Then and Now: 120 Bioeconomy Pioneers look at yesterday, today, inspirations and challenges

Mike Hart

Then: CEO of Sierra Energy, exactly the same job I have today.

Now: Big difference is that back then I was trying to find some established company that was willing to make the investment to test the technology and bring it to market. Since then we have raised the money, tested it with the US Army and the California Energy Commission and have now just finished building our first commercial project!

Inspirations: Solar and Wind are nice, but they can’t make carbon-negative energy the way that waste to clean fuels and power can do! Its exciting to be working in a field that is about to change the world- without the need for government subsidy.

Challenges: The ugly history of the industry… where so many projects have failed, and taken government money and a lot of industry credibility down the toilet with them. It is hard enough trying to fund and demonstrate a ground-breaking technology, it is damn near impossible to do it with a mob of trolls shrieking it can’t be done on a daily basis…