Speaker > Biography

Biography of Michael T. Eckhart

Michael Eckhart is President of the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), co-chairman of the World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE), and a member of the Steering Committee of the REN 21 global policy network.  Since its formation in 2001, ACORE has grown to have over 400 organizational members; producing three major national conferences per year on renewable energy business, finance and policy; and participating in international renewable energy policy affairs. Mr. Eckhart is a member of the Clinton Global Initiative.  He also works through Solar International Management, Inc. on the financing of solar energy (SolarBank), and on the development of a new international debt security called Global Development Bonds (GDB) for the financing of sustainable development in the developing countries.  He has over 25 years of experience in renewable energy, power generation, high technology, and finance.  Previously, he was CEO of the IPP development firm United Power Systems, Inc.; Vice President of the venture capital firm Areté Ventures, Inc.; Manager of Strategic Planning for the Power Systems Sector of General Electric Company; and a Principal of Booz, Allen & Hamilton’s energy practice.  He served in the US Navy Submarine Service.  He received a BS in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.