America needs to invest in a national power grid that connects the country much the way our highway system does; a national energy efficiency upgrade, and renewable energy resources. And if we don’t take action that moves the country in this direction by 2012, it will be too late.

Cathy Zoi, the chief executive officer of the Alliance for Climate Protection, put forth these and other innovative ideas regarding climate change at IEC’s 2008 Environmental Leadership Dinner Sep. 25. The solutions come from Repower America, a national challenge to generate 100% clean electricity within 10 years issued by former Vice President Al Gore, founder of the Alliance for Climate Protection.

“This country is capable of thinking big. We were founded on thinking big,” said Zoi, who heads the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization Gore created to educate people about the climate crisis using the best practices of successful commercial, social marketing adn political campaigns.

In her presentation to the audience of about 350 environmentalists from around the state at the Hotel InterContinental Chicago, Zoi ran excerpts from a series of high-profile TV ads generated by the Alliance for Climate Protection. The ads were part of the Alliance's We Campaign, which combines advertising, online organizing and partnerships with a growing group of grassroots organizations to educate the American public about the urgent need to solve the climate crisis and activate them to demand real solutions from elected officials.

Before joining the Alliance in 2007, Zoi spent more than two decades in the energy and environmental sector in the United States and Australia and has led private sector and government organizations in developing technologies and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the pioneering Energy Star program and the first nationwide Green Power program. She was chief of staff for environmental policy in the Clinton White House.

During the dinner program, which was emceed by WMAQ-TV meteorologist Ginger Zee, the IEC also honored a powerful trio of people and programs that have furthered the cause of protecting the health of the state’s natural resources and its citizens.

IEC Executive Director Jonathan Goldman presented an Environmental Leadership Award to the Chicago Recycling Coalition for its successful advocacy for a better recycling program in the City of Chicago. IEC Board President Rob Kelter gave one to restauranteurs Ina Pinkney and Dan Rosenthal for creating the Chicago Green Restaurant Co-op, which procures sustainable products for local restaurants and other businesses.

A posthumous award was given by IEC Board Member Joyce O’Keefe to Strachan Donnelley, the conservationist and philanthropist who founded the Center for Humans and Nature.

The Lead Event Partner for the 2008 Environmental Leadership Dinner was the Canadian Consulate General in Chicago. Other major supporters are listed below.

Corporate Sponsors: Abbott, The Boeing Company and Resolute Consulting.

Table Sponsors: AFSCME Illinois Council No. 31; Baxter Healthcare Corporation; ComEd; Betsy Dietel & Michael Sands; Entrix; Environmental Design International ; Ann McCabe and Associates; Environmental Law and Policy Center; Sue and Ed Harney; Liberty Prairie Foundation; Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance; Natural Resources Defense Council; Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago; The Rosenthal Group; Alan Scimeca; The Sierra Club; Rand Sparling and Adrienne Meisel; Walgreen Co., and Waste Management, Inc.

Benefactors: Jasculca/Terman; Ben and Ravi Lumpkin; The Nature Conservancy; Hon. Debra Shore; Sunny Sonnenschein and Stuart Feen, and Union of Concerned Scientists.

Patrons: Gerald Adelmann; Susan Burkhardt; Dennis Dreher
Enbridge Energy Company; Michael Johnson; James E. Mann; Lynn McClure; Eleanor Roemer and The Trust for Public Land.