Kat Friedrich

Kat Friedrich
Industry Positions Freelance writer
Degree Programs University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering, 2000 University of Wisconsin-Madison Nelson Institute (Science and Environmental Journalism), 2006

A former mechanical engineer with graduate training in journalism and environmental studies, Kat Friedrich is a freelance writer with expertise in energy, sustainability and technology.

Kat was former editor of the Clean Energy Finance Forum and has edited two magazines: BuildingEnergy and Renewable Energy World Magazine. Her reporting has appeared in Midwest Energy News, Scientific American, Earth Island Journal, and many other publications. She is a local co-organizer of Online News Association Western New England and the former organizer of NetSquared Boston.

Kat holds a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Nelson Institute. Her thesis analyzed media framing of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge energy resources debate.

For close to two years, Kat worked for American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy on website strategy, technical writing, and environmental psychology research.

For four years, Kat was a writer and editor at the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning, a national initiative advancing diversity-friendly teaching techniques in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at colleges and universities.

As an engineer, Kat constructed parts for hybrid race cars before hybrid cars were on the market. She also built and tested HVAC systems to cool power electronics that were connected to utility power grids.

Authored Articles
Wetland restoration aerial photo

In the wake of Katrina, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries
and the state of Louisiana teamed up to rebuild
significant portions of a 19-mile expanse of
barrier islands off Barataria Bay. Newly
rebuilt beaches and dunes were erected from
2006-2009, and scientists today continue to
monitor for changes in elevation, vegetation
and species abundance at this site. To learn more
about this project, visit the NOAA website.
(Credit: NOAA)

Louisiana Environmental Impact Bond May Reduce Coastal Land Loss

Kat Friedrich
Bordered by beautiful wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana is a hub of transportation and industry. A pilot environmental impact bond could seed a set of wetland-restoration projects for the state. Environmental Defense Fund, Quantified Ventures, and their project partners are proposing to draw on funding from the Deepwater...
Philadelphia

How Green Infrastructure Yields Urban Safety and Health

Kat Friedrich
Greenprint Partners is field-testing a green infrastructure-financing approach that could help make communities healthier and safer in a small group of Rust Belt cities. In an interview, Nicole Chavas, the company’s CEO and cofounder, and Rose Jordan, its marketing director, said the models have expansion potential. If adopted on a...
Republic Iron and Steel Works

This historic image shows Republic Iron and Steel Works,
a factory that was in Youngstown, Ohio in the early 20th century.
Today, Youngstown has experienced a decline in its manufacturing
economy, leading to poverty and crime. Green infrastructure can
help make Youngstown and similar communities safer and healthier.
Flickr

A Blueprint for Financing Green Stormwater Infrastructure

Kat Friedrich
In a few Rust Belt cities that are seeking economic and social benefits, Greenprint Partners – formerly known as Fresh Coast Capital – is breaking new ground by financing fresh solutions for green stormwater infrastructure. It is using a combination of municipal, private and government resources. Its goals are to...
Meadowlark

Voices of Conservation Finance: An Interview with David Meyers

Allegra Wrocklage, Kat Friedrich
In this episode of the podcast "Voices of ," our guest was David Meyers, Senior Technical Advisor to the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) at the United Nations Development Programme. He was also recently hired as the first Executive Director of Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA).
Plover

New Jersey Shields Its Fragile Shoreline Ecosystems

Kat Friedrich
Among the piping plovers and marsh grasses of New Jersey’s scenic coast, environmentalists and communities are busy creating green infrastructure to shield the shorelines from storm damage while supporting local economies. The Coastal Resilience Collaborative, the New Jersey Resilient Coastlines Initiative, and the NJ Climate Adaptation Alliance are bringing financial...
Meadowlark in tree

Voices of Conservation Finance: An Interview with Patrick Holmes

Allegra Wrocklage, Kat Friedrich
In our first episode of "Voices of ," we are excited to welcome Patrick Holmes, a Conservation Finance Network advisory committee member who shared stories of how his own professional development dovetailed with the expansion of the conservation finance field.
Coral at Monterey Aquarium

Global Frameworks for Financing Sustainable Infrastructure

Kat Friedrich
As decision makers gathered at COP23 this November in Bonn, Germany, they considered strategies that could empower them to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Financing sustainable infrastructure is one of the keys to putting these goals in motion. According to Laura Canas da Costa, senior advisor in...

Investors Can Calm Western Wildfires

Kat Friedrich
As severe wildfires leave their charred mark on the western United States this season, Network interviewed Blue Forest Conservation staff about the Forest Resilience Bond project. This massive collaboration is bringing private finance to bear on ecological restoration to reduce the risk of these catastrophes.