Leaders in Global Change Gather to Celebrate 25 Years of Solutions

June 1, 2007 (Snowmass, Colo.) – Rocky Mountain Institute invites you to celebrate its 25th anniversary, August 9-10, 2007, in Aspen, Colorado. The event, RMI 25: Celebrating Solutions, is open to the public and will bring together key business and public policy leaders for two days of discussion, collaboration, inspiration and celebration.

“The issues that confronted RMI during its inaugural years are now in the forefront of today’s debate on climate change,” said RMI Chairman and Chief Scientist Amory Lovins. “After 25 years of challenging conventional thinking and leading the field in cutting edge research and consulting, RMI will host a celebration recognizing its past work while keeping our focus on the challenges in front of us.”

Thomas Friedman, New York Times columnist and best selling author, will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Other luminaries in attendance will include John Abele (Boston Scientific), Ray Anderson (Interface, Inc.), Majora Carter (Sustainable South Bronx), Yvon Chouinard (Patagonia), Jesse Fink (Mission Point Capitol Partners), Ashraf Ghani (Institute for State Effectiveness (ISE); former Finance Minister, Afghanistan), Hal Harvey (William and Flora Hewlett Foundation), Paul Hawken (Natural Capitalism and Blessed Unrest), Bill Joy (Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers), Dean Kamen (DEKA Research & Development), Claire Lockhart (ISE), Christine Loh (Civic Exchange, Hong Kong), James Murdoch (British Sky Broadcasting), Julia Novy-Hildesley (Lemelson Foundation), Jeff Seabright (Coca-Cola), Rob Walton (Wal-Mart), Lin Wells (The Pentagon) and Jim Woolsey (Booz Allen, former CIA Director).

The celebration will kick off Thursday evening with a free RMI lecture. Lovins will lead a dialogue focusing on taking steps to prevent climate change as an excellent business opportunity. An all-day symposium in which Friedman will moderate panel discussions on three topics: Corporate Leadership, Venture Philanthropy & Entrepreneurial Nonprofits and Building Real Security will follow on Friday. The event culminates with a Gala at the Peace Ranch in nearby Basalt, Colorado. Friedman will be joined with Lovins and other key luminaries in the program’s final panel discussion. Chef Ryan Hardy of the Little Nell Hotel (Aspen) will cater the Gala dinner and the Hazel Miller Band and a special guest will provide the music and entertainment.

“We see RMI 25: Celebrating Solutions as the landmark event steering environmental policy for the next decade,” said Lovins. “Our goal is to bring together a wide range of people committed to improving the state of the world. Through conversation and collaboration, we hope to leave this gathering with a better understanding of how we can all shape global agendas. Come be a part of the solution.” Additionally, RMI plans to use this event as a springboard to raise funds for future cutting edge initiatives. In keeping with its own philosophy as a “think and do tank,” RMI is staging RMI25 as an entirely carbon-neutral event.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2007, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit “think and do tank” that works toward efficient resource solutions for individuals, communities, corporations and governments. For more information, please visit www.rmi.org/rmi25.