Tom Cotter (environmentalist)

Early life and inspiration

Tom Cotter grew up in Napa Valley, California, United States. A significant influence was the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). In 1988, Cotter was awarded the title of Eagle Scout.

Professional career

In 1997, he was ordained clergy at First Christian Church in Napa, California. He served as a pastor at Clovis Christian Church in Clovis, California from 1996 to 2006.

From 2006 to 2015 he worked in the U.S. Photovoltaic Industry, starting at ReGrid Power, which was later acquired by Real Goods Solar, and later Sunrun.

He is currently Regional Sales Manager and Strategic Account Manager at Renew Financial for the California counties of Fresno, Madera, Tulare, and Kings.

He is a public speaker, writer and blogger addressing environmental topics such as solar, alternative fuels, electric cars, sustainability, stewardship and creation care. Cotter is frequently consulted by various groups and the media about these topics.

Personal life

Cotter resides in Clovis, California with his wife, Christi Gaither, and their three children. The family has a solar power and solar thermal system on their home. Mr. Cotter drives a 100% electric Nissan Leaf. Mrs. Cotter drives an alternative fuel VW Jetta TDI. The Cotter family uses vermiposting to turn kitchen scraps, junk mail and paper packing materials into nutrient rich soil for their garden and yard.

Cotter is a part of the California Climate Ride, a 320-mile bicycle benefit ride for bicycle advocacy and renewable energy down the coast of California from Eureka, California to San Francisco, California.

Sustainability education and advocacy

In 2007, Cotter and Socient CEO, Victor Ramayrat, co-founded Green Fresno, a free online community and information portal (in 2012 it was relaunched as Green Central Valley).

Cotter is the organizer and curator of the annual Fresno Solar Tour part of the American Solar Energy Society's National Solar Tour.

Cotter has taught as adjunct professor of Theological Ethics and the Environment at Fresno Pacific University.

Cotter is an Organizer of Fresno Earth Day, purposed to inspire and mobilize individuals and organizations to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.

Cotter is founder and coordinator of Fresno Green Drinks, an informal monthly gathering of environmental field professionals, educators, public servants, activists, and people wanting to learn and inspire each other towards broader ecological stewardship in the Fresno metro area. As of May, 2012, Green Drinks was active in 642 cities worldwide.

Cotter is the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at the International Green Industry Hall of Fame, 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.

In 2012, Cotter became a Climate Leader in the Climate Leadership Corps with the Climate Reality Project.

Board of directors

Cotter currently serves on the board of directors for three non-profits.

Film

Cotter is a producer of the short documentary film, Forest Man. The film chronicles the story of Jadav Payeng, an Indian man who single handedly planted nearly 1,400 acres of forest to save his island, Majuli, India. The film is directed by William D. McMaster of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The film was released in the summer, 2013.

Political

In 2010, Cotter worked with California's No on Prop 23 Campaign. This proposition would have suspended AB 32, a law enacted in 2006 legally referred to as the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Prop 23 was defeated by California voters during the statewide election by a 23% margin.

In 2012, Cotter joined the board of directors for Restore Hetch Hetchy.

In 2012, Cotter worked to get the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to expand net metering in California.

In 2012, Cotter worked towards the passing of Proposition 39 - California Clean Energy Jobs Act.