[email protected]
Amster-Olszewski grew up in Florida, and when it was time to choose a college he decided on CC, even though he had been accepted by several in the northeast. He was planning on a career in business and finance, following other family members who worked in investment and real estate.
But while he was studying at CC, Amster-Olszewski says he “began connecting the dots. I grew up loving the environment, but not understanding the connection between the things I was doing — the gas I was filling the car with — and the effect that had on the outdoors I loved.”
The more he learned about solar energy, Amster-Olszewski says “the more I just couldn’t get past a fundamental question: ‘What if consumers could choose the kind of energy they want, like they choose an Internet provider?’ ”
Today Amster-Olszewski’s best “crazy idea” is the backbone of his innovative company, SunShare, which has contracted with the Pikes Peak Community Foundation and Colorado Springs Utilities to develop the Colorado Springs Solar Garden. The garden, with an array of 2,500 solar panels at the Venetucci Farm, is the first public-private partnership of its kind in the U.S., and is being studied by other states including California.
Colorado Springs Utilities customers can lease solar panels at the farm; the power their panels produce is sent to the Colorado Springs power grid and customers get credits on their monthly electric bills.
When he isn’t working, Amster-Olszewski plays with his new puppy, and says he loves running, hiking, and backpacking.
Related Speakers View all
Colin Bailie
President, Founder, and CEO at Iris PV
|
|
Nicholas Flanders
Co-Founder and CEO at Opus12
|
|
Dan Shani
CEO of Energy Intelligence Inc.
|
|
Ryan Vogel
Water Innovation Leader, Founder of Pure Blue Tech Inc.
|
|
Thomas Russell
CEO and Co-founder of ETC Solar
|
|
Jon McKay
Co-Founder and CEO at Nanogrid
|
|
Joel Jean
CEO & Co-Founder of Swift Solar
|
|
Adam James
Co-Founder of Clean Energy Leadership Institute; Aut...
|
|
Arsheen Allam
President & Chief Executive Officer of GOLeafe
|
|
Mehrdad Mahdjoubi
CEO and Founder of Orbital Systems
|
|
Philip Winter
Co-Founder & CEO at Nebia
|
|
Mark Silberg
Senior Associate at Rocky Mountain Institute; Founde...
|
|
Lynn Good
Chair, President & CEO of Duke Energy
|
|
Jennifer Holmgren
Chief Executive Officer at LanzaTech
|
|
Ann Hand
Chairman & CEO of Super League Gaming
|
|
David Freed
Project Manager, Net Power Demonstration Plant
|
|
Allison Wolff
Co-Founder & CEO of Vibrant Planet
|
|
Vaitea Cowan
Enapter Co-Founder & VP of Communications & Marketin...
|
|
Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes
Co-Founder of Black Mountain Metals
|
|
Florian Simmendinger
Founder & CEO of Soundbrenner, a Wearable Smart Metr...
|