The Challenge: Solar thermal energy industry leader AREVA Solar (formerly Ausra) made a strategic decision to expand its business market beyond independent power production. The company needed to overcome the common perception that solar technology can only generate electricity. The company's next-generation technology can generate steam for use in countless industrial processes, including enhanced oil recovery, food processing and desalination.

The challenge: Pennsylvania Democrats were accused of using public money to pay legislative staffers huge bonuses in return for political work. The scandal had the potential to stain incumbents and put challengers for the state House in untenable positions. Our task was to neutralize this scandal as a campaign issue.