conservation policy, including leadership of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Clean Energy Common Sense, published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2009, presents a concise public argument for shifting the United States toward cleaner energy. Bob Deans contributed to the book, and Robert Redford supplied the foreword, making those collaborator roles part of its full bibliographic identity. Inspired by the civic appeal of Thomas Paine's Common Sense, the volume links climate action with employment, public health, energy security, and reduced dependence on oil. Beinecke's professional perspective comes from decades at NRDC, where she worked on issues ranging from wilderness protection to national climate policy and later served as president. Clean Energy Common Sense distills that institutional experience for general readers, favoring a direct call for public engagement over a technical policy manual. The book represents her broader effort to connect environmental protection with economic and civic responsibility.