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Tom Cotter Male Clovis, CA United States: Share on Facebook Share Twitter

Blog Posts (63)
Discussions (13)
Events
Groups (5)
Photos (273)
Photo Albums (7)
Videos (104)

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Tom Cotter's Groups

Garden Fresno

14 members
Solar Cookers Club

7 members

Fresno EDC Clean Energy …

13 members
Fresno Green Drinks

40 members

Greasecars

15 members

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Tom Cotter's Discussions

Contributors Needed
11 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Chelsi Silva May 12, 2011.

Chevy Volt
2 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Lisa M. Bronaugh-Blanco May 30, 2010.

7 Steps to End War & Save the Planet by Steve Ratzlaff

Started Dec 12, 2008

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Choix Du Jour (Choice of the Day)

Profile Information

About: Tom is Sales Manager of Central California at Real Goods Solar, Inc. Real Goods is a leading residential and commercial solar energy provider with offices in 11 states. The company has 33 years of experience in solar, beginning with selling the first solar electric panels in the United States in 1978. Real Goods vision is to ensure a healthy future by reducing the human ecological footprint on Earth.

Tom holds a deep desire to re-think, to re-design and build a positive future. His roles as husband, father, minister, manager, consultant, speaker, community organizer, and professor have provided a unique perspective on the challenges we face and the changes required to overcome them. He 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.

Tom is a frequent public speaker about solar, creation care, circular economy, electric cars, postmodern culture and social media for good. He is also involved in a number of initiatives in the Fresno, California region purposed to educate and raise awareness, including:

• Organizer and Curator of the Fresno Solar Tour, part of the National Solar Tour, the largest annual grassroots solar event in history. Each spring attendees tour homes and buildings to see how their neighbors are using solar energy to reduce their cost for electricity. Learn more about this educational tour at www.FresnoSolarTour.org.

• Co-Founder and Community Manager at Green Fresno, a free social platform and information portal for exploring ecologically intelligent, commercially beneficial and socially productive living in the Fresno metro area. Join the conversation at www.GreenFresno.org.

• Coordinator of Fresno Green Drinks, an informal monthly gathering of environmental field professionals, educators, public servants, activists, and locals wanting to learn and inspire each other towards broader ecological stewardship in the Fresno metro area. Meeting information can be found at www.meetup.com/FresnoGreenDrinks.

• Co-Chair and an Organizer of Fresno Earth Day, purposed to inspire and mobilize individuals and organizations to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. Get involved at www.FresnoEarthDay.org.

• Board of Directors at the International Green Industry Hall of Fame (IGIHOF), which promotes ecological sustainability worldwide through recognizing individuals and organizations for outstanding achievement(s) in the Green Industry and provides an educational forum for the international public. www.gogreenhall.org

Tom is a member of the Solar Living Institute, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Rainforest Alliance, California Business Alliance for a Green Economy, Restore Hetch Hetchy, American Solar Energy Society, United States Green Building Council, Build It Green and Kiva.

Here for:: Learning, Networking, Blogging, Consulting Services

Website: http://www.facebook.com/tomcotter

Tom Cotter's Videos

Solar on KSEE24 at Big Fresno Fair

Added by Tom Cotter
Robert F. Kennedy JR SolFest XIV 2010

Added by Tom Cotter
Johan Rockstrom: Let the environment guide our development

Added by Tom Cotter

Tom Cotter's Photos

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Tom Cotter's Blog

Halliburton Tries to Greenwash Fracking

Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” is the natural gas drilling technique rapidly spreading across the nation. It has already enabled drilling or exploration in 30 states. And in the last week, regardless of where you live, fracking finally arrived in your area. Specifically in your living room: CBS featured

fracking on its CSI and 60 Minutes shows.…

Continue

Posted on November 17, 2010 at 10:23am

Sierra Club Recommendations on California Propositions

Sierra Club California Opposes Proposition 23: Proposed Big Oil Initiative

Big Texas oil companies are trying to buy their way out of cleaning up their California refineries and fuels. Companies like Valero and Tesoro recently announced that they plan on fully funding a November ballot initiative that would halt clean energy efforts and pollution control standards aimed at cleaning up our air and atmosphere for our kids and future… Continue

Posted on October 13, 2010 at 9:30pm

Real Goods Solar to Install Existing Backlog and Pipeline of Westinghouse Solar

Real Goods Solar Becomes Authorized Westinghouse Dealer for California & Colorado Markets

September 14, 2010 – Real Goods Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSOL), a leading residential solar energy integrator, today announced an agreement with Akeena Solar, Inc. d/b/a Westinghouse Solar, (NASDAQ: WEST), whereby Real Goods Solar will become an authorized dealer for Westinghouse Solar Power Systems. Westinghouse Solar… Continue

Posted on September 16, 2010 at 11:00am

American-bashing misses the point when climate talks fail

It's the corporate way of life, not the American people who stand in the way

of progress on climate change, says No Impact Man, whose film opened in

the UK this week.

Recently, my book No Impact Man – about my little family's one-year carbon fast – was released in France. During my many interviews with French journalists, I realised that there

was a bashing of the American people going on. The American people were…

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Posted on September 7, 2010 at 6:30am — 1 Comment

Real Goods Solar Launches Free Solar Sweepstakes!

Real Goods Solar offering $30,000 solar electric system to one winning homeowner in California or Colorado.

August 9, 2010— Real Goods Solar announced today its FREE SOLAR SWEEPSTAKES for a chance to win a 4kW home solar electric system estimated at a retail value of $30,000. Qualifying homeowners can enter to win at www.RealGoodsSolar.com or call 1-800-760-9700. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The Sweepstakes… Continue

Posted on August 13, 2010 at 4:00pm

Comment Wall (36 comments)

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At 12:18pm on November 28, 2011, Keith Freitas said…: Thanks Tom,

We need to meet ASAP and discuss solar systems for my ranch......

Keith

At 1:53pm on November 21, 2011, Calladus said…: Thanks for the welcome!

At 8:40pm on August 15, 2011, Paul Cadriel said…: Thanks Tom!

Will do.....

At 1:30pm on December 14, 2010, Shantelle Bledsoe said…: what does being "featured" mean?

At 8:42am on October 23, 2010, Gordon Soderberg said…: Thanks, I look forward to interacting with Green Fresno. I think every city should have a site like this.

At 4:14pm on April 29, 2010, Sally Carroll said…: Tom, the Fresno Earth Day 2010 was marvelous. Thanks for all your hard work. I met Victor at the booth, but I was sorry not to connect with you in person, since I was over at LaQ workshops for a good part of the event.

At 8:59am on April 27, 2010, Anne Stuckenschmidt said…: Hi Tom. It was nice meeting you and your family at the Earth Day fair. Thanks for all the work you put into that event. It was a beautiful day and a fun event.

At 8:10am on March 24, 2010, Scott Jewett said…: Thanks Tom. Great site. We're launching a new site over at Tree Fresno. Do you mind if we give you a shout out and link to you?

At 2:22am on February 18, 2010, Carl Agustin said…: Hey Tom,
Thanks for the welcome. I will definitely take your offer in the event I need to contact other members.