Tom Cotter

Tom Cotter is a renewable energy evangelist, social entrepreneur, ordained minister and trained presenter for the Climate Reality Project.

He is President of the International Green Industry Hall of Fame and serves on the boards of both the Solar Living Institute and Restore Hetch Hetchy.

Tom grew up in Napa, California. A significant influence was the Boy Scouts of America, where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Hiking, camping and fishing in beautiful Northern California and the Boy Scouts rule: "Always leave the campground cleaner than you found it" led to a deep ecological awareness and accountability in adulthood.

A deep desire to re-think, re-design and build a positive future has moved Tom to launch numerous initiatives to educate and bring awareness to the topic of environmental stewardship. His roles as husband/father, minister, entrepreneur, manager, speaker, community organizer, and professor have provided a unique perspective on the challenges we face and the changes required to overcome them.

Tom sees the end of the era of cheap fossil fuels and key materials, coupled with rising population and anxieties around water resources, food production and harmful wastes, as clearly demonstrating the need to rethink our model of production and consumption, not merely attempting to patch it up. He shares an optimism that this rethinking will bring a better quality of life and increased opportunities as it can potentially restore natural and social capital.