My Mission

Given the fact that the American political divisions in 2018 are almost unbearable, I have chosen to avoid hot button issues like gun control, abortion, gender, woman rights, extreme Climate Change, or economic justice. As in the last 20 years, I will continue to concentrate on the major themes of broadband, energy, energy efficiency, clean energy, utilities, regulations, regulators, technological innovation, economic development, practical environmentalism, the Internet of Things, emission reductions, capital formation, shale oil, pipelines, socio-economics, fossil fuels, human health including inner and outer air pollution, sanitation, reliable electricity, adequate clean water, and community development in emerging countries and continents.

In other words, I see my role as a conduit of information with my allies, one of the spokesmen for the human benefits derived from the shale revolution and a columnist for the environmental importance of economic development.

Published In

 I see my role as a conduit of information with my allies, one of the spokesmen for the human benefits derived from the shale revolution and a columnist for the environmental importance of economic development.”
-Steve

Recommendations

I am privileged to recommend Stephen Heins for any marketing, media or writing assignment. Steve is an accomplished observer, researcher and writer and doesn’t come to the title of “Word Merchant” without considerable warrant.
I have dealt with Steve Heins numerous times over the last year in conjunction with my own role as a advocate, consultant and blogger at NaturalGasNOW.org for the cause of natural gas development on behalf of rural communities, the industry and landowners. This has included an interview I did with him on his radio program, writing he’s done for my blog and research and investigations we’ve pursued together.
Steve has a unique ability to get to the heart of a matter and very concisely express the issues and questions that are particularly relevant. He’s the master of observation and networking, not to mention great writing. This is why I am more than happy to recommend his services to anyone needing help with marketing, media management, research, community organizing or writing.
Tom Shepstone, Shepstone Management Company, Inc

It is with great honor and enthusiasm that I recommend Stephen Heins as a hard working researcher and gifted writer. While I have known Stephen for only about six months, I’ve read many of his works and have been engaged in numerous great discussions with him on matters involving energy, the environment and the internet. In all of these areas, Stephen has presented himself with poise and intelligence and has always left me impressed with the depth of his understanding and research.

After some thought, it seems the best suggestion I can make that will enable you to most expediently validate my observations and to properly gauge Stephen’s capabilities, is to urge you to just read his works and/or speak with him directly. You will not be disappointed. Stephen is smart, courteous and well-spoken. I am happy to call him a friend.

David C Egelson

I am pleased to recommend Stephen Heins as a researcher and writer.  As a former commissioner on the Maryland Public Service Commission and current senior administrative law judge with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, I am most familiar with Mr. Heins’ work in the energy field.

As you no doubt will see from writing examples, he is a very good writer.  In addition his articles are well-researched and display his ability to place matters in the context of other contemporaneous and past events.  Thanks to his deep and broad knowledge, the reader gains a thorough understanding of the subject.

It is noteworthy that even when I may not agree with all of Mr. Heins’ views in an opinion piece, his writing ability and information provided in support of the views expressed are thought provoking and very interesting to me.

Larry Brenner

I’ve known Steve Heins for at least 5 years and can say without a doubt that he a gentleman of the first order: always professional and always respectful, even if he disagrees with your perspective.

As the former editor of Public Utilities Fortnightly, he authored a few insights for us and his perspective was always well researched and well reasoned.

He continues to author such pieces for LinkedIn, which again fall into the same pattern.

In sum, Steve is a gentleman and an intellect, whom I’m proud call my friend.

If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at the email provided here.

Ken Silverstein, Editor - Environmental Leader; Writer - Forbes

Steve has an unparalleled knowledge of current energy policy and the activities within government that affect our energy economy. He ventures deep and into the regulatory and political wilderness of energy policy and presents information in original and thought-provoking ways. His research skills are remarkable, and he has an uncanny knack for knowing how to search obscure resources to extract facts and data which would elude an ordinary writer/researcher.

Marjorie Haun, Free Range Journalist

I’ve known Mr. Stephen Heins both personally and in a business capacity for 40 years.  We met in 1974 while he was attending Columbia University. Over those years, Mr. Heins has conducted himself truthfully and admirably. His profound curiosity, private sector sensibility and research skills have led him to his private sector advocate of practical environmentalism and the Internet of Things.

I have watched as his expertise, first, at the Internet and Broadband technology in early 2000’s, and then his expertise the energy field, has grown exponentially. His many published articles are a testament to his well respected and earned expert opinions on the subject of broadband, energy efficiency, electricity, greenhouses gas, environmental policy and fracking.

