The purpose of the New Leaders Council is to provide emerging progressive leaders with a rigorous 5-month leadership training program that focuses on entrepreneurship, communications and public speaking skills, fundraising, campaign work, new and traditional media, and personal values to shape them into what the NLC calls “political entrepreneurs”.

I had the pleasure of attending the New Leaders Council’s Energy Leadership Awards event at the Minna Gallery on June 15. As the night kicked off, people started trickling in, talking and mingling with the current and former fellows of the New Leaders Council, and soon, the Gallery was filled with conversation and laughter.

Suddenly, a burst of energy emerged from the front of the crowd – this burst of energy was named Kula Koenig, a 2009 New Leaders Council Fellow. She was warm, sweet and full of energy and welcomed all of us to the event. Kula, passionate about making a difference in the world, has found the tools she learned from the NLC to be extremely useful in her quest.

Kula then introduced Phil Angelides, Chairman of the Apollo Alliance and the evening’s host. Mr. Angelides has been an enormous voice and strong promoter of the clean tech industry. Mr. Angelides said, “You don’t need a title to make a difference. The possibilities to make change are limitless.”

The Public Sector Award went to Phil Ting, San Francisco Assesor-Recorder and Founder of the Solar Task Force, for launching GoSolarSF and pushing San Francisco’s businesses to install solar systems, doubling the number installed in a year and a half. If its one thing I took away from his speech, it was this: never take no for an answer.

The Business Sector Award went to Nancy Floyd, Founder and Managing Director of Nth Power, for her continuous dedication in investing and believing in the clean tech market with her venture capital firm, Nth Power. Ms. Floyd said that the NLC had the passion and vision to make a change in the world.

The Non-Profit Sector Award went to Tim Sears and Erica Mackie, the Co-Founders of GRID Alternatives, for their involvement in bringing solar panels for low income families. With the help of numerous volunteers and hours of job training, GRID Alternatives has installed about 200 systems in San Francisco.

As the award ceremony dwindled to an end, the room was filled with renewed passion, hope and determination, inspired by the all the winners that night. It was clear that one point resonated throughout the evening – Edward Everett Hale summed it up quite well when he said, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”

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Please join The New Leaders Council, with hosts Phil Angelides, Chairman of the Apollo Alliance and Fiona Ma, California State Assemblywoman, in honoring four San Franciscans influencing progressive energy policy from the public and private sector this coming Monday at 6:30 PM at 111 Minna St in San Francisco.

CleanTechies is proud to support the New Leaders Council as it promotes these local energy leaders that are making a difference in their communities:

Public Sector
Phil Ting: San Francisco Assessor-Recorder and Founder of the Solar Task Force that launched GoSolarSF

Business
Nancy Floyd: Founder and Managing Director of Nth Power

Non Profit Sector
Tim Sears and Erica Mackie: Founders of Grid Alternatives

The event is a fund raiser for the New Leaders Council, prospective fellows are encouraged to come and meet with current and former fellows and the incredible leaders that support the organization.  NLC believes in recruiting emerging leaders, engaging them on both local and national levels, and equipping them to be civic leaders – not only for elective office, but also in their communities and workplaces.

I had the pleasure of being selected in this year’s fellowship class – it was an wonderful experience thanks to the other fellows, the council staff and the overwhelming support of leaders. I encourage you to come and support the organization and learn about the fellowship process.

If you would like to support the organization and be an event sponsor please send a note to contact at cleantechies.com and I’ll put you in touch with the right people.

About NLC:

New Leaders Council provides the top-tier of emerging progressive leaders with a rigorous 5-month leadership training program that focuses on entrepreneurship, communications and public speaking skills, fundraising, campaign work, new and traditional media, and personal values in order to mold what NLC terms “political entrepreneurs.” NLC prepares these emerging leaders for elective office and other leadership positions and sets them on the path to becoming our next generation of progressive policy advocates.

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• Energy Leadership Awards For GoSolarSF, Nth Power & GRID Alternatives
• Long-Term Renewable Energy Targets Must Be Set Now, Experts Say
• Obama Urges Leaders to Find Compromise to Avert Climate Catastrophe
• Leaders Grandstanding on New Greenhouse-Gas Regulations
• Australian Firm to Provide Jatropha Biofuel to Lufthansa for Testing