Seeking Ideas, Connections

Three billion people – the world’s poorest − want access to safe, efficient, reliable, affordable energy services now. How to provide access, while protecting environmental balances, is perhaps the greatest challenge of our time. It is the exciting mission of AHEAD Energy.

How can a small nonprofit with commitment, passion, and expertise −but not a reliable revenue stream − make a big impact on energy transitions in poor countries? This is the question we invite you to think with us about on this blog.

To set the stage, here are AHEAD’s assets. We have

• Information and expertise in broad-scale evolving energy mixes aimed at improving lives through energy.
  
• A distinguished and thoughtful Board of Directors.
  
• An experienced President and CEO who works pro bono.
  
• Donated office space and amenities at the University of Rochester.
  
• Access to university students and faculty.
  
• A growing number of contacts in Africa, particularly in Mozambique.
  
• Two energy professionals from Mozambique coming this year to work with us on developing energy projects while they work on graduate degrees at the University of Rochester.

What we don’t have is money for projects and travel, paid staff, and connections to powerful people who can open doors for us. This is where you come in. We want to pool the brain power that we know is out there to secure the resources needed get on with the business of solving the energy conundrum. So, what ideas do you have? What connections can you make?