Troy Von Otnott, Political
Activist for Sustainable Business
As a child growing up in New Orleans,
Troy Von Otnott recalls members of his
family embracing politics, interfacing
with politicians and working on public
policy issues. The lively discussions
and debates sparked his curiosity about
the political process and eventually led
him to visit the halls of power in Baton
Rouge, Louisiana, and Washington,
D.C., for a firsthand understanding of
how a democracy works. He remarks:
“Although we live in a free enterprise
society, government still controls how we
Troy Von Otnott
function in life, particularly from a busi-
ness standpoint.”
In his native city, politics is considered a contact sport,
vigorously discussed around dinner tables. “We play for keeps,”
explains Von Otnott, “and unlike other larger regional cities, the
business community doesn’t run this city, the politicians do. If
you want to get anything done, you have to understand how to
function inside the political system.”
A self-described “half capitalist, half environmental-
ist,” Von Otnott sells solar products and avidly promotes the
renewable energy business via his New Orleans-based South
Coast Solar Company. A longtime political activist for clean
energy, he has been actively involved with his state’s develop-
ment of its renewable energy industry.
Von Otnott speaks monthly to groups around the state,
encouraging his audiences to engage in the political process
by demanding that sustainable business practices become the
cornerstone of Louisiana public policy. “Citizens must learn to
hold their political candidates accountable and let them know
that renewable energy is an important industry that can gener-
ate the kind of jobs that can’t be exported,” he advises. In the
end, he reflects, support for renewable energies supports the
betterment of mankind.
Troy Von Otnott, South Coast Solar, LLC, 733 St. Joseph St.,
New Orleans, LA; 504-529-7869;
SouthCoastSolar.com.
As we begin a new decade, let us see new opportunities to
take fresh action on the issues we are most passionate about.
With our collective vision and potential, we can go far in
meeting today’s challenges and making the type of impact
that Robert Kennedy envisioned in 1966: “Each time a person
stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others,
or strikes out against injustice, he or she sends forth a tiny
ripple of hope. And crossing each other from a million differ-
ent centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current
that can sweep down the mightiest of walls of oppression and
resistance.”
Linda Sechrist is a freelance writer and the editor of Natural
Awakenings’ flagship magazine in Southwest Florida. Connect
via 239-434-9392.
natural awakenings March 2010
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