Michael Shellenberger, President
Michael is an author and policy analyst who works on and writes about energy technology innovation, climate change, economic development, rain forest conservation, social values, national security and human rights. As president of the Breakthrough Institute, he is a leading national advocate for the U.S. to make large, public-private investments in clean energy and decarbonization technologies to achieve energy independence, restore America's economic competitiveness, and slow global warming. Michael is co-author of Break Through (Houghton Mifflin 2007) and the 2004 essay, "The Death of Environmentalism." In 2002 Michael co-founded the Apollo Alliance and the Breakthrough Institute. He and Ted Nordhaus were named Time magazine "Heroes of the Environment 2008". Michael has written for The New York Times, the New Republic, the American Prospect, Salon, Harvard Law and Policy Review, Democracy, and Glamour Magazine. Michael has worked as a strategist for efforts to invest billions in clean energy, save the world's last redwoods, and improve working conditions for Nike factory workers in China. He was raised in Greeley, Colorado, received his B.A. from Earlham in Indiana, and received a Masters Degree in cultural anthropology from the University of California.

Ted Nordhaus, Chairman
Ted Nordhaus is an author, researcher, and political strategist. He is a widely recognized authority on climate and energy policy and his work has deeply influenced a new generation of clean energy advocates. With co-author Michael Shellenberger, he published the seminal essay The Death of Environmentalism in 2004 and the controversial and critically acclaimed Break Through, Why We Can't Leave Saving The Planet To Environmentalists in 2007. Time Magazine named Ted a "Hero of the Environment" in 2008, and dubbed his work "prescient." His writings have appeared widely in magazines, newspapers, and journals including The New Republic, The American Prospect, Salon, and The New York Times among many others. Ted is a founder and chairman of the Breakthrough Institute, a political think tank based in Oakland California that works at the nexus of climate, energy, and economic policy. He is also managing partner of American Environics, a research and consulting firm that brings cutting edge research and methodologies used to understand the evolution of American social values to progressive political projects.

Jesse Jenkins, Director of Energy and Climate Policy
Jesse is an energy and climate policy analyst, activist and blogger. He currently directs Breakthrough's efforts to develop and advance new energy and climate solutions to power America's future, secure our energy freedom, and halt global warming. Jesse joined the Breakthrough team in June 2008 to co-direct the Breakthrough Generation Summer Fellows Program. Before joining the Breakthrough Institute, Jesse spent two years as a Research and Policy Associate at the Renewable Northwest Project where he worked to advance the development of the Pacific Northwest's abundant renewable energy potential. In the past, Jesse has worked as a researcher and software developer with the Department of Physics at the University of Oregon, where he focused on alternative vehicles and fuels, and as a teacher's assistant in energy studies courses at the university. Jesse has a history of grassroots climate and energy activism and co-founded the Cascade Climate Network, the Northwest's largest network of youth working to tackle the climate crisis and build a sustainable, just, and prosperous future. An active blogger, Jesse is the founder and blogmaster of the site, WattHead - Energy News and Commentary. He currently writes at several sites throughout the blogosphere and has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, Baltimore Sun and Huffington Post. Jesse is a graduate of the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon (magna cum laude), where he completed an interdisciplinary course of study in computer science, philosophy, liberal arts, political science & energy studies.

Teryn Norris, Project Director
Teryn Norris is a leading young writer, researcher, and policy advocate. In 2007, he supported successful advocacy by the Breakthrough Institute to convince the Obama Campaign to adopt a $150 billion clean energy investment platform. Previously a Research Fellow at the Breakthrough Institute, he co-authored "Fast, Clean, & Cheap: Cutting Global Warming's Gordian Knot," a report published by the Harvard Law & Policy Review. In 2008, Teryn founded Breakthrough Generation, the first young leaders initiative of the Breakthrough Institute, and he served as Associate Director of its Fellowship Program in summer 2008. He is co-author of the National Energy Education Act proposal, which led to President Obama's 2009 ENERGYSE initiative and was featured by Mother Jones, San Francisco Chronicle, Baltimore Sun, Congressional testimony, and online interview. Teryn has worked as Chief Research Assistant to Dr. Steve H. Hanke, one of the world's top monetary economists, as well as for the Sierra Club and Environment California, where he advocated and fundraised for the California Global Warming Solutions Act. Teryn studied economics and political science at Johns Hopkins University, where he served on former JHU President Brody's Task Force on Climate Change. He is a columnist for the Huffington Post, has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, Baltimore Sun, Yale Environment 360, and Alternet, and he regularly blogs at DailyKos, the Breakthrough Blog, WattHead Energy News, and ItsGettingHotInHere. His work has been cited by the New York Times, Council on Foreign Relations, Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, The Guardian, and other publications.