Tom Buttgenbach

Tom founded 8minute Solar Energy (8minute) in 2009 with a vision for making solar-plus-storage the lowest cost, most reliable form of energy on the planet – even when the sun isn’t shining. With more than 20 years of executive management experience and a scientific, analytical approach driving the company, Tom has transformed 8minute from a boutique developer to a record-breaking solar technology leader shaping the clean energy transition. Today, 8minute has more than 18 GW of solar and 24 GWh of storage projects under development, enough to provide clean, reliable power for 20 million Americans – day and night, for less than the cost of fossil fuels.

Over his career, Tom has led transactions totaling over $10 billion in power purchase agreements and project finance deals. Prior to founding 8minute, Tom’s worked in real estate development, investment banking, and management consulting with McKinsey & Company.

Tom earned his undergraduate degree in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Cologne in Germany and a Ph.D. in Physics and Astronomy from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), which he attended as a Fulbright Scholar.