Be it at conferences or industry gatherings Mr. Heins is sought after for opinion and comment.  A gadfly by nature he’s never at a loss to question the latest fad or trend. In summary, it is his tenacity and perseverance in pursuit of honest fact which earned him a special place at the energy table.

Robert J Kramer, Chief Operating Officer, Tocqueville Wealth Management

I enthusiastically endorse Stephen Heins as a communications consultant for your firm.

During the 17 years I’ve known Mr. Heins as a media journalist and publisher, he’s been an articulate and intelligent resource for our publication’s various articles pertaining to communications and energy issues.

Heins additionally contributes guest commentary articles on various energy and communications subjects to New North B2B magazine, fluently informing our more than 15,000 business readers across northeast Wisconsin.

Heins’ considerable literary background and respective demeanor has always engaged our readers with a colorful and unique perspective on federal and state regulatory topics important to the daily operations of their businesses. He’s a punctual writer and speaker, and is always responsive to the fast-paced deadlines our industry demands.

We’re delighted to rely on Mr. Heins as a resource to educate our discriminating reading audience on complex matters related to the energy and communications industries.

If you’d like to further discuss any experiences our organization has experienced with Mr. Heins during the past 17 years, I welcome a phone call or email to any of the contacts listed below.

Sean Fitzgerald, NEW North B2B, president and publisher

Heins believes he has the answer to most questions, but even when he does not, he is never in doubt and expresses his position with clarity and humor.  He attracts his audience with an attention getting device, engages it with thoughtful comments and examples, and then releases it with thought provoking analysis.  Heins is not short on opinions or judgments, but limits his opinions and analysis to specific areas of expertise, which he has spent years pursuing, while continuing to refine his ideas and conclusions.  A wordsmith practices his profession in an effort to impress and educate. A word merchant practices his profession in an effort to persuade and convince.  Heins combines the intellect of a wordsmith with the practical qualities of a word merchant.

Wayne H. Rusch, Berliner, Corcoran & Rowe
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About Stephen

For the last 5 years, starting in 2011, Stephen Heins has been an analyst and consultant for a Wall Street firm. Also, he has been a practical environmentalist, who advocates good energy policy, economic development and sound environmentalism. From 2001-2009, Heins was Vice President of Corporate Communication for Orion Energy Systems, a publicly-traded leader in innovating energy and lighting systems based in Plymouth, Wis.

Currently, Heins promotes economic development, energy efficiency, emission reductions and broadband deployment at local, state and national levels. He has published more than 90 articles and op-ed pieces on these issues. Over the last 16 years, Heins has published op-ed pieces on energy management, Broadband, the utility industry and environmental issues for leading newspapers, energy and trade magazines including Forbes, Energy Central, Spark Fortnightly, Marcellus Drilling News, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Capital Times, Wisconsin State Journal, Milwaukee Business Journal, Wisconsin Corporate Report, Marketplace Magazine, the San Diego Union Tribune, Engineering Times, Energy and Power Management, Energy Pulse and Electricity Today.

Going by the title, “The Word Merchant,” he has written Op-Eds critical of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including its controversial Clean Power Plan and Clean Water Act. Heins believes that the resources, finances and innovation of the private sector is vastly superior to federal mandates and regulatory silo thinking.

Since December 2014, Heins’ published policy-oriented writings also address topics including the coming convergence of energy, technology and broadband, Cooperative Federalism, the U.S. electrical grid, state utility commissions, fracking and the natural gas revolution in U.S.

Heins is passionate about the major role “clean energy,’ in the broad sense of the word, can play in solving electrical power generation problems while helping companies reduce their carbon footprint. To that end, he has been a member of the National Association of Manufacturers, US Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin Manufacturing and Commerce, Chicago Climate Exchange, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Alliance to Save Energy, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Association, and U.S.Green Building Council.

Prior to joining Orion Energy Systems, Heins was director of marketing for NorthNet, an Internet Service Provider based in Oshkosh, Wis. Heins also was marketing director for Trautman-Kramer, a Wall Street investment firm specializing in municipal bond underwriting and brokerage. His early career took him into the restaurant business managing a chain of thirteen restaurants.

Heins studied American poetry at Columbia University in New York City and he also attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he studied business and economic coursework. He currently resides in Sheboygan, Wis.

See Hein’s Sightings