What The Michigan Clean Energy Leaders Project will convene 15 talented and accomplished young clean energy leaders from across Michigan. Participants from different backgrounds, professions, and perspectives will attend two weekend-long retreats in 2018. Each retreat will provide substantive instruction on clean energy topics, foster deep and meaningful personal and professional relationships, and provide opportunities to collaborate on projects to move the clean energy economy forward in Michigan. Why Michigan’s clean energy economy is growing, but it lacks a cohesive young professional community to help accelerate that growth for decades to come. Most young professionals in the clean energy industry flock to the coasts where the industry is more developed, while those that remain in Michigan lack the opportunity to connect with peers. The Michigan Clean Energy Leaders Project seeks to build a generation of clean energy leaders in Michigan that is diverse, collaborative, and deeply interconnected. Such a community will develop new leaders, help attract and retain talented young professionals, and create a practical community to help drive growth in the clean energy economy now and for decades to come. Partners MCEL is organized by Cory Connolly with support from E2, a program of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), through a generous grant from Barry Sternlicht, Founder of 1 Hotels and CEO & Chairman of Starwood Capital Group. Cory is the current COO at Levin Energy Partners & Lean & Green Michigan and an E2/1 Hotels Fellow. To reach Cory, please email cory@micleanenergyleaders.com. Environmental Entrepreneurs, a program of NRDC, is a national, nonpartisan group of business owners, investors and others who advocate for policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council is a business trade association representing companies in Michigan’s growing advanced energy sector